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.

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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.

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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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Youths' strategies for HIV status disclosure in rural Kenya and Uganda: “You can't just trust everyone”
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025-10-17) Johnson-Peretz, Jason;; Onyango, Anjeline;; Akatukwasa, Cecilia ;; Atwine, Fredrick;; Owino, Lawrence;; Arunga, Titus M.O.;; Nyabuti, Marilyn;; Litunya, Janice;; Kabami, Jane;; Mwangwa, Florence;; Kamya, Moses R.;; Havlir, Diane;; Ruel, Theodore;; Ayieko, James;; Camlin, Carol S.
HIV status disclosure is influenced by social values, roles, and rules people take on and adapt, aligned with developmental transitions and cultural expectations. Understanding motivations for disclosure among adolescents and young adults with HIV (AYAH) is important for promoting HIV care engagement. A cluster-randomized controlled trial in 28 rural communities in Kenya and Uganda tested an intervention to improve viral suppression and health outcomes among AYAH 15–24 years of age. A longitudinal qualitative study embedded within the trial aimed to identify the intervention's mechanisms of action via semi-structured interviews with n = 111 AYAH, providers (n = 45), and selected family members. Analysis for this paper focused on motivations and barriers to disclosure among AYAH, with attention to targets/confidants, contexts, and communication strategies. Social roles and expectations influenced HIV status disclosure motivations among AYAH, including filial piety towards parents, spontaneous reciprocity with friends, and conscientiousness towards school supervisors. Women tended to prefer disclosure before marriage. Younger men tended to prefer disclosure after marriage, but older male youth looking for seroconcordance in a partner were willing to disclose before marriage. Medication bottles or pills often provided a contextual opening for disclosure conversations. Disclosure of antiretroviral therapy (ART) use appeared to present more significant hurdles than disclosure of HIV status alone. Encouraging not only HIV status but treatment disclosure may facilitate support for ART adherence. Tailoring disclosure strategies to particular target-confidant types may help youth disclose more easily and validate their social values and chosen ties while supporting successful care engagement. •HIV disclosure patterns are important indicators of how youth manage the transition to adult HIV care.•Communication of HIV status often involves several distinguishable steps.•When viewed as a process, HIV disclosure is shaped by cultural contexts, social roles, and social rules for communication.•HIV disclosure is not always about disclosure of HIV status as such but is often linked with disclosure of treatment status.•Treatment disclosure may be better at increasing support for ART adherence and engagement than HIV status disclosure alone.
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From Tourism to Agro-processing: Wekesa the Hustler
(SAGE Publications, 2024-12-23) Agasha, Ester;; Rono, Lucy Jepchoge;; Nabachwa, Sarah
As Great Lakes Safaris, a Ugandan tour and travel company, expanded, so did the needs of its clients. This prompted the company’s proprietor, Amos Masaba Wekesa, to diversify to closely related fields to accommodate this demand. He spotted opportunities in the Ugandan National Parks, where he built several eco-friendly lodges. Relatedly, he took advantage of the blue waters of Lake Victoria to branch into marine tourism and co-patterned with his friends to buy their first water bus—MV Kazinga. However, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the tourism industry, pushing Wekesa into the unrelated agro-processing business. The birth of his new venture, PELA Commodities Limited (PCL), was circumstantial and a survival backup plan due to the COVID-19 disruptions. As life returns to normal, Wekesa has to think critically about his diversification strategy and ensure he is well-positioned for success in his tourism and agro-processing businesses. He is worried that his new PLC business could become a distraction to his core Tourism business. He wonders if this will not stretch his current resources or devalue the quality of his services.
