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Law and development in Africa: challenges and opportunities
No full textA bookThis book provides an in-depth examination of the complex and evolving relationship between law, development, and globalization in Africa. It explores how legal institutions can foster economic development and social justice, while also confronting the challenges presented by global forces, historical legacies, and internal dynamics in African nations. Through a detailed analysis, the book emphasizes the need to understand the socioeconomic basis of law, offering insights into the foundations of legal phenomena that influence development. The work delves into various theories of the state, starting with the emergence of the state, its contradictory nature, and its role in development. It looks at the relationship between law, ideology, and development, and provides a comparative perspective on capitalist and non-capitalist states, drawing particular attention to the African state. The stages of the African state—from its nascent phase toward self-rule, through the postcolonial state, and the influences of ideology—are thoroughly discussed. Special attention is given to key issues such as gender, bureaucracy, and authoritarianism, highlighting the unique characteristics of legal orders that have emerged in postcolonial African states. The book also explores the broader historical context, including the rise of imperialism and the globalization of capitalism since 1870, and their impact on African development. Several key theories of development are analyzed, including definitions of development and underdevelopment, the role of ideology, and the importance of law in fostering development. The modernization model, free trade concepts, dependency theory, and Marxist interpretations of underdevelopment are examined to give a well-rounded perspective on Africa’s developmental challenges
Assessing the Technical and Economic efficiency of farmers in maize production in Uganda.
No full textA thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Master of Agribusiness Management Degree of Makerere UniversityLike other developing countries, agriculture in Uganda plays a pivotal role in economic growth, poverty alleviation, employment creation, foreign exchange earnings and food security. Maize, a priority crop in Uganda is dominated by smallholder farmers, with low levels of technical and economic efficiency. Given its significance, the Ugandan government has identified maize as one of the 15 priority commodities under the National Development Plans. However, despite its critical role, the country continues to struggle with low productivity, partly due to inefficiencies in both technical and economic aspects of maize production. This study aimed to offer a more comprehensive and precise understanding of the level and factors influencing technical and economic efficiency in maize production by analyzing these efficiencies over multiple time periods and across diverse geographical regions. The main objective of the study was to assess the technical and economic efficiency of maize farmers in maize production. the specific objectives were; (i) to estimate technical efficiency of farmers in maize production, (ii) To determine economic efficiency of farmers in maize production, and (iii) To determine the factors influencing the technical and economic efficiency of farmers in maize production in Uganda. The study utilized secondary data from the Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS), collected by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) between 2013/2014 and 2019/2020. A sample of 8,386 maize farming households was analyzed to evaluate their technical and economic efficiency. Descriptive statistics, translog production function and Tobit regression were used to analyze the data. The results indicated technical efficiency of 56.7% suggesting that farmers could still improve output by 43.3% while, the mean economic efficiency of maize farmers was 9.6% which implied that farmers could still reduce input costs by 90.4% while maintaining the same output. The Tobit model results revealed that distance travelled by smallholder maize farmers from their households/farms to feeder roads, age of household head, household size, and education has a significant effect of the level of technical efficiency while gender of house hold head, age of household head, age of household head square, household size, education and all distances with exception of the distance travelled by smallholder maize farmers to the access the agricultural input markets had a significant effect on economic efficiency. The study concluded basing efficiency results that smallholder maize farmers had room for improving their technical and economic efficiency. Therefore, to increase the efficiency level ,the study recommended that; the government should prioritize the distribution of high-quality inputs to smallholder maize farmers through government programs such as OWC, investment in rural infrastructure, especially feeder roads, gender sensitive policies should be implemented to promote gender equity in agriculture, introducing low-interest loans and financial incentives for educated farmers can encourage investment in agricultural technology and equipment, fostering innovation. Finally, developing agricultural training programs that equip farmers with modern techniques and efficient resource allocation strategies will be vital in enhancing both technical and economic efficiencies in maize production
