Academic publications

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11951/16

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 178

Uganda’s Post‐colonial Privatisation Policy in Higher Education: An Integrative Literature Review and Case Study Analysis
(Discover Education, 2026-02-02) Allan Muganga; Oluwasegun Adesola Oladipo; Michael Agyemang Adarkwah
Globally, the trend toward privatizing higher education has been accelerating, driven by economic and policy shifts. Uganda has aligned with this movement, becoming one of the African countries implementing privatization to enhance accessibility and efficiency in its universities. However, the benefits and challenges of higher education privatization in Uganda remain underexplored. This study assesses them through two private universities as case studies. An integrative literature review identified challenges in Uganda’s privatization policy. This was followed by qualitative interviews with sixteen (16) stakeholders (students, n=10; parents, n=3; employers, n=3) to assess its impact on accessibility, quality, funding, and employment. Semi-structured interviews involving students, parents, and employers revealed that although the policy led to the massification of higher education, it also led to the commodification and academisation of education, whereby business principles have been imported into the country’s higher education sector, thus focusing more on profit maximisation other than quality education delivery. The study recommends that the Ugandan government and policymakers, such as the Ministry of Education and Sports and the National Council for Higher Education, do more to safeguard the education system from being too commercialised, commodified, and over-marketised.
Is Everywhere I Go Home? Reflections on the Acculturation Journey Of African International Students in China
(International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2026-02-02) Allan Muganga; Yohana Kifle Mekonen; Michael Agyemang Adarkwah; Oluwasegun A. Oladipo; Chiamaka Nneoma Nweze; , Saira Bibi
This qualitative study explores the acculturation journey of African international students in China, focusing on the evolution of their experiences. While previous research has often overlooked the progressive nature of international students, particularly from Africa, this study addresses this gap by examining how these students navigate academic, cultural, and psychological challenges over time. Using a conceptual framework informed by existing acculturation theories, the study identified six key dimensions shaping the acculturation process. Fifteen African international students, aged 25–36 years, with lengths of stay ranging from 4 to 7 years, were selected from three research-intensive universities in China. The findings reveal that early acculturation stress, including challenges like language barriers and culture shock, significantly impacts these students’ psychological well-being and makes securing internships more difficult. However, students who accessed strong peer networks and received supervisor support demonstrated better coping strategies and higher satisfaction by their final year. This study shows that acculturation is a dynamic process and suggests that educational institutions should improve support systems to better support the well-being and academic success of international students.
Students’ Perceptions of Project-based Learning in K-12 Education: A Synthesis of Qualitative Evidence
(International Journal of Instruction, 2026-02-02) Frederick Oduro; Allan Muganga; Deborah Parker; Guoyuan Sang
As an engaging instructional approach, project-based learning has gained prominence as a means of adapting K-12 education to a changing world. However, research assessing the effectiveness of project-based learning has primarily focused on teachers, whereas studies on students' perceptions of project-based learning have been limited to isolated cases. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive synthesis of qualitative and mixed-approach studies that investigated K-12 students’ perceptions of project-based learning. A meta-ethnography approach was employed to identify, evaluate, and combine the findings of the 14 peer-reviewed studies. These studies were selected based on an extensive search of databases such as Web of Science, ERIC, and ScienceDirect. Six themes were identified to reflect K-12 students’ perceptions of project-based learning: enhancing 21st-century skills, enhancing enthusiastic engagement, fostering interdisciplinary integration, time consumption, evoking initial jitter, and content insufficiency. Additionally, two research gaps were identified, with the majority of studies conducted among senior high school students in Europe and Asia. In conclusion, this synthesis highlights the effectiveness of project-based learning in promoting essential contemporary skills. However, caution is advised regarding challenges, such as content insufficiency. Stakeholders should consider targeted support and resource adequacy to optimize project-based learning benefits for diverse students.
