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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Now showing 1 - 5 of 10

Recent Submissions

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    Stimulating Production of Shea Butter for Industrial Application in Uganda.
    (UNCST, 2024)
    Francis Omujal
    ;
    UNCST
    The global shea butter market is projected to reach US$ 2.9 billion by 2025, driven by demand across cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and confectionery industries. Traditional artisan and cold-pressing methods predominantly used in Uganda often yield low-quality shea butter with limited industrial viability. To enhance quality and industrial applicability, this study evaluated dry and solvent fractionation techniques to separate shea butter into olein (liquid) and stearin (solid) fractions at crystallization temperatures of 15°C and 20°C. Solvent fractionation using acetone proved most effective, with artisan-processed shea yielding higher liquid olein fractions (59.4–59.8%) containing elevated oleic acid profiles. A pilot fractionation machine was engineered based on these results to scale up advanced local production, align with National Development Plan (NDP) III goals, and improve rural livelihoods.
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    Increasing Wheat Production and Productivity through Science-Based Knowledge and Innovations for a Competitive Wheat Manufacturing Value Chain in Uganda
    (UNCST, 2024)
    Bosco Chemayek, Buginyanya
    ;
    UNCST
    Uganda currently imports over 90% of its consumed wheat. This dependency stems from domestic farming being restricted to land-scarce, high-altitude alpine regions. To strengthen national food security against global supply disruptions, a project introduced two high-yielding, rust-resistant wheat varieties adapted to mid and low-altitude zones. Multilocation testing across six agro-ecological sites confirmed these varieties yield over 5 t/ha in mid/high altitudes and over 1.5 t/ha in low altitudes. The project bulked 1.5 tons of elite foundation seed to scale up domestic cultivation. Broad adoption will diversify smallholder incomes, support National Development Plan III (NDP III) agro-industrialization goals, and reduce import reliance.
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    Commercialization of Propolis Powder for Improved Health and Incomes in Ugandans (Proven boost)
    (UNCST, 2024)
    Ruth Deborah Amulen
    ;
    UNCST
    Propolis, a high-value derivative of apiculture, presents a significant economic opportunity for Uganda, with an estimated annual production potential of 325 to 870 tonnes, translating to revenue between USD 1.3 and 3.5 million. Despite this potential, over 99% of Uganda’s propolis resources remain underexploited, resulting in substantial economic losses for rural beekeepers. The global market demand for propolis, driven by its therapeutic applications in health supplements, cosmetics, and food preservation, underscores the urgency of developing Uganda’s propolis industry. This project enhanced propolis commercialization by partnering with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) for quality testing, fabricating processing equipment (crashing machine, soaking tank, packaging stations), and training beekeepers on intellectual property and branding.
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    Piloting the Production and Distribution of a Low Cost ‘Protein and Micro-Nutrient Rich Cricket Feed from Food Waste in Kampala
    (UNCST, 2024)
    Geoffrey Ssepuuya
    ;
    UNCST
    Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is facing hunger and malnutrition challenges combined with a high and the fastest growing population in the world. Simultaneously, there is a high annual per capita food loss/waste of 120–170 kg. Using the increasing food waste as a raw material (feed) for the production of animal protein can exploit the generated food waste while addressing malnutrition challenges, especially the demand for quality protein.A technology was developed to convert heterogeneous food waste into hygienic, dried, and milled solid food materials for compound feed mixing. The resulting proto-type cricket feed contains a minimum of 21% protein content, 8% fat, 3% fibre, 6% ash, and 380 Kilo calories of energy, performing similarly to a control diet. Crickets raised on these feeds are safe and highly nutritious, containing 49–61% protein. Utilizing this feed offers a high return on investment (50.1%) for cricket rearing operations while promoting sustainable, urban solid waste valorization.
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    Industry Knowledge Clinics: A Practical Model for Bridging the Academia-Industry Gap
    (UNCST, 2024)
    Geoffery Sempiri
    ;
    Steven Ssebale
    ;
    UNCST
    Uganda’s national development aspirations, particularly the industrialisation goals outlined in the National Development Plan III (NDP III) and the National Industrial Policy (NIP) 2020, rely heavily on translating knowledge from academic and research institutions into practical applications within industry. However, significant barriers impede this process, especially for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). These barriers include limited access to technology, skills gaps often due to informal training, difficulty understanding complex technical literature, and weak formal connections between knowledge creators and users.