Influence of farmer’s agronomic practices and weather factors on abundance and impact of spodoptera frugiperda and its natural enemies in maize fields in Uganda
No full textA thesis submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Crop Science of Makerere UniversitySpodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly known as fall armyworm, was first detected in Uganda in 2016 and has spread to all the maize-growing districts. Different methods have been deployed to control this pest. However, there is a limited understanding of the role of the environment and farmers’ practices on the abundance of and damage by S. frugiperda in Uganda. This study, therefore, assessed the abundance of S. frugiperda and leaf damage levels in three different districts and explored the association between agronomic practices, crop phenology, and weather parameters on S. frugiperda damage and abundance in smallholder farmers’ maize fields using a longitudinal monitoring survey in 69 farmers’fields of Kole, Kiryandongo, and Nakaseke for three seasons. The numbers of egg masses and adults were generally low. The highest numbers of adults were trapped in Kiryandongo, followed by Nakaseke, and the lowest numbers were trapped in Kole. Leaf damage and incidence of damaged plants differed significantly between districts and seasons. Leaf damage and abundance of larvae varied significantly in the districts and at different growth stages. Rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, average temperature and cropping system were significant for larval abundance. Conservation tillage, reduced weeding frequency, increased rainfall and maximum temperatures were associated with reduced S. frugiperda damage. No significant relationship was observed between pesticide with S. frugiperda leaf damage. However, the influence of fertilizer use on leaf damage was contradictory across seasons and district In total, five parasitoid species were recovered from S. frugiperda: Telenomus remus Dixon, Coccygidium luteum (Brullé, 1846) with 100% nucleotide identity, Cotesia icipe Fernandez-Triana and Fiaboe, and Charops cf. diversipes with 100% nucleotide identity, Tachinidae sp. 2 AS-2017 with 99.67% nucleotide identity. There were significant negative relationships between the abundance of earwigs and temperature (both minimum and maximum). However, there were no significant relationships between the abundance of each S. frugiperda studied natural enemy species with all management practices and weather factors. Timely and vigilant scouting, proper timing of control measures, minimum tillage practices, and crop diversity can be included in an IPM strategy in the management of S. frugiperda
Records management practices: A case of Katikamu Seventh Day Adventist and Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary Schools.
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Information Science of Makerere University.This study scrutinized the records management practices at Katikamu Seventh Day Adventist and Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary Schools, aiming to assess the effectiveness of these practices. The objectives encompassed identifying the prevailing records management practices, discerning the types of records held at both institutions, investigating the challenges faced in records management, and proposing strategies for enhancement. Employing a mixed methods approach, the research leveraged a combination of tools including questionnaires, interview guides, and observation guides. Data was collected from 39 respondents out of a conveniently selected sample of 40 school staff comprising teachers and administrators. Findings underscore that both schools conscientiously engage in various records management practices, maintaining a diverse array of records spanning from staff recruitment, student welfare, academic progress, school management, and infrastructure development. However, the institutions grapple with multifaceted challenges including constrained storage, suboptimal retrieval systems, obsolete records, mismanagement during creation and filing, insufficient top management support, untrained personnel, rodents, and fire hazards. The study posits that the efficacy of records management profoundly influences overall school performance. Sound records management culminates in heightened efficacy and transparency for administrators and teachers alike. Adherence to the records life cycle engenders streamlined access and retrieval, fostering accountability and proficiency in day-to-day operations. Consequently, the study advocates for the implementation of a comprehensive framework, encompassing the recruitment of adequately trained personnel, sustained capacity-building initiatives, designated storage provisions, rigorous filing protocols, advocating for management support, fortified management of health-related records, establishment of records disaster management plans, and improvement of the information and communication technology infrastructure
Potential determinants of adoption of improved agronomic practices among beans and maize farmers in Uganda
