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Analysis of Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth for anti-microbial activities
No full textxi, 64 p. ;Fungal infections and bacterial infections, including tuberculosis, are among the illnesses that have plagued humanity for a very long time. Numerous medications have been utilized to treat these infections thus far. However, there has been a challenge of microbial resistance which puts much of the population to be vulnerable to diseases and infections. There is, therefore, a need for research to overcome the existing health challenge. Throughout Africa, traditional medicine practitioners have utilized Kigelia africana as a plant remedy for persistent cough and other infectious disorders. In this research, the stem bark of Kigelia africana was analyzed for anti-tuberculosis, antibacterial and antifungal activities. 1000 g was extracted from the ground powder of stembark using dichloromethane: methanol, 1:1 for 24 h at room temperature. The extract was subjected to column chromatographic separations to obtain different fractions which were further purified and four compounds were isolated; Stigmasterol (1), a long aliphatic chain ester; 4-Hydroxyphenethyl butyrate (2), a coumarin derivative; 6- demethylkigelin (3) and Stearic acid (4). The structures were established using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 2 is hereby isolated for the first time from the plant whereas compound 3 is hereby reported for the first time from the stem bark of K. Africana, but previously isolated from the roots of the tree. Anti-tuberculosis activities for the plant extract and four isolated compounds were expressed as MIC values (μg/mL). Antibacterial and antifungal activities were expressed as mean zones of inhibition (mm). The crude extract was moderately active against M. tuberculosis with MIC of 44.2 ±0.5 (μg/mL). Compounds 1-3 exhibited strong activity against M. tuberculosis (33.5±0.4, 31.2±0.4 and 34.5±0.7, respectively) whereas compound 4 was moderately active (43.3±0.1) against M. tuberculosis. All the four compounds were weakly active in the antibacterial tests (7.0±0.4, 7.0±0.3, 9.5±0.7 and 7.5±0.4, respectively) and antifungal tests (8.0±0.5, 7.0±0.4, 7.5±0.4 and 7.5±0.7, respectively). There was a noticeable moderate antibacterial activity (10.0±0.3) against Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activity (11.3±0.5) against Candida albicans exhibited by the crude extract. The findings show that K. africana stem bark has potential for treating bacterial and fungal-related diseases in addition to aiding in the fight against tuberculosis
Remaking the Late Holocene Environment of Western Uganda: Archaeological Perspectives on Kansyore and Later Settlers
No full textP. (1-78) ;Archaeological and environmental research by an international and interdisciplinary team opens new perspectives into the settlement histories of Kansyore, Early Iron Age, and Bigo period peoples in the once forested regions of the Ndali Crater Lakes Region (NCLR) of western Uganda. The research examines the role of Kansyore agropastoralists and their Early Iron Age and Bantu-speaking contemporaries in remaking a once forested environment into a forest-savannah mosaic from circa 500 BC to the end of the first millennium AD. Archaeological settlement and subsistence evidence is examined within a framework of social interaction of Sudanic speakers with Bantu speakers, drawing on historical linguistics and environmental studies to arrive at a new synthesis of late Holocene history in western Uganda. This perspective also unveils the significance and chronology of Boudiné ware, a long enigmatic ceramic tradition that we identify as contemporary to Transitional Urewe and deeply influenced through social interactions with those making Kansyore ceramics and inhabiting the same landscape. Using archaeological evidence from fifteen sites and multiple burials spanning from 400 to 1650 calAD, new views of ceramic histories, lifeways, and symbolic values are revealed, including Bigo period settlements that arose in what was an environmental refugium beginning in the early fourteenth century AD. This research also shows that the Kansyore of the forested region east of the Rwenzori Mountains had greater affinities to late Holocene archaeological evidence from western Equatoria, in the southern South Sudan, and Kansyore Island, Uganda, than it does to the Kansyore in eastern Kenya
Entrepreneurial learning behavior, digital adoption and business resilience of women owned small and medium enterprises in Kampala capital city, Uganda
No full textxii, 78 p. ;The study focused on examining the relationship between entrepreneurial learning behavior, digital adoption, and business resilience of women owned SMEs in Kampala Capital City. The study was guided by four objectives which are to examining the relationship between entrepreneurial learning behavior and business resilience, the relationship between digital adoption and business resilience in of women owned SMEs in Kampala Capital City, the relationship between entrepreneurial learning behavior and digital adoption in women owned SMEs in Kampala Capital City and the mediating role of digital adoption between entrepreneurial learning behavior and business resilience of women owned SMEs in Kampala Capital City. The study employed a cross-sectional survey research design with a quantitative research approach. The study targeted a sample size of 375 participants which was determined following (Krejcie & Morgan, 1970) statistical table but 291 participants managed to respond back showing a response rate of 77.6 percent. The women-owned businesses were selected using systemic sampling technique. Data was collected using a closed-ended questionnaire and analysis was done using Social Package for Social Scientists to produce means, standard deviation, relationships and regression. The study findings revealed entrepreneurial learning behavior had a significant and positive relationship with business resilience at (r = .427**, P0.05) and digital adoption was also found to be positively and significantly predicted business resilience at (Beta =.802, p=.000 <0.05). For the mediating variable, Sobel Test showed Z value = 41.02329414with Std Error = 0.0233168 with significant value of (p-value = 0.000 < 0.05) was registered which indicated that introduction of digital adoption in the equation as a mediator significantly mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial learning behavior and business resilience of women owned SMEs. It was recommended that the Ministry of ICT should prioritize initiatives aimed at enhancing digital literacy and access to technology among women entrepreneurs. Additionally, policymakers should support initiatives that provide women-owned SMEs with resources and support to effectively leverage digital tools and platforms for customer communication and online marketing. The researcher recommended that management of SMEs prioritize investment in digital literacy and technology adoption initiatives for their workforce. This includes providing training programs to equip employees, with the necessary skills to operate computers effectively and utilize digital tools for business operations, customer communication, and marketing purposes. Additionally, SME management should ensure access to reliable internet infrastructure to facilitate seamless online engagement and leverage various social media platforms for effective customer outreach and product promotion
Determinants and implications of land management practices for maize yield in eastern Uganda
No full textxii, 85 p. : col.Soil degradation threatens maize farming sustainability in eastern Uganda, necessitating effective land management practices. Despite prior research, the socio-economic factors influencing land management remain underexplored. This study investigated sustainable land management practices to boost soil productivity, mitigate land degradation, and improve maize yields in the Kyoga basin. Data were gathered from 379 households through interviews and focus groups, focusing on the adoption of practices like fertilizer application, pesticide use, and tillage conservation. The study analyzed adoption factors such as education, land ownership, access to inputs, and crop yields, alongside the impact of organic and inorganic fertilizer use on maize production. Descriptive statistics summarized the prevalence of different practices, while Chi-square tests and ANOVA compared practices and yields between the Kyoga plains and highland agro-ecological zones (AEZs). Logistic regression identified significant adoption factors. Results showed regional differences (P<0.05), with the Kyoga plain AEZ benefiting more from inorganic fertilizer and pesticide use. Key adoption determinants included soil fertility loss (69%), soil erosion (60%), and access to land (78.6%). The study concludes that addressing soil degradation requires tailored educational programs and localized interventions to enhance farmers' knowledge and improve agricultural sustainability, contributing to food security and poverty reduction in the region. The study recommended the need to promote LMPs that enhance soil fertility, such as agroforestry and mulching, to improve soil health & maize in both AEZs. Improved access to inputs and credit facilities to smallholder farmers, especially in both AEZs, promote the Use of Inorganic Fertilizers and pesticides in Highland AEZ since the application of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides significantly improved maize yields in the Kyoga plain AEZ; these practices should be promoted in the Highland AEZ as well
A pragmatic randomized trial to examine the effect of combining healthy diet with mindfulness cognitive therapy to reduce depressive symptoms among university students in a low-resource setting: protocol for the NutriMind Project
No full textP. (1-8) ;Background Mental health disorders still rank as leading causes of morbidity worldwide despite increasing awareness and improvements in treatment. Notably, low- and middle-income countries like Uganda, are disproportionately affected by such disorders. The burden of depressive symptoms in these countries is particularly high among students, aggravated by poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate public health governance, yet it is clearly under-researched, making it hard to achieve several of UN Sustainability Development Goals. Current treatment options are insufficient to tackle the increased burden of depressive disease. This is more challenging for low-resource regions especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, suggesting the need for alternative treatments that can swiftly be applied if proven effective. The main aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is therefore to examine if a low-cost healthy diet (based on local Ugandan foods) combined with easy-to access mindfulness cognitive therapy can reduce depressive symptoms among university students in Uganda.
