Browsing by Author "Akello, Gertrude"

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    Desert locust swarm invasions and control: Determinants, duration, food security and effectiveness of control measures
    (Elsevier Inc., 2022) Barasa, Benard; Walyalula Watsusi, Cosmas; Makoba Gudoyi, Paul; Lutaaya, Noah; Akello, Gertrude
    Migratory desert locusts are partly to blame for chronic food insecurity in semi-arid areas. However, insufficient risk information is available on locust determinants, duration, survival rates and impacts on food security, but also on effectiveness of reactive control measures. The data analysed included household survey (2020), MODIS Soil-Adjusted-Vegetation-Index (SAVI) and Climate-Hazards-Group-Infrared-Precipitation with Station-data (CHIRPS) of 2018-2020. Findings showed that the roaring swarms were determined by vegetation health, strong winds and soil type (P<=0.05). The invasions lasted for 3 to 4 weeks, however, 90% of locusts survived beyond one week. The ecosystems that favoured them included woodlands, wetlands, thickets/shrubs, grasslands and farmlands. The greenness of vegetation is an important parameter in the attraction of locusts. They fed on the green tree structure (leaves, nodes, shoots). Most swarm invasions occurred during the rainy season. Overall, the invasions reduced crop and livestock yields. After the attacks, most households depended on food purchases for atleast four months. The most effective control measures implemented were ground and aerial pesticide spraying of locusts that killed them along their life-cycle. It is therefore, important to strengthen locust surveillance and use of chemicals in the management of locusts, but also strengthen disaster legal and institutional systems.
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    The Energy Potential of Harvested Wood Fuel by Refugees in Northern Uganda
    (The Scientific World Journal, 2022) Barasa, Bernard; Turyabanawe, Loy; Akello, Gertrude; Gudoyi, Paul Makoba; Nabatta, Claire; Mulabbi, Andrew
    For the last three decades, Uganda has lost considerable natural vegetation cover in the refugee settlements and buffer zones due to the high demand for wood fuel and timber. It is worthy to note that the supplies of wood fuel are more likely to dwindle in the near future. 'is study explored the determinants of harvested wood-fuel choices and their energy potential. It also examined the implemented energy conservation measures and constraints faced by the refugees both in Palorinya and Imvepi refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. 'edata were collected by conducting household interviews and collection of wood species samples for energy potential laboratory analysis. Findings indicate that the major sources of wood fuel were firewood, charcoal, briquettes, and biomass fuels. 'e major refugee choices that determined wood-fuel collection included the family size of the house hold, culture, method of cooking, type of food cooked, high poverty levels, and availability of family labour (P ≤ 0.05). 'e sampled wood tree species had the highest energy potential were Celtis durandii (5,837 kcal/kg), Parkinsonia aculeata (5,771 kcal/kg), Delonix regia (5,153 kcal/kg), and Bligihia unijugata (5,034 kcal/kg). Access to wood fuel by the households was mainly constrained by limited household income levels, long distances trekked, and inadequate awareness about wood fuel sources and availability. To conserve wood fuel, the refugees deploy several measures including the use of mobile solar gadgets for cooking and lighting, taking up agroforestry, use of briquettes, adoption of energy-saving cooking stoves, and establishment of new woodlots. 'erefore, to reverse this trend, the Ugandan government and development partners should prioritise energy investments by supporting cheaper energy alternatives such as mobile solar gadgets and energy-saving cooking technologies, and establishment of woodlots.
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    Factors and Constraints Hindering Effective Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case Study of Northern Uganda.
    (International Journal of Advanced Research, 2021) Ongia, Joel-Owiny; Turyabanawe, Loy; Barasa, Bernard; Mulabbi, Andrew; Akello, Gertrude
    In developing countries, little information is available about solid-waste characteristics, determinants for adoption and performance-evaluation of municipal-waste management systems in Municipals. This study aimed: to characterize the municipal solid-wastes, collection, dumping and evaluate the efficiency and reliability of Municipal solid-waste management system. A total of 200 households were randomly sampled and interviewed. Data was analysed using Binary-Logistic Regression model to determine factors influencing collection and dumping of solid wastes. Results showed that biodegradable/organic wastes comprise a major fraction of solid-wastes produced. Factors that influenced solid-waste collection and dumping included: household-age, unavailability of solid-waste containers, inadequate collection/dumping space and weak legal-enforcement against poor-dumping. The waste system is constrained by inadequate transport facilities, inadequate space for temporal dumping; and lack of legal enforcement in matters of solid-waste poor handling. These have made the systems ineffective and unreliable. This study recommends involvement of all stakeholders in innovative approaches to uphold sustainable municipal sanity.