No full textA dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Quantitative Economics of Makerere UniversityThis study examines the key factors influencing the adoption of improved agronomic practices among beans and maize farmers in Uganda, using secondary data from 1,908 farmers collected by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). The analysis employed multivariate probit and Poisson models to assess the marginal effects of hypothesized determinants. Results
revealed that 896 beans farmers and 1,012 maize farmers adopted at least one improved agronomic practice. For beans farmers, variables such as marital status, education level, full-time farming, age, experience, farmer group membership, and access to credit positively influenced adoption. Notably, farmer group membership increased the likelihood of adopting practices such as crop rotation, seed rate, and other agronomic practices (mulching, intercropping, relay cropping, minimum tillage, thinning, staking) by 24.4%, 12.8%, 15.1%, and 42.7%, respectively. On the contrary, male-headed households, farm size, and household size negatively affected adoption. Among maize farmers, adoption was similarly influenced by factors such as education, age, farm
size, and farmer group membership, with higher education leading to increased adoption of fertilizer application (99.1%), weed management (69.4%), crop rotation (75.8%), and other practices (mulching, intercropping, relay cropping, minimum tillage, thinning, staking) (35.6%). This study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions within agricultural extension services,
as socio-demographic and institutional factors drive adoption of improved agronomic practices. Given Uganda’s diverse farmer characteristics, further region-specific research is recommended to validate and refine these finding
Development of an antigen capture ELISA for detection of SARS-CoV-2
No full textA research dissertation submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology of Makerere University.Background. In December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic causing over 700 million cases and more than 7 million deaths globally. In Uganda, over 40,408 cases with 334 deaths were recorded. While rt-PCR remains the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, it has several limitations which underscore the need for rapid, accurate diagnostic methods. Antigen capture ELISA offers an alternative for use in resource limited settings. This ELISA would be a useful tool for timely diagnosis, contributing to effective public health responses by offering batch-testing for large numbers of samples and providing critical insights into viral transmission and dynamics in the population.
Results: Attempts to develop the protocol resulted in erratic inconsistent and lower OD valves which were irreproducible. Despite the titration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein IgG (RBD) antigen capture Mab, SARS-CoV-2 antigen, Anti SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG-HRP conjugate and different other conditions during the experiment.
Conclusion: we failed to achieve our objective due to poor quality or degradation of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD antigen, likely affected its ability to bind effectively to the capture antibody. Additionally, potential issues with the capture antibody's specificity or compatibility with the antigen further weakened the assay's performance. These factors underscore the importance of rigorous quality control and thorough testing of antibody-antigen interactions during the development of ELISA protocols
A comparison of Ubiquitin E3 ligases as surrogate markers for T cell Anergy in active TB
No full textBackground: Globally, there is an estimated 1.2 million TB-related deaths among HIV-negative people with active TB. Previous studies using ex-vivo and animal models indicate that CD4+ T cell unresponsiveness to Mtb, which is characterized by elevated levels of E3 ubiquitin ligases, along with reduced IL-2 cytokine production, might contribute to the immunopathogenesis and progression of TB to its active form. It remains unclear whether of CD4+ T cell anergy seen in in-vitro experiments and animal models are present in humans during active disease. This study therefore, aimed to determine if the expression of the E3 ligases; GRAIL, Cbl-b, and Itch, as well as IL-2, differs between individuals with active TB and those without TB.
Study objectives: The study determined and compared expression (RNA: ng/ul) levels of ubiquitin E3 ligases (GRAIL, Cbl-b, and Itch), and IL-2 in CD4+ T cells from individuals with active TB and those with no TB upon ex-vivo stimulation with antiCD3 and anti CD3/antiCD28.
Methodology: The study was cross-sectional, with a total of 13 participants; active TB (n=7) and No TB (n=6). Whole blood was collected, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) and CD4+ T cells were isolated. CD4+ T cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD3/anti-CD28 for 48 hours at 37oC in a 5% CO2 incubator. Cell pellets were lysed and RNA was extracted; Real-time qPCR was performed to measure expression (RNA: ng/ul) levels of E3 ligases Cbl-b, Itch and GRAIL. ELISA was used to measure IL-2 cytokine production (pg/ml) in the supernatant. Data was analyzed using GraphPad Prism 9.1.5. The Unpaired Student’s test was used to compare expression levels of E3 ligases and IL-2 in active TB versus no TB. The level of significance was p < 0.05.