The Impact of Online Learning on International Students' Studies Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic During the 2020 Spring Semester: A Case Study of Southwest University
(Asian Journal of Education and e-Learning, 2026-02-02) Muganga Allan; Naomy Kalabwa Leah; Tebatso Namanyane; Mirajur Rhaman Shaoan
Toward the end of 2019 and since the beginning of 2020, there has been a worldwide collapse of the pandemic disease called covid-19 that caused a complete shutdown in several countries. As a result, schools, universities and other institutions of higher learning were forced to close. The only way learning could take place was through online learning. Unplanned online learning brought uncertainty among institutions, educators and learners which needs to be examined. The purpose of this case study was therefore to explore how online learning during the COVID-19 period influenced SWU international students’ studies, and to understand the attitude of these international students toward online learning during the covid-19 period and finally finding out strategies that SWU international students used to tackle the challenges they encountered through online learning. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among twelve international students offering different online courses. Researchers used content analysis to help them arrive at findings and conclusions. Results from the research showed that poor network connectivity, limited class participations were among the strongest themes to address the first research question. Passion for learning and apathy of online learning were among the themes under students’ attitude. Strategies used to cope up with the challenges faced included prior class preparations and seeking better internet connectivity showed up.
Manifestations of the Ujamaa Intersections Model in Promoting Quality of Life for Children and Achieving SDGs through Ubuntu Stance: Lessons from the Parasocial Work Model in Tanzania
(International Multilingual Journal of Science and Technology, 2025-07-07) Jackline Bwire Achan; Meinrad Haule Lembuka
The child’s quality of life has been an agenda in the evolution of human societies worldwide, and the emergence of child rights abuse in the 19th century posed a serious concern to its realisation. At the dawn of the 21st century, the quality of life for children became part of the global agenda, encompassing the Sustainable Development Goals. For Africa, Ubuntu has been a historical, philosophical, and practical framework that is relevant to the quality of life for children. Post-colonial Tanzania adopted the Ujamaa Intersections Model within the Ubuntu framework to align with its agenda. In the 1990s, Tanzania experienced a notable decline in the quality of life of children due to economic hardship, urbanisation, population growth, and family separations. On the other hand, the incompatibility of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) and the Ujamaa National Policy Framework distorted the available Ubuntu mechanism of child welfare. As a result, the incursion of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) impacted by the HIV and AIDS pandemic was further exposed to high risks of losing their quality of life. In the 2000s, the Tanzanian government engaged various stakeholders to (re)establish community-based interventions aimed at upholding the quality of life, including a cadre of para-social workers (PSWs) that combined social work and Ubuntu competencies. The initiation and operation of PSW are integrated within the Ujamaa system, alongside social work and Ubuntu principles, enabling existing community structures, such as families, extended families, neighbourhoods, local leadership, ecology, and spirituality, to realise the child’s quality of life. PSW contributed to the identification of the specific needs of vulnerable children, increased community awareness of child protection, established alert systems for abused children, and, when required, supported the provision of referrals to temporary or long-term alternative care, either formal or informal. Despite challenges, PSWs successfully advocated for children's rights and improved the lives of children and their families. Their efforts have demonstrated how Ubuntu can provide relevant and sustainable solutions to address the quality of life for children. Therefore, it serves as an alarm for the child's quality of life, prompting interested parties to revisit and adopt Ubuntu approaches to achieving the SDGs by 2030 and beyond.