Methods We will recruit female and male students at Makerere University, the largest public university in Uganda, to an open, intention-to-treat, two-armed RCT. Those who score above a predefined threshold on a self-reported assessment of depressive symptoms, measured by the Center for Epidemiological Studies – Depression score (CES-D), are eligible for study inclusion and will be randomized to either an intervention (n = 125) or a control (n = 125) group. The intervention group will receive educational group-based sessions on how to prepare a Mediterranean-type of healthy diet and how to adhere to the principles of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Outcome measures include self-reported depression symptoms, quality of life, and dietary intakes. In addition we will perform a cost-effectiveness analysis. The RCT intervention will last 9 months, followed by additional 15 months with regular data collections.
Discussion We here describe a novel approach to treat depressive symptoms among university students living in resource constraint settings, by combining a healthy diet with low threshold psychotherapy. If this intervention succeeds, our project can be viewed as a step towards evidence-based behavior practices for young adults with a common mental disorder (depression) that are beneficial to public mental health initiatives and management.
Trial registration The RCT is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT05848973). The date of registration was August 14, 2023.
Keywords Depression, Diet, Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), Mental health, Randomized trial, Uganda, University student
Urban agriculture as an evolved sustainable urban livelihood: evidence from Kampala city, Uganda
No full textBackground For centuries, urban agriculture has been a vital livelihood strategy of urban households in developing
countries. Previous studies looked at urban agriculture at a point in time as an urban livelihood for the urban poor
that struggle with eking out a living, without the current dynamism, which attracts the non-poor into the practice.
Having become an integral part of the urban economy, the study objective was to use poultry farming, to explore
the role of urban agriculture as an evolved and dynamic urban livelihood that attracts the non-poor.
Methods The study was conducted in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. The unit of analysis were urban farming households. Data were collected through four (4) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), sixteen (16) key informants and twenty
(20) In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) using purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected for a period of two (2)
months using unstructured research instruments, triangulated and thematically analysed.
Results Our results indicate that; urban agriculture is an evolving urban activity. This evolution and continuities were driven by the merits of urban agriculture (food, jobs and income) to urban dwellers. Urban agriculture
also contributed to the economic inclusion of women and the urban poor. There was household resource logic
in practicing urban agriculture, especially in the private sector, where jobs were scarce. In view of these innovations,
the urban authorities were supporting urban farmers with demonstrations and certifed inputs for farmers in Kampala
and beyond. To further develop urban agriculture, it is recommended that farmers organize themselves into viable
groups to further realize corporate advantages such as better resource access such as afordable fnancing, access
to better inputs and linkages with various institutions and stakeholders in production, value addition, policy and marketing for better returns and sustainable farming practices.
Conclusions These fndings if used in perspective by planners and regional managers have utility for the anchoring
of urban agriculture in the urbanisation agenda for Uganda and beyond. It is envisaged that, stakeholders can draw
useful actions relating to sustainable urban food production (consumer food shed), waste management, incomes, job
creation, training, research and innovations in urban areas
Effects of a 12-week aerobic dance programme on diastolic blood pressure in stage one hypertensive adults
No full text9 p. ;Hypertension, which impacts over 1.5 billion people globally is a crucial health challenge accountable for more than 10.8 million early deaths yearly. Our study used an experimental design to investigate the effects of aerobic dance programme on diastolic blood pressure levels in stage one hypertensive adults over a 12-week period. The study participants were randomly allocated into either the experimental or control groups. Diastolic blood pressure measurements were collected using a mercury sphygmomanometer at baseline and post programme. The 12-week aerobic dance programme entailed three 45-minute sessions per week, at a moderate intensity. The paired samples t-test was used to compare mean differences within the groups with the significance level set at P<0.05. Findings showed that mean diastolic blood pressure of participants in the experimental group was 93.11±3.708 mmHg and 91.61±4.340 mmHg at baseline and post programme while that of the control group was 92.39±3.032 mmHg and 92.06±6.655 mmHg respectively. This implies that there was a marginal reduction of -1.50 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure of the experimental group while the control group remained relatively constant at -0.33mmHg after the programme. Paired sample t-test results confirmed no statistically significant effects (t(17)=1.129, p=.275) for experimental group as well as the control group (t(17)=.257, p=.800). This study concluded that participating in an aerobic dance programme at a moderate intensity for 12 weeks did not statistically significantly reduce diastolic blood pressure of adults with stage one hypertension. Future studies on this population should investigate additional influencing factors and varying training intensity to assess any other effects
Human resource policies and affective commitment of health tutors in private nursing and midwifery training institutions in Kampala city, Uganda
No full textxiii, various pagesThe study sought to investigate the influence of human resource policies on affective commitment of health tutors in private Nursing and Midwifery Training Institutions (NMTs) in Kampala City. The specific objectives of the study were;( a) to explore the perception of heads of private NMTs on the relevance of compensation, staff development and promotion policies on health tutors ' affective commitment (b) to examine the relationship between compensation policy and affective commitment of health tutors in private NMTs ( c) to determine the relationship between staff development policy and affective commitment of health tutors in private NMTs and (d) to explore the relationship between promotion policy and affective commitment of health tutors in private NMTs in Kampala City. The study adopted a mixed methods approach with primary emphasis on quantitative methods complemented by qualitative methods using an embedded research design. Data was collected from 192 randomly selected health tutors and eight heads of private NMTs using Self-Administered Questionnaires (SAQs) and interview guides respectively. Descriptive and inferential data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists Version 25. Descriptive data analysis involved the use of frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. Inferential data analysis involved the use of Pearson's correlation and simple regression analysis of prediction for bivariate and multivariate data respectively to examine the relationship between the study variables.
Responses from the heads of the institutions were analysed in a narrative form to complement quantitative data. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between compensation policy (r= 0.378, p = 0.000 0.05) and staff development Policy (p = 0.084, p = 0.40 l > 0.05) were insignificant in predicting health tutors' affective Commitment. It was therefore concluded that compensation, staff development and promotion policies significantly influence affective commitment of health tutors in private NMTs.
The study recommended that managers of private training institutions should revise their compensation policies to ensure that they are competitive, aligned with the market standards, fair and transparent. Training institutions should also prioritise staff development by providing opportunities and resources for continuous learning and skills enhancement. Furthermore, the institutions should establish clear, transparent and merit-based criteria for promotions. All policies should be clearly communicated and consistently applied to all employees to enhance their affective commitment and ultimately improve the quality of Nursing and Midwifery training
Determinants of interest rate spread in Uganda’s banking sector
No full textxiv, 62 p. ;Interest rate spreads are one of the main indicators for banking sector efficiency and financial sector development. Interest rate margins or spread are a key determinant of financial intermediation and access as well as economic growth. Uganda has one of the highest interest rate spreads in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is limited understanding of the underlying causes of bank spreads in Uganda. A puzzling question in banking and finance literature that endures is what are the key drivers of high bank spreads in Uganda? This study examined the sources of interest rate spreads in Uganda. It analyzed the bank, non-consumer and macroeconomic factors influencing bank spread in Uganda, spanning the period from Quarter 4 2008 to Quarter 4 2022 using ARDL modelling approach. The findings indicate liquidity risk and bank rate have a significant positive long run influence on spread whereas credit risk, Return on Assets, Operational Efficiency, GDP growth and Financial Sector Development had a significant negative long run impact on spread. However, Reserve Requirement and Inflation had an insignificant impact on spread in Uganda’s banking sector. The study suggests that commercial banks and policy makers in Uganda should consider the internal, industry and macroeconomic environment in coming up with measures to enhance the sector’s efficiency. This research did not include all the factors influencing interest rate spread such as leverage ratio, market concentration, public sector domestic borrowing thus future studies are recommended to examine their effect on interest rate spread
Walberg’s factors and students’ academic performance in Madi-Okollo district Secondary schools
No full textxvi, 125 p.The study intended to examine Walberg’s Factors and Students' Academic Performance in Madi-Okollo District secondary schools. It specifically aimed at examining the association between Student Motivation (SM), Quality of Teaching and Learning (QTL), Home Environment (HE), Classroom Environment (CE), and Students' Academic Performance (SAP). A Mixed methods Research Approach was adopted with the Quantitative Approach being dominant and a mixed concurrent research design where descriptive, survey, correlation, simple linear regression and Multiple Regression Analysis were used. Self-administered questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data and a sample of 210 students of senior 3 and 4 selected from 5 government-aided secondary schools and the only private school in the district; the District Inspector of Schools (DIS), 3 members of BOG, 3 PTA members, 3 Headteachers, and 4 Teachers. Descriptive Statistics was used to Analyze data with the aid of SPSS version of statistical package and transcription of participant voices. The findings showed that there existed strong Positive correlation between the four independent variables under study that is Student Motivation, Quality of teaching and learning, Home environment, classroom environment, and Students' Academic Performance with all significance values at (P < 0.05). It was Concluded that there was a significant positive Correlation between the four IVs, and Students' Academic Performance. The study recommended for Schools and local government education committees to give awards to the best-performing students, give scholarships to teachers to acquire higher qualifications, and Parents to be in position to encourage their children to read and do their homework at home