The National Research Repository of Uganda - NRU

Welcome to the National Research Repository of Uganda, abbreviated as "NRU". NRU was established in 2021. NRU is a collection of scholarly output by researchers from the UNCST Community, including scholarly articles and books, electronic theses and dissertations, conference proceedings, journals, technical reports and digitised library collections. It is the official Institutional Archive (IA) of UNCST.

Copyright Information:

For information about the publishers' copyright policy on archiving your articles online or in an institutional archive, visit the Sherpa Site at http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo.php The site gives a summary of the permissions normally given as part of each publisher's copyright transfer agreement. If you wish to publish your research findings in the NRU, please contact NRU administrator at admin@uncst.go.ug for details. NRU operates both open access and closed access models. Access to fulltext has been restricted in adherence to the UNCST Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Copyrights policies.

Other Useful Resources:

Africa Portal is an online repository of open access library collection with over 3,000 books, journals, and digital documents on African policy issues. This is an initiative by the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), Makerere University (MAK), and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). Please visit the Africa Portal at http://www.africaportal.org/library.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 12

Recent Submissions

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Retreatment TB is a risk factor for multidrug-resistant TB among people with HIV in rural eastern Uganda: A nested case-control study
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-12) Opolot, Godfrey;; Olupot-Olupot, Peter;; Okware, Samuel ;; Izudi, Jonathan
Highlights•Risk factors for MDR-TB among people with HIV (PWH) are understudied. •We found that retreatment TB is strongly associated with MDR-TB among PWH. •We recommend that PWH with prior TB treatment require MDR-TB surveillance. •Additionally, treatment adherence support may benefit PWH with retreatment TB.
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Comparative nutritional profile, fatty acid composition and in-vitro antioxidant properties of flour derived from four edible winged termite species from Uganda
(Taylor & Francis group, 2025-12) Khadijah, Babirye;; Ahmad Khan, Ammar;; Razid Sarbini, Shahrul
Flour from four species of sun-dried edible winged termites was assessed and comparisons made in the proximate composition, fat extraction techniques, nutrient profiling, and in-vitro antioxidant properties. Pseudocanthotermes spriniger produced the significantly highest protein (57.96%) whereas Macrotermes subhyalinus plus Macrotermes bellicosus had the significantly highest fat content (18.60% and 18.92% respectively). Folch extraction method produced the highest crude fat yield (18.62% to 19.54%). M. bellicosus and P. spriniger produced the significantly highest isoleucine content whereas M. bellicosus and Odontotermes lateritius produced the significantly highest valine contents. M. bellicosus and P. spriniger produced the significantly highest oleic acid, whereas P. spriniger produced the significantly highest linoleic acid (3.81%). P. spriniger exhibited the significantly highest DPPH activity (56.27%) whereas M. bellicosus and O. lateritius showed the highest total phenolic content. Such a comparative study can help communities make more informed decisions on the most ideal termite species for a particular nutrition intervention.
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Measuring biogas venting from over-pressurisation of household scale dome biogas digesters: A case study in Kenya and Uganda
(Elsevier Inc, 2025-12) Chaney, Joel;; Robinson, Benjamin L.;; Clifford, Mike
Methane emissions from household-scale biogas digesters represent a potentially significant climate concern that has been largely overlooked in rural energy access programmes. This study presents the first assessment of biogas venting patterns, resulting from over-pressure, across 53 household-scale biogas digesters in Kenya and Uganda. We develop and apply a methodology for estimating venting using digital monitoring technology known as ‘Smart Biogas’, which continuously measures pressure and flow data to quantify both the volume and timing of biogas loss. Our findings reveal a complex picture of household biogas use. By measuring the Biogas Utilisation Factor (BUF) - the ratio of consumed to generated biogas, where a lower BUF indicates higher venting rates - we found that households can achieve excellent performance during optimal periods, with venting rates below 3 % across all digester sizes, which demonstrates the potential for optimised biogas use. However, although most households maintain good biogas utilisation most of the time, periodic episodes of underuse significantly impact overall performance. The mean pressure-driven venting rates ranged from 10.8 % ± 12.7 % for 10 m3 digesters to 20.9 % ± 20.9 % for 6 m3 digesters (overall mean: 15.9 % ± 20.2 %). Temporal patterns also emerge, with increased venting likely during afternoon and nighttime hours, and during agricultural planting seasons when cooking patterns change. Drawing from these insights, we propose strategies to help households maintain the consistent high biogas utilisation they achieve during optimal periods. The methodology developed in this paper can be applied across other biogas programmes to build a broader understanding of patterns of biogas use and the likelihood of venting. These findings have implications for biogas programme design, carbon credit methodologies, and efforts to maximise both the climate benefits and household value of small-scale biogas systems. •First larger-scale assessment of methane venting patterns across 53 household biogas digesters in East Africa•Mean venting rates (15.9 % ± 20.2 %) exceeding the Clean Development Mechanism's 10 % default factor•Households can achieve excellent utilisation (< 3 % venting) but episodes of poor usage disproportionately impact overall emissions•Temporal patterns show increased venting during afternoon/night hours and agricultural planting seasons•Preventing high venting episodes could bring overall emissions below CDM thresholds, as demonstrated by households during typical operation.
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Logics of acquiring medicines from informal retailers in four African countries
(Taylor & Francis group, 2025-12) Wagnild, Janelle M.;; Asiedu Owusu, Samuel;; Mariwah, Simon ;; Kolo, Victor I.;; Vandi, Ahmed;; Bambaiha Namanya, Didacus;; Kuwana, Rutendo;; Jayeola, Babatunde;; Hampshire, Kate
In sub-Saharan Africa and other low-income contexts, informal medicine markets are widespread. Understanding the drivers of consumer demand is important, especially given the concerns and risks associated with medicines in the informal sector. This study aims to 1) describe the informal medicine sector in four anglophone African countries, and 2) understand why people patronize informal medicine sellers. Participant observation was conducted in eight markets (37 market stalls) across Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, supplemented by data collected during focus group discussions (with  = 611 participants) and key informant interviews (with  = 111), in which we discussed where participants got medicines in their communities and underlying reasons. We identified four distinct groups of actors in the informal medicine sector: sellers at weekly markets, itinerant peddlers, roadside sellers, and operators of general provision shops. There were multiple rationales for patronage of informal sellers that varied depending on the context, including flexibility in payment options, convenience and accessibility, and social/cultural drivers. Importantly, there were tradeoffs and tensions between these drivers that participants had to negotiate within the contexts of their current circumstances. These findings suggest that the informal medicine market is segmented and complex, and that patronage is driven by multiple logics that are rooted in gaps in formal healthcare provision. Regulatory measures therefore need to go hand-in-hand with efforts to address these gaps and expand effective access to quality-assured medicines through [inter alia] offering more flexible modes of payment, reducing public-sector medicine stock-outs, and improving patient-physician trust and communication. MEDLINE
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Strategies to Enhance COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Prioritized Groups, Uganda–Lessons Learned and Recommendations for Future Pandemics
(U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases, 2024-07) Kiiza, Daniel;; Semanda, Judith Nanyondo;; Kawere, Boneventure Brian ;; Ajore, Claire;; Wasswa, Christopher Kaliisa;; Kwiringira, Andrew;; Tumukugize, Emmanuel;; Sserubidde, Joel;; Namyalo, Nashiba;; Wadria, Ronald Baker;; Mukiibi, Peter;; Kasule, Julie;; Chemos, Ivan;; Ruth, Acham Winfred;; Atugonza, Ritah;; Banage, Flora;; Wibabara, Yvette;; Ampaire, Immaculate;; Driwale, Alfred;; Vosburgh, Waverly;; Nelson, Lisa;; Lamorde, Mohammed;; Boore, Amy
COVID-19 vaccination was launched in March 2021 in Uganda and initially prioritized persons >50 years of age, persons with underlying conditions, healthcare workers, teachers, and security forces. However, uptake remained low 5 months after the program launch. Makerere University's Infectious Diseases Institute supported Uganda's Ministry of Health in optimizing COVID-19 vaccination uptake models by using point-of-care, place of worship, and place of work engagement and the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment model in 47 of 135 districts in Uganda, where we trained influencers to support mobilization for vaccination outreach under each model. During July-December, vaccination rates increased significantly in targeted regions, from 92% to 130% for healthcare workers, 40% to 90% for teachers, 25% to 33% for security personnel, 6% to 15% for persons >50 years of age, and 6% to 11% for persons with underlying conditions. Our approach could be adopted in other targeted vaccination campaigns for future pandemics.COVID-19 vaccination was launched in March 2021 in Uganda and initially prioritized persons >50 years of age, persons with underlying conditions, healthcare workers, teachers, and security forces. However, uptake remained low 5 months after the program launch. Makerere University's Infectious Diseases Institute supported Uganda's Ministry of Health in optimizing COVID-19 vaccination uptake models by using point-of-care, place of worship, and place of work engagement and the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment model in 47 of 135 districts in Uganda, where we trained influencers to support mobilization for vaccination outreach under each model. During July-December, vaccination rates increased significantly in targeted regions, from 92% to 130% for healthcare workers, 40% to 90% for teachers, 25% to 33% for security personnel, 6% to 15% for persons >50 years of age, and 6% to 11% for persons with underlying conditions. Our approach could be adopted in other targeted vaccination campaigns for future pandemics. MEDLINE - Academic