Understanding Children’s Experiences of Self-wetting in Humanitarian Contexts: An Evaluation of the Story Book Methodology
(PLOS Global Public Health, 2023-05-23) Claire Rosato-Scott; Mahbub-Ul Alam; Barbara E. Evans; Joanne Rose; Eleanor Wozei; Dani J. Barrington
Little is known about how children in humanitarian contexts experience self-wetting. Children can wet themselves due to having the medical condition of urinary incontinence (the involuntary leakage of urine), or due to them not wanting to or not being able to use the toilet facilities available (social or functional incontinence). Self-wetting is a global public health challenge: the physical health of children can suffer; they can miss out on educational and social opportunities; they may face increased protection risks; and the emotional effect on daily life can be significantly negative. The Story Book methodology was developed to facilitate conversations with children aged five to eleven in humanitarian contexts (specifically refugee settlements in Adjumani District, Uganda; and refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh) about self-wetting to understand how humanitarian professionals can best meet the needs of children that wet themselves. This paper has evaluated how far the Story Book methodology meets the specific requirements of conducting research a) in a humanitarian context; b) with young children; and c) on a personal and highly sensitive topic. Data has been used from Story Book sessions held with children in Adjumani District and Cox’s Bazar, and from semi-structured interviews held with adults known to have participated in the planning and/or facilitation of the sessions. The evaluation found that although the Story Book methodology provided deep insights into how children in humanitarian contexts experience self-wetting, it was not always implemented as designed; it is not practical to implement in humanitarian settings; and it was not acceptable to all participants and facilitators as a research tool. Changes have been recommended to improve the methodology as a research tool to better understand how children experience personal health issues, but even with such changes the methodology will remain better suited to non-humanitarian contexts.
Contemporary Pedagogical Strategies and Learners’ Academic Achievement in National Teachers’ Colleges (NTCs) in Uganda
(East African Nature & Science Organization, 2025-09) Clare Atuhire; Sarah Kizza Nkambwe; Remigio Turyahabwe
The study examined the effect of contemporary pedagogical strategies, specifically problem-based learning and learning contracts, in National Teachers’ Colleges (NTCs) in Uganda. The objectives of the study were to: i) examine the effects of problem-based learning on academic achievement of learners in NTCs in Uganda & ii) analyse the effect of learning contracts on academic achievement of learners in NTCs in Uganda. The study adopted a cross-sectional design and was underpinned by pragmatist philosophy with an explanatory sequential type of mixed methods. Data was collected from 681 respondents with the help of questionnaires, Key informant interviews, and document review. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 29 for statistical data, while qualitative data was analysed in themes to draw conclusions for the study. The results revealed that there was a strong positive relationship between learning contracts and completion rate, with a correlation of 0.71 at a p-value of <0.01. Learners in NTCs gained skills and values to enhance their ability to teach and learn in lower secondary schools (pedagogical skills). Further, there was a strong positive relationship between problembased learning and academic achievement of 0.31 with a p-value of < 0.01 on skills. It was concluded that Problem-based learning increased learner engagement and aided them to score better grades, while Learning contracts motivated learners in NTCs to do their coursework, project work, and research. The study recommended continuous professional development and support supervision to teacher trainers so as to enhance their skills in the implementation of contemporary pedagogical techniques, specifically problem-based techniques
Effect of Active Teaching and Learning Methodologies on the Academic Achievement of Learners in National Teachers’ Colleges in Uganda
(East African Nature & Science Organization, 2025) Clare Atuhire; Remigio Turyahabwe; Sarah Kizza Nkambwe
The study examined the effect of Active Teaching and Learning (ATL) methodologies on the academic achievement of learners in National Teachers’ Colleges (NTCs) in Uganda. The objectives of the study were two-fold: i) to examine the effects of learning stations on the academic achievement of learners in NTCs in Uganda, ii) to analyse the effect of project-based learning on the academic achievement of learners in NTCs in Uganda. The study adopted a cross sectional design and was underpinned by pragmatist philosophy with an explanatory sequential type of mixed methods approach. Tools for data collection included questionnaires, which were administered to lecturers and students. Interviews were held with selected Ministry of Education officials, institutional heads and Enable staff. Document review of academic award meeting minutes and portfolios was also done. Data was collected from 681 respondents. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 29, while qualitative data was analysed in themes to draw conclusions for the study. Results revealed that there was a strong positive correlation between learning stations and skills learners acquire at learning stations at P<0.01. Further, there was a strong positive correlation between project-based learning and technological skills acquired by learners at P<0.01. It was concluded that, whereas the learning stations were appreciated for promoting peer support, they consumed a lot of time, especially for large classes, and required a lot of technical support from the teacher to learners. The study recommended continuous professional development for teacher trainers, which may help them to apply Active Teaching Learning methodologies effectively for better academic achievement.
