Browsing by Author "Manga, Musa"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Building information modelling adoption in Uganda’s construction industry
    (Informa UK Limited, 2022-04-04) Acheng, Pamela O.; Kibwami, Nathan; Mukasa, Tom J.; Odongkara, Brian B.; Birungi, Rachel; Semada, Julius; Manga, Musa
    Building Information Modelling (BIM) has gained traction over the last decade seeing several countries making BIM mandatory. Projects using BIM have enjoyed better quality, reduced costs, and duration. However, its adoption remains low in developing nations like Uganda. This study assessed the state of BIM and its feasibility in Uganda’s construction industry. Data was collected using a structured online survey from 162 registered Architecture, Construction, and Engineering professionals. The analysis applied statistical tests like One-way non-parametric ANOVA, pairwise post hoc dunn and Mann-Whitney tests to assess relationships between profession, work experience, role in the supply chain, involvement in academia, against the awareness, BIM tools used, BIM functions, perceived benefits of BIM, and barriers to BIM adoption. Enhanced productivity was the highest benefit of BIM, along with complete project information and improved design quality. Acquisition and training costs were the top barriers to adoption. The ANOVA test showed those in academia had better understanding of BIM concepts, implying academia's importance in promoting BIM while work experience influenced BIM functions used and awareness of BIM tools. Different professions had varied understanding of some BIM concepts.
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    A Comparative Analysis of Thermal Performance, Annual Energy Use, and Life Cycle Costs of Low-cost Houses Made with Mud Bricks and Earthbag Wall Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
    (Energy and Built Environment., 2021) Wesonga, Racheal; Kasedde, Hillary; Kibwami, Nathan; Manga, Musa
    Given the high demand for low-cost housing by the low-income earners, coupled with the tropical climate experienced in sub-Saharan Africa, new-built housing stock needs utmost attention to cost, durability, and efficiency. With the walls accounting for a substantial proportion of the total building cost, choice of a wall system for use in building construction is critical. This choice usually depends on how durable, comfortable, ecological, and economical a given system is, to meet both the quality standards and low-cost aspects of housing. Although the earthbag building system allows for the construction of strong, affordable, and sustainable housing, it is not widely known. As such, its sustainable characteristics have gone unrecognised throughout the building industry. This paper examines and compares the thermal properties and total Life Cycle Costs (LCC) of earthbag walls with the commonly used burnt brick walls - based on the Degree-Days method and Life Cycle Costing analyses of building walls located in one of the hottest regions in Uganda. In-situ measurements of temperature and heat flux were conducted in accordance with ISO 9869 and the annual energy requirements obtained. The total LCC were calculated based on the initial construction costs and annual energy costs attributed to the building wall systems. Earthbags housing was found to be thermal-physically better than the brick wall with a lower U-value resulting in lower annual energy requirements and a huge saving in annual energy costs of up to 83.2%. This saving, coupled with low initial construction costs made the earthbag unit 68.7% cheaper than the burnt brick unit over a 30-year period. Therefore, this study findings suggest earthbag walling system as an economically viable and technically feasible low-cost construction option for rural areas and low-incomers earners’ housing in warm climatic conditions, a characteristic of sub-Saharan countries – so as to promote regional development.
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    The Effect of Household Storage Tanks/ Vessels and User Practices on the Quality of Water: a systematic review of literature
    (Environmental Systems Research, 2021) Manga, Musa; Ngobi, Timothy G.; Okeny, Lawrence; Acheng, Pamela; Namakula, Hidaya; Kyaterekera, Elizabeth; Nansubuga, Irene; Kibwami, Nathan
    Household water storage remains a necessity in many communities worldwide, especially in the developing countries. Water storage often using tanks/vessels is envisaged to be a source of water contamination, along with related user practices. Several studies have investigated this phenomenon, albeit in isolation. This study aimed at developing a systematic review, focusing on the impacts of water storage tank/vessel features and user practices on water quality. Database searches for relevant peer-reviewed papers and grey literature were done. A systematic criterion was set for the selection of publications and after scrutinizing 1106 records, 24 were selected. These were further subjected to a quality appraisal, and data was extracted from them to complete the review.Microbiological and physicochemical parameters were the basis for measuring water quality in storage tanks or vessels. Water storage tank/vessel material and retention time had the highest effect on stored water quality along with age, colour, design, and location. Water storage tank/vessel cleaning and hygiene practices like tank/vessel covering were the user practices most investigated by researchers in the literature reviewed and they were seen to have an impact on stored water quality.There is evidence in the literature that storage tanks/vessels, and user practices affect water quality. Little is known about the optimal tank/vessel cleaning frequency to ensure safe drinking water quality. More research is required to conclusively determine the best matrix of tank/