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.
Communities in NRU
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- This community contains Open Access Books and Book Abstracts
- This community contains Ugandan Conference proceedings
- This community contains consolidated Ugandan Institutional Annual Research Reports on a broad range of subjects
- This community contains approved and running institutional repository policies from different research institutions
- This community contains Open access peer reviewed publications about Uganda and from Ugandan Researchers. The community has been classified to thematic research sub communities of Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Medical and Health Sciences, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences.
Recent Submissions
Genetic structure of Anopheles gambiae populations on islands in northwestern Lake Victoria, Uganda
(Uganda. Natural Review of Microbiology, 2005) Kayondo, Jonathan K.; Mukwaya, Louis G.; Stump, Aram; Michel, Andrew P.; Coulibaly, Mamadou B.; Besansky, Nora J.; Collins, Frank H.
Alternative means of malaria control are urgently needed. Evaluating the effectiveness of measures that involve genetic manipulation of vector populations will be facilitated
by identifying small, genetically isolated vector populations. The study was designed to use variation in microsatellite markers to look at genetic structure across four Lake Victoria islands and two surrounding mainland populations and for evidence of any restriction to free gene flow. Methods: Four Islands (from 20–50 km apart) and two surrounding mainland populations (96 km
apart) were studied. Samples of indoor resting adult mosquitoes, collected over two consecutive years, were genotyped at microsatellite loci distributed broadly throughout the genome and
analysed for genetic structure, effective migration (Nem) and effective population size (Ne). Results: Ne estimates showed island populations to consist of smaller demes compared to the
mainland ones. Most populations were significantly differentiated geographically, and from one year to the other. Average geographic pair-wise FST ranged from 0.014–0.105 and several pairs of populations had Ne m < 3. The loci showed broad heterogeneity at capturing or estimating population differences. Conclusion: These island populations are significantly genetically differentiated. Differences reoccurred over the study period, between the two mainland populations and between each other. This appears to be the product of their separation by water, dynamics of small populations and local adaptation. With further characterisation these islands could become possible sites for applying measures evaluating effectiveness of control by genetic manipulation.
Genetic control of feeding preferences in the mosquitoes Aedes (Stegomyia) simpsoni and aegypti
(Physiological Entomology, 1997) Mukwaya, L. G.
The biting rate of a non‐anthropophilic (Bwayise) population of Aedes simpsoni was found to be approximately 0.3 mosquitoes per catcher per hour, whereas that of an anthropophilic (Bwamba) population was approximately 101 per catcher per hour. Population density indices, as determined by the number of pupae per wet plant axil, were 0.70 in Bwayise and 1.00 in Bwamba. The big difference in anthropophilic behaviour between these populations was therefore unlikely to be derived from this small population difference. Larval density was higher at Bwamba than at Bwayise, but isolation or crowding of the larvae in the laboratory did not affect the biting behaviour of adult Ae. simpsoni. Laboratory studies also failed to confirm field observations that temperature might play a part in determining anthropophily and non‐anthropophily in this species. In choice‐chamber landing tests, using a rat and a human hand, Ae. simpsoni females derived from wild larvae and reared in the laboratory showed that 83% of the Bwamba strain landed on man, whereas only 38% of the Bwayise strain did so. In Aedes aegypti, 71% of a long‐established laboratory strain (Ilobi) landed on man, whereas 47% of a relatively non‐anthropophilic wild (Kampala) strain did so. These preferences persisted in culture. Selective breeding increased the preference for the rodent significantly in the Kampala strain of Ae. aegypti, but had no significant effect on the Ilobi strain. Crossbreeding showed that the F1 and F2 hybrids between the anthropophilic and non‐anthropophilic strains were intermediate in their preference between the parental pure bred strains; the reciprocal crosses were not significantly different from each other. The behaviour of the backcross progenies, at least in Ae. aegypti, appeared to indicate that the genotype of the male parent might be the main determining factor.
Feeding preference by the male blowfly Phormia regina for some natural foods and its relation to carbohydrate, amino acid, and alcohol content
(Entomologia experimentalis et applicata, 1986) Mukwaya, L. G.
The male blowfly, Phormia regina Meigen shows preference among a variety of natural and artificial foods. In a laboratory study preference was observed among sweet and fermenting juices as well as between liver and fish. The preferences between fresh and fermenting juices were based not only on component sugars, but also on other components, namely, amino acids, alcohol salts and presumably other chemical compounds. The preference between decaying liver and fish was probably based partly on the composition and concentration of amino acids in these foods. A variety of amino acids were found in foods and some of these amino acids were shown to be excitatory, some inhibitory and others neutral. Salts were also observed to be present in the juices; and in a laboratory study NaCl at lower concentrations acted synergestically with 0.1 M sucrose and at higher concentrations repulsive. It is suggested that feeding preference is based on several chemicals which behave either in an excitatory, additive, neutral, inhibitory or synergistic manner. The ratio of excitants to inhibitants is important in deciding the direction of preference.
Résumé
Relation entre les teneurs en glucides, acides aminés et en alcool et les préférences alimentaires de Phormia regina
P. regina Meigen mâle préfère certains aliments naturels ou artificiels. Au laboratoire ses préférences parmi les jus sucrés sont les suivantes: orange > miel > pomme > sucrose 0.1 M; et parmi les aliments en décomposition: sucrose 0.1 M > foie > poisson. Les jus frais sont préférés aux jus fermentés. Les préférences ne dépendent pas seulement de la nature des sucres, mais aussi des acides aminés, de l'alcool, des sels et probablement d'autres substances chimiques. Le foie contient à la fois le plus grand nombre et la concentration la plus élevée en acides aminés, ce qui explique partiellement le goût pour le foie. Expérimentalement on peut classer les acides aminés en stimulants, inhibiteurs et neutres. Des sels ont été notés dans les jus, mais aucune analyse qualitative et quantitative n'en a été faite. Mélangé à du sucrose à 0.1 M, NaCl agit en synergie aux faibles concentrations, devient neutre à 0.175 M et à des concentrations supérieures le sucrose seul est préféré au mélange avec NaCl. Cependant, un mélange de NaCl à 0.25 M (bien qu'une telle concentration soit peu probable dans des jus végétaux) avec du sucrose à 0.1 M était préféré à l'eau. Il en est déduit que les préférences alimentaires dans la nature sont orientées par plusieurs substances chimiques qui se comportent d'une façon stimulante, additive, neutre, inhibitrice ou synergique, et que les préférences alimentaires sont relatives. Le rapport de stimulants sur inhibiteurs est important dans la détermination du sens de la préférence.
Livelihood dynamics and challenges to wellbeing in the drylands of rural East Africa – the Drylands Transform study population in the Karamoja border region
(Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2025-04-24) Schumann, Barbara;; Turinawe, Alice;; Lindvall, Kristina ;; Kyanjo, Joseph Lule;; Kuule, Derick Ansyijar;; Kawira, Caroline;; Mwangi, Annrose;; Mwangi, Peter;; Hörnell, Agneta
BackgroundThe Karamoja region in the East African drylands is a rural, impoverished setting where pastoralism is increasingly replaced by other livelihood strategies. Understanding the socioeconomic contexts as well as their local variations is key for sustainable development of communities.ObjectiveThe aim of the present paper is to describe the baseline survey of the Drylands Transform project, its setting, methods and key findings.MethodsIn June 2022, a survey was conducted with 944 randomly selected households at four study sites in the Karamoja border region of Kenya and Uganda. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsMain livelihood forms were pastoralism and agropastoralism, while many households also relied on other sources of income. At some study sites, livestock keeping was abandoned by many residents due to cattle raiding and droughts. Only 4% of households were rated as food secure. The proportion of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months varied across sites between 3% and 17% and was considerably higher among women.ConclusionsClimate change, water shortage, social conflicts and marginalization pose barriers to food security and wellbeing for rural populations in the East African drylands. There are, however, opportunities for development through income diversification, the improvement of land health, the promotion of kitchen gardens and other measures of sustainable agriculture.
Evaluating repellence properties of catnip essential oil against the mosquito species Aedes aegypti using a Y‑tube olfactometer
(Scientific Reports, 2024) Batume, Charles; Mulongo, Ivan M.; Ludlow, Richard; Ssebaale, John; Randerson, Peter; Pickett, John A.; Mukisa, Ivan M.; Scofield, Simon
The mosquito species Aedes aegypti (L.) is known to act as a vector in the transmission of various diseases, including dengue fever and yellow fever. The use of insect repellents is one of
precautionary measures used to mitigate the risk of these diseases in humans by reducing mosquito biting. Nepetalactone, a potent natural insect repellent primarily found in catnip (Nepeta cataria) essential oil, has emerged as a promising candidate for mosquito repellence. Here, we evaluated the potential of catnip essential oil (> 95% nepetalactone) for use as a mosquito repellent. Using a Y-tube olfactometer and human hands as an attractant, we analysed the effectiveness of catnip oil at repelling the mosquito species Aedes aegypti. We tested a range of dilutions of catnip essential oil and found that concentrations as low as 2% were effective at repelling > 70% of mosquitoes for between one and four hours after repellent application. These findings suggest that nepetalactone could potentially be used as a natural, effective alternative to synthetic mosquito repellents, thereby offering protection against vector-borne diseases.