A Phenomenological Study of the Role of Christian Values and Culture in Conflict Resolution Among Christian Couples in Mukono, Uganda
(Regent University, 2022) Betty Enyipu Akurut
This qualitative study utilised a phenomenological research design to examine married Christians’ perspectives on the role of Christian values and culture in the resolution of marital conflict. Twelve themes emerged. Two themes for Christian values promote conflict resolution: (a) Christian disciplines and (b) fellowship and instruction. There was one theme: (a) Church teaching on oneness and submissiveness, for Christian values that hinder conflict resolution. Three themes regarding cultural factors that promote resolution of conflict were (a) involvement of others, (b) constructive conflict response, and (c) cultural perspectives. Three themes for cultural factors that perpetuate conflict were (a) unconstructive response to conflict, (b) involvement of others, and (c) finances. One theme, (a) communication, emerged on strategies for resolving conflict. Two themes regarding strategies for preventing future occurrences of conflict were (a) source of income and (b) understanding each other. A few studies exist in the Ugandan context on culture and marital conflict. The findings from this study could help increase understanding of the strategies Christian couples use to resolve conflict and how these strategies help them maintain their marriages.
Mental Health in Low-income Countries: A Call to Improve Mental Health in Uganda
(PLOS, 2025-04-30) Kizito Omona; Nice Barungi Mponye Bashabire; Ritah Bulamu; Bernardine Mugabe; Samuel Ssanyu Balamaga; Betty Enyipu Akurut
The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community [1]. It is an integral componen of our general health that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make , build relationships and shape the world we live in –and yet it remains a low priority in many low-income countries. Uganda, like many sub-Saharan African countries, faces significant challenges in addressing mental health concerns. The burden of mental illness is exacerbated by poverty, conflict, and a lack of awareness. Supporting and managing the well-being of people is faced with numerous challenges, especially for those who already face a variety of hurdles or difficulties. For example, Mugisha, Bantu & Nakalema [2] explored the mental health impact on parents raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Uganda. They highlighted stigma, economic hardship, and lack of mental health support services as key factors exacerbating mental health struggles. The results revealed very high levels of stress and stigma among parents, and experiences of financial difficulties, marital conflicts, and psychological strain resulting from societal discrimination were common. Parents reported experiencing feelings of shame, embarrassment, and hopelessness, exacerbated by societal misconceptions and the lack of support systems. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms among parents (45.9%) surpassed previous estimates, indicating a significant mental health burden within this population. Another study examined the intersection of mental health and HIV/AIDS in Uganda and emphasized again, how financial stress, social stigma, and lack of resources all hinder mental well-being within this community [3]. This echoes findings in many other similar studies [4,5]. In this Opinion, we aim to provide an overview of the state of mental health in Uganda, assess existing policies and challenges, and offer possible solutions.
