Browsing by Author "Egeru, A."

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    Agro-pastoral choice of coping strategies and response to drought in the semi-arid areas of Uganda
    (African Journal of Rural Development, 2017) Akwango, D.A.; Obaa, B.B.; Turyahabwe, N.; Baguma, Y.; Egeru, A.
    Drought episodes have been on the increase in the semi- arid areas of Uganda with harmful effects like crop failure, and human and livestock mortality, among others. There are barely any studies that have examined why agro- pastoral communities take specific actions in coping with drought. This study examined the factors influencing the choice of coping strategies to drought and the reasons for response and nonresponse. The study was conducted in the semi-arid Karamoja sub-region of Uganda using a crosssectional household survey on 305 households. A multinomial logistic model was used to analyze the factors that determine the choice of coping strategy by households against drought events. The results indicate that coping was positively influenced by distance to the nearest water source, access to drought information and training on drought management. Livelihood support, amount of arable land owned and frequency of receiving information from Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS) had a positive significant effect on response. To enhance response capabilities, there is need to improve livelihoods and frequent dissemination of information on impending drought.
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    Determinants of household food security in a rangeland area of Uganda
    (African Journal of Rural Development (AFJRD), 2017) Mbolanyi, B.; Egeru, A.; Mfitumukiza, D.
    Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists operating in the rangelands of Uganda remain food insecure. This study determined the status of household food security in Nakaseke district, Uganda. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in February 2016 among 180 randomly selected households. Two measures of food security; a Self-Reported Food Security Status Index (RFSI) and a multi-dimensional index generated through the Principal Component Analysis (PCAI) were used. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions were performed to identify important determinants. Results showed that 46.8% of the households were food insecure. The perceived peak period for food shortage was between July and August. Most households (95.1%) met their food needs through off-farm sources. Age of household head, educational level of household head, off-farm/ non-farm income, cross-breeding and livestock ownership positively influenced household food security (p≤0.05). The sex of household head, household size (AE) and absence of credit negatively influenced household food security (p≤0.05). It is proposed that a suit of actions including income diversification through participation in offfarm activities, increasing access to education, encouraging crop-livestock integration and improving livestock productivity be used to improve household food security in this rangeland area of Uganda.
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    The Effect of Land use/cover change on Biomass Stock in Dryland Areas of Eastern Uganda. A case study of Olio Sub-county in Soroti District
    (Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 2010) Egeru, A.; Okello, P.; Majaliwa, M. G. J.; Mukwaya, P.; Isubikalu, P.
    Drylands occupy 44% of Uganda’s land surface and provide livelihood to a cross-section of both rural and urban folks. However in the face of population pressure, drylands are increasingly in the path of conversion and degradation. This study therefore, performed an assessment of the effect of land use/cover change on biomass stock in olio sub-county from 1973 to 2001. A series of systematically corrected Orthorectified Landsat imageries of 1973, 1986 and 2001 obtained from the Landsat website were used. The images were analysed using unsupervised approach in Integrated Land and Water Information System version 3.3 and validated using field observations and historic memories of village elders. Findings indicate that land use/cover change is driven by small-scale farming. Between 1973-1986 significant declines were identified among small-scale farming (23.2%), grasslands (8.7%) and large scale-farming (9.9%). Further, declines were also registered between 1986-2001 in Bushland (12.1%), woodlands (13.9%) and wetlands (8.2%) while dramatic gains were registered in small-scale farming by 19.4%. These declines led to losses in the available biomass stock by 2001 within bushlands, wetlands and woodlands loosing 29.1 million tons, 669.1 metric tons and 87.3 million tons respectively. We conclude that small-scale farming by resource poor farmers is rapidly transforming the vegetation landscape. Therefore, there is need for increased use of remote sensing and GIS to quantify change patterns at local scales for essential monitoring and assessment of land use and or/cover change effects and human interference on the landscape.
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    Projected water resource dynamics in the sub-humid Upper Nile Water Management Zone of Uganda, East Africa
    (African Journal of Rural Development, 2018) Egeru, A.; Barasa, B.; Gabiri, G.; Openjuru, G.L.
    Projected scenarios in land, population, resource use, land use/cover, climate and urbanization over the Nile Basin reveal an acceleration and dynamical transitions in nearto- medium term. These changes have a bearing on water resource dynamics including the acceleration of the long-held yet hitherto managed conflicts over the Nile waters. This paper presents a projection of water resource dynamics in the River Nile using the Upper Nile Water Management Zone (UNWMZ) of Uganda as a reference site. Results showed variability in sub-catchment discharge into the Upper Water Management Zone. By 2040, the catchment’s water resources base will decrease by 12.6% whilst gross and net demand will increase. The projected decrease in the water discharge in the catchment can be attributed to the anticipated increase in temperatures, a decrease in rainfall and expected increase in human population in the sub-region. It is recommended that routine monitoring of catchment discharge is enhanced and intensified. Further, exploration into the technical and scientific mechanisms that will facilitate effective adaptation to increased water demand in the catchment should be undertaken in response to the projected increase in gross and net water demand in the catchment.