Results: Expression levels of E3 ligases (Cbl-b, Itch) was high in individuals with active TB than in individuals with no TB, when CD4+ T cells were stimulated with antiCD3/AntiCD28 and antiCD3 only. IL-2 in individuals with active TB was higher than those with no TB when subjected to the same treatment conditions.
Conclusion: These findings provide insight into the immunological changes that may impact immunopathogenesis of TB.This research was funded by Case Western Reserve University and Uganda-Case Western University Collaboration office
Level and factors associated with adherence to recommended intrapartum guidelines for PMTCT among health care workers in Kawempe National Referral Hospital
No full textA dissertation submitted to the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in partial fulfillment for the Award of Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology of Makerere University.Introduction: Mother to child transmission is the most common form of HIV transmission among children, accounting for 90% of pediatric HIV cases. Without any intervention, the risk of an infant acquiring HIV from an HIV positive mother is 20-45%. As a result, Uganda developed Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) guidelines basing on the best available evidence to provide clinicians with recommendations for delivering high-quality care, evidence-based interventions, optimize patient outcomes, reduce the risk of complications, and enhance overall quality of care. However, the mother to child HIV transmission rate in Kawempe National Referral Hospital stands at 7.4%, which is higher than the country’s current transmission rate and the WHO PMTCT target. This study sought to assess the level and factors associated with adherence to intrapartum PMTCT of HIV guidelines among health care workers. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers attending to women in delivery wards of Kawempe National Referral Hospital. A total of 181 health care workers were recruited and blindly observed for practice of PMTCT and factors associated with adherence were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. STATA version 13 was used to analyze the adherence practices with adherence considered if a health workers practiced 90% of the practices assessed. Associations between dependent variables and adherence to PMTCT guidelines was assessed by logistic regression analysis including bivariate and multivariate analysis with a p-values<0.05 considered to be statistically significant at multivariate analysis. Ethical approval was obtained, written informed consent was obtained and participation was voluntary. Results: More than half of the respondents (52.49%) had been in clinical practice for 5 years and had had training on PMTCT guidelines (62.98%). Over three quarters (75.14%) were found to have good knowledge on intrapartum PMTCT guidelines although 70.17% reported lack of access to the protocols. The level of level of adherence to MOH recommended intrapartum guidelines for PMTCT of HIV was 50.28% and this was significantly associated with female sex (aOR=1.03, P-Value 0.04), being a midwife (aOR=9.15, P-Value 0.079), increased duration since qualification (aOR=1.56, P-Value 0.010) and duration spent on maternity wards (aOR=8.60, P-Value 0.028). Conclusion: Adherence to PMTCT guidelines among health workers was poor with a large proportion of health care workers not adherent to the complete package of PMTCT. All health workers involved in child delivery should be provided with comprehensive education and training sessions on PMTCT guidelines to ensure that they understand the rationale behind the guidelines and how to implement them effectively in clinical practice
Characterizing phenotypic and genotypic resistance to insecticide in Anopheles gambiae s.l. from the West Nile region in Uganda
No full textA research thesis submitted to the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training in partial fulfilment for the award of the Degree of Master of Science in Zoology (Entomology and Parasitology) of Makerere University.In sub-Saharan Africa, Anopheles gambiae sensu lato and Anopheles funestus mosquitoes are the major vectors of Plasmodium that cause malaria; a leading cause of mortalities and morbidity in humans. In order to control Anopheles mosquitoes, Uganda over the past decades has been using indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) as recommended by the World Health Organization. However, the effectiveness of these methods has been reduced due to several factors, including reported resistance to insecticides and behavioural change among Anopheles mosquitoes. The management of resistance to insecticides is challenged by limited information on the resistance profile of primary malaria vectors in high transmission regions like the West Nile. This study determined the species diversity, susceptibility and genotypic resistance to insecticides among Anopheles gambiae s.l. collected from October 2023 to January 2024 in Maracha and Terego districts. Larval samples from selected aquatic sites were reared to adults in the insectary at the IDRC laboratory in Butabika, Kampala. Morphologically identified adult females of Anopheles gambiae s.l. were exposed to different diagnostic dosages of deltamethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, pirimiphos-methyl, bendiocarb and pyrethroid (deltamethrin and alphacypermethrin) with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) in the WHO-tube at 25°C and 80% humidity. Percentage mortalities after insecticide exposure were determined after 24 hours. Morphologically identified adults were further differentiated into subspecies using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Resistance markers Vgsc-L995F/L1014F (kdr-West), Vgsc-L995S/L1014S (kdr-East) and Cyp4j5-L43L were characterised using PCR methods in insecticide exposed mosquitoes. Results showed that the districts of Maracha and Terego consisted of two subspecies: Anopheles gambiae s.s and An. arabiensis. Anopheles gambiae s.l showed high levels of resistance to pyrethroids (3134% mortality) which was significantly associated to Vgsc-L995F/L1014F and VgscL995S/L1014S in Terego (p= 0.03) and Maracha (p= 0.04). The species however had moderate resistance to bendiocarb and full susceptibility to pirimiphos-methyl (100% mortality). Resistance to insecticide was not significantly attributed to Cyp4j5-L43L in samples from both districts. PBO partially improved the susceptibility to pyrethroids but was still below the recommended level by WHO. This indicates presence of metabolic resistance in Anopheles gambiae s.l in West Nile region. Understanding mutations that cause metabolic resistance is therefore important in order to develop more effective vector control method
Enhancing students' knowledge of integration of Geogebra in learning mathematics in lower secondary schools in Wakiso District. Uganda.
No full textA Dissertation submitted to the directorate of graduate training in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the a ward of degree of Master of Education (science Education) of Makerere University,The use of technology in the pedagogical process is growing at a phenomenal rate due to the vast availability of gadgets. As a result, there is an urgent need for integrating technology into students’ mathematical activities. GeoGebra is a technology software that support teaching and learning mathematics, especially in geometry, algebra, and statistics. This study aimed to enhance the students’ knowledge of integration of GeoGebra in learning mathematics in lower secondary schools in Wakiso District, Uganda. Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) theories focusing on content knowledge, technological knowledge, technological content knowledge, and perceived ease of use, respectively, guided this study. The study utilized robust quasi-experimental and cross-sectional designs where 85 senior two students from a selected secondary school were randomly selected to make 42 students in the experimental group and 43 in the control group. Data were collected using pre-tests, post-tests, and questionnaires to identify the students’ difficult geometric concepts when learning mathematics, establish the impact of GeoGebra-based training on the students’ learning, and examine the relationship between students’
perceived ease of use of GeoGebra and its integration in learning mathematics. Independent samples t-test, Pearson's Linear Correlation Coefficient, and descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, percentages, and frequencies were employed to analyze the data. The study revealed that reflection on the Cartesian plane was the most students’ difficult geometric concept to learn. The results further revealed using GeoGebra software to learn reflection on the Cartesian plane resulted in higher achievement scores in the experimental group. Furthermore, students exposed to GeoGebra based training demonstrated positive perceptions of using GeoGebra. Thus, there was a moderately significant positive linear correlation between students’ perceived ease of use of GeoGebra and their mathematics knowledge. Its integration in learning reflection on the Cartesian plane. Therefore, the study recommends urgently training students to incorporate GeoGebra software into their mathematics learning. Curriculum developers should incorporate GeoGebra into secondary schools mathematics curriculum. This will help students explore mathematics concepts more in detail and help them build and develop