Few-shot Pneumonia Detection Using Siamese Networks and Transfer Learning on Chest X-ray Images
(Discover, 2025-11-12) Droreen Atukunda; Waweru Mwangi; Petronilla Muriithi
Pneumonia remains a leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age, accounting for approximately 1.6 million deaths annually. Early detection is critical for reducing child mortality; however, traditional diagnostic methods rely on trained personnel and medical resources, often scarce in low-resource settings. Machine learning has emerged as a promising approach to pneumonia detection, but its effectiveness is hindered by the limited availability of labelled data required for training robust models. This study reviews existing machine learning techniques for pneumonia classification, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), transfer learning, and few-shot learning approaches. Furthermore, we propose an optimised few-shot learning model that integrates Siamese networks with transfer learning to improve pneumonia detection using minimal labelled data. The model leverages MobileNetV3 as a pre-trained feature extractor, producing high-quality embeddings that enhance similarity learning within the Siamese framework. Additionally, triplet loss is incorporated to ensure a more discriminative embedding space, facilitating robust classification. Experimental results indicate that our model outperforms conventional machine learning classifiers, achieving an accuracy of 92.04%, precision of 91.20%, recall of 90.32%, and F1-score of 90.09%. The integration of Siamese networks with triplet loss enhances generalisation while mitigating overfitting, making it particularly suitable for resource-constrained environments. These findings highlight the effectiveness of few-shot learning in pneumonia detection, offering a computationally efficient and scalable solution that bridges critical gaps in medical imaging.
Assessing the Economic Feasibility of Integrated Waste to Use Systems for Uganda
(Avanti Publishers, 2021-11-08) Miria Frances Agunyo; Sarah Kizza-Nkambwe; Kukunda Elizabeth Bacwayo
Waste and sanitation Management is a major challenge in urban areas in Uganda where waste is composed of atleast 70% organic content and is basically collected and disposed of in landfills. While 90% of the sanitation facilities used are onsite systems often requiring additional treatment of sewage and faecal matter sewage yet faecal and sewage sludge treatment plants are few. The projected population increase is expected to further influence urbanization, increasing the need for basic waste and sanitation services. Integrated Waste to Use systems that consider combined management of organic waste streams i.e. biowaste, animal waste, sewage and faecal sludge, could be a viable solution for the urban areas. The systems which consist of a combination of anaerobic digestion, composting, incineration and solar drying technologies promote resource recovery in the form of biogas, briquettes and organic fertilizer. The economic feasibility of the Waste to Use systems was carried out and the results indicated that the feasibility of the systems was positively influenced by the inclusion of the anaerobic digestion process, which allowed for recovery of biogas and digestate as organic fertilizer. Furthermore, a combination of low system investment costs, increased revenues from resource recovery, consideration of equity capital of at least 30%, interest rate of at most 10% and fugitive emissions less than 7 % would positively influence the economic feasibility of the system alternatives.
Indigenous Technical Knowledge and Its Potential Application to Uganda's Pig Sub-sector
(Wiley‐VCH GmbH, 2024-10-22) Junior Senyonga Kasima; Basil Mugonola; Harriet Muyinza; Sarah Kizza-Nkambwe; Geoffrey Akiiki Beyihayo; Kenneth Kidega; James Nokrach; Maxmillan Mpewo; Marx Kisaame; Elly Kurobuza Ndyomugyeny
Uganda's pork consumption is speculated to exceed any other livestock meat consumption by 2050. However, the current trendin pig production may not meet the demand due to pig production constraints such as recurrent disease incidences and highfeeding costs. The proposed modern practices are not cost‐effective, especially for resource‐constrained pig farmers. This review,therefore, synthesises previous studies on the practicability of integrating Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) in pig pro-duction to mitigate the prevailing pig production challenges in Uganda. By employing ITK, smallholder farmers have realised that indigenous pig breeds are disease‐resistant and suit the prevailing harsh tropical conditions. In addition, affordable plant‐based concoctions have been developed to cure diseases in pigs. For example, Centella asiatica has been identified as a potentialpurgative for diarrhoeal infections. Integrating pigs in cropping systems has also been adopted as a low‐cost alternative toeffectively feed pigs for optimal performance. Fortunately, most of the ITK options for solving pig production challenges arefeasible in Uganda. Thus, ITK should be embedded in the country's extension system to increase smallholder farmers'awareness about its potential of improving pig production. An ITK‐modern technology integration would probably meet theacceptance and be suitable for commercial pig producers