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Trends in sales of sugar-sweetened beverages and associated type 2 diabetes burden in nine African countries: an ecological time-series analysis
(Taylor & Francis group, 2025-10-09) Karugu, Caroline H.;; Asiki, Gershim;; Mthembu, Senzo ;; Iddi, Samuel;; Kaberia, Peter M.;; Mohamed, Shukri F.;; Sanya, Richard E.;; Kiwuwa-Muyingo, Sylvia;; Vandevijvere, Stefanie;; Agyemang, Charles
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are recognized contributors to the global rise in non-communicable diseases. While the link between SSB intake and adverse health outcomes is well established, long-term data from African countries are limited.BACKGROUNDSugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are recognized contributors to the global rise in non-communicable diseases. While the link between SSB intake and adverse health outcomes is well established, long-term data from African countries are limited.To assess trends in SSB sales and their associations with type 2 diabetes (T2D) burden across nine African countries from 2010 to 2024.OBJECTIVETo assess trends in SSB sales and their associations with type 2 diabetes (T2D) burden across nine African countries from 2010 to 2024.We conducted an ecological time-series analysis using national-level data from Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. Annual changes in per capita and total SSB sales, national T2D prevalence, and the number of adults with T2D were analyzed. Country-specific multivariate Vector Autoregressive (MVAR) models estimated associations between SSB sales and T2D outcomes.METHODSWe conducted an ecological time-series analysis using national-level data from Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. Annual changes in per capita and total SSB sales, national T2D prevalence, and the number of adults with T2D were analyzed. Country-specific multivariate Vector Autoregressive (MVAR) models estimated associations between SSB sales and T2D outcomes.SSB sales rose across all countries, with the sharpest per capita increases in Cameroon (+173.8%), Nigeria (+119.1%), and Côte d'Ivoire (+88.5%). T2D trends varied: Ethiopia, Morocco, and South Africa showed rising prevalence and case numbers, while Ghana and Nigeria showed declines. Per capita SSB sales were significantly associated with adult T2D burden in Ghana (β = 0.41, p = 0.005) and Ethiopia (β = 0.37, p = 0.039. Total SSB volume was associated with T2D burden in Kenya (β = 0.49, p = 0.046) and with T2D prevalence in Nigeria, Morocco, and Côte d'Ivoire.RESULTSSSB sales rose across all countries, with the sharpest per capita increases in Cameroon (+173.8%), Nigeria (+119.1%), and Côte d'Ivoire (+88.5%). T2D trends varied: Ethiopia, Morocco, and South Africa showed rising prevalence and case numbers, while Ghana and Nigeria showed declines. Per capita SSB sales were significantly associated with adult T2D burden in Ghana (β = 0.41, p = 0.005) and Ethiopia (β = 0.37, p = 0.039. Total SSB volume was associated with T2D burden in Kenya (β = 0.49, p = 0.046) and with T2D prevalence in Nigeria, Morocco, and Côte d'Ivoire.Rising SSB sales may be contributing to the T2D burden in African countries. This calls for context-specific regulatory measures, such as fiscal taxes and front-of-pack labels.CONCLUSIONSRising SSB sales may be contributing to the T2D burden in African countries. This calls for context-specific regulatory measures, such as fiscal taxes and front-of-pack labels. MEDLINE - Academic
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The influence of flavors on the willingness of Ugandan consumers to take soymilk
(Springer International Publishing, 2025-11-11) Nekesa, Rhodah;; Nassanga, Prossy;; Olum, Solomon
Abstract Most consumers are shifting to plant milk for health reasons. Soymilk is the most popular, available, and nutrient-rich plant milk in many countries. However, most consumers are not satisfied with its sensory attributes which has led to the addition of different flavors. Since the effect of this advancement is still unknown in Africa where plant milk products are being introduced in the market, this study assessed the willingness of consumers from Gulu city, Northern Uganda, to consume soymilk after evaluating its flavors. A sensory evaluation experiment of vanilla, chocolate, banana and natural flavors of soymilk was done by 114 sensory panelists from Gulu university and supermarkets. The results showed that the willingness of the panelists to consume soymilk increased by 87% after evaluating the flavors of soymilk. The price, and health claims about soymilk significantly influenced the willingness of panelists from both the university and supermarket to consume soymilk (p < 0.10). The willingness of panelists from the university was significantly influenced by living arrangement (p = 0.02) and the knowledge about nutritional composition of soymilk (p = 0.03). On the other hand, the willingness of supermarket shoppers was significantly influenced by the number of years spent in school (p = 0.03), income (p = 0.05), and knowledge about food additives (p = 0.03) and knowledge about animal welfare (p = 0.05). The overall acceptability of flavored milk was significantly higher than natural milk. Specifically, the flavors significantly enhanced the aroma and taste of soymilk, and chocolate was the most preferred flavor (4.71 ± 0.74). In summary, flavoring soymilk has the potential to improve the consumption of soymilk in Uganda, while also considering other important factors such as price.
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Economic performance and scalability of small-scale aquaculture systems: a comparative analysis of pond, cage, and aquaponics systems in the Lake Victoria basin, Uganda
(Springer International Publishing, 2025-11-10) Syliver, Byabasaija;; Limuwa, Moses;; Semyalo, Ronald
This study evaluates the economic performance, scalability, and resource efficiency of three small-scale aquaculture systems ponds, cages, and aquaponics in the Lake Victoria basin, Uganda. Data were collected from 169 respondents across Buikwe, Mpigi, and Wakiso districts through structured interviews, production records, and field observations. Financial performance was assessed over 5 years using net present value (NPV) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) as key indicators. Results show that cage culture is the most economically viable and scalable system, with a BCR of 1.10 and a cumulative NPV of USD 1327.10, driven by efficient water use and high turnover. Pond systems were economically feasible, with a BCR of 1.03 and an NPV of USD 266.74, but they had limited scalability due to land requirements and lower long-term returns. Aquaponics systems were economically unsustainable, showing a BCR of 0.66 and a negative NPV of USD 3150.05, mainly because of high input costs and technical complexity. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions such as affordable input access, infrastructure development, and financial support to improve less profitable systems. Policy support, technological innovation, and capacity-building initiatives are recommended to boost productivity, increase adoption, and promote sustainable aquaculture development. Publicly Available Content Database