Fireplace Folktales from Ankole
(Bishop Stuart University Press, 2010) Alice Jossy Kyobutungi Tumwesigye
The folktale is an oral literary genre that can be described as "an ancient short story." It is set in an antique world where trees, animals, and people all talk and understand one another. The olden world of the folktale is very strange, and it is filled with weird and wonderful happenings. It was a form of informal education that took place in the days before the introduction of formal education. In those days, young children would gather around the fireplace and listen to the elders, who would narrate folktales and fables, taking their audiences through riddling sessions, all aimed at inculcating morals in the minds of the youths. The folktales in this book are primarily meant for enjoyment and for the moral uplifting of young children. Teachers of language and literature can also use them for aural comprehension and as a stepping stone to the introduction of literature at the lower secondary school level, and of course scholars of literature, and oral literature in particular, can utilize these folktales in their analyses of the narrative form of the genre. The book is a manifestation of the author's effort towards cultural preservation. Fireplace folktales from Ankole were collected, transcribed, and translated by the author. The transcriber tried as much as possible to retain the original form; that is why the reader will hear a version of English that is more localized than globalized. This is done in order to enhance the originality of the genre. Remember the fireplace tales you may once have heard and aim to tell them to your own children.
Dance of the Intellect
(Fountain Publishers, 2010) Alice Jossy Kyobutungi Tumwesigye
The Hidden Princess
(Millennium Press Limited, 2016) Alice Jossy Kyobutungi Tumwesigye
Contextualizing AI Ethics in Uganda Through Adaptive Sensitive Reweighting (ASR) for Equitable Microcredit
(Oxford Academic, 2025-10-15) Emmanuel Isabirye; Daphne Nyachaki Bitalo
This research tackles the pressing ethical concerns of using AI in Uganda’s microcredit sector, namely to develop an adaptive sensitive reweighting (ASR) model to mitigate algorithmic bias and promote equitable access to credit. Traditional credit scoring models— and fairness-aware machine learning algorithms trained on Western-biased data—discriminate against marginalized groups because they are based on formal financial records, reinforcing structural disadvantages. By iterative engagement with Ugandan policymakers, lenders, borrowers, and AI experts, the most significant ethical concerns and context-specific fairness metrics were identified. The ASR approach adaptively adjusts weights for sensitive features such as collateral values and transaction history during model training to enhance fairness. Experimental outcomes on a typical credit scoring dataset demonstrate ASR’s success: the inclusion rate of disadvantaged borrowers is enhanced by 15% with predictive accuracy maintained and key fairness metrics significantly improved. The research provides actionable policy recommendations on implementing ASR-based AI systems in Uganda’s microfinance sector to drive financial inclusion and sustainable development. This study contributes to emerging Majority World scholarship on AI ethics by demonstrating the necessity of situating ethical frameworks and valuing stakeholder perspectives to develop equitable, inclusive AI systems. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, microfinance institutions, and AI practitioners who aim to implement responsible AI in developing economies.
Breastfeeding Practices and Experiences Among Working Mothers: A Case Study of Teachers and Nurses in Uganda
(Chritian Journal for Global Health, 2025-11) Emmanuel Otieno; Stella Asayo; Teopista Agutu; Josephine Namyalo
Background: Uganda’s exclusive breastfeeding rate remains high at 94%, despite significant malnutrition rates with nearly 1 in 4 children under 5 suffering from stunting. Breastfeeding is the optimal source of nutrition for infant growth and development. This study aimed to investigate breastfeeding practices and experiences of primary school teachers and nurses in Uganda. Methods: This qualitative study employed a case study design to collect data from 50 respondents — primary school teachers and nurses working in Mukono Municipality between October 2023 and February 2024. All breastfeeding mothers with infants aged 0-6 months were included. In-depth and key informant interviews were done to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to examine the data. Results: Breast feeding primary school teachers and nurses indicated experiencing heavy workloads, tight work schedules, and minimal institutional support towards practicing breastfeeding. As such, most breastfeeding mothers did not successfully achieve the goal of breastfeeding their infants exclusively. Conclusion: In order to improve infant health outcomes in Uganda, it is essential to address the barriers that hinder exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers. This can be achieved through policy occupational health interventions that protect breastfeeding and promote inclusivity and work life balance for mothers.
Evaluation of Agricultural Waste-Based Briquettes as an Alternative Biomass Fuel for Cooking in Uganda
(East African Nature & Science Organization, 2025-11-13) Omino Joseph Oteu; Sarah Kizza-Nkambwe; Junior Senyonga Kasima; Maxmillan Mpewo; Miria Frances Agunyo
Wood fuel has been adopted as a feasible alternative to cooking energy sources in efforts to replace fossil fuels. However, the exorbitant use of wood fuel has raised concern as it is the major cause of forest cover loss in Uganda. Briquettes have recommended as as sources of cooking energy potential to to substitute wood fuel. Unfortunately, sawdust, a product of deforestation, is the primary material used in making briquettes in Uganda. This instead augments the problem of fuel-induced deforestation. Agricultural wastes could potentially be converted into briquetting materials for generation of cooking energy, although these are studied in in Uganda. Thus, this study study established potential of agricultural wastes as alternative briquetting materials for use in cooking. Four fuel types: charcoal from Mangifera indica, firewood of Eucalyptus grandis, carbonized and non-carbonized briquettes from agricultural wastes, all from within Mukono District were used for the study. Laboratory based experiments were used to determine the physico-chemical characteristics of the fuels. Data were analysed using R software, Ver. 4.2.3. Carbonised briquettes’ mean performance measures were higher than conventional fuels (p≤0.05) and non-carbonised briquettes. The amount of energy required to attain experimental boiling point of water was higher (p≤0.05) in conventional fuels and non-carbonised briquettes than in carbonised briquettes. Duration to boil 5 litres of water was least with the conventional fuel sources. All the fuel sources’ emissions exceeded the maximum range recommended for indoor carbon monoxide levels. However, the particulate matter emission was lower in carbonised briquettes and charcoal than the other fuel sources. Agricultural waste-based carbonised briquettes could effectively be used as an alternative cooking energy source in Uganda. The study recommends conducting cost-benefit analyses on the use of agricultural waste-based briquettes as cooking energy sources.
Soil Physical and Chemical Properties Under Shea Tree (Vitellaria Paradoxa) at Different Stages of Growth
(East African Nature & Science Organization, 2025-11-13) Gertrude Ogwok; Sarah Kizza-Nkambwe; Junior Senyonga Kasima; Maxmillan Mpewo; Peter O. Alele
Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) is one of the dominant agro-forestry species in Otuke district of Northern Uganda. Due to its economic importance and, in line with the numerous threats the tree is faced with, there is an urgent need for measures to to conserve species, for example, through incorporating annual food crops in the Shea tree parkland. This, however, requires a better understanding of tree-soil-food crop interactions. A number of studies of this aspect either considered only the mature Shea tree gardens or did not provide a clear distinction between the physiological states of the Shea tree. This was the motivation for this study where we compare variation in soil properties under mature and young Shea tree gardens with sites not having trees in Okwang sub-county, Otuke district. Five soil samples (up to 15 cm deep for top soil and 15-30 cm for sub-soil) were obtained per treatment using a soil auger. Our results show that in the top soil, only percent sand varied among the treatments, while, in the sub-soil, only percentage nitrogen and average phosphorus varied among the treatments. We also found that percentage top soil organic matter and percentage of sub-soil sand had negative strong correlations with maize and soybean yields, while percentage sub-soil clay had a strong positive correlation with maize and soybean yield. We conclude that variations in soil physical and chemical properties under Mature and Young Shea gardens only occur for those properties that have a direct link to tree residues

Browse

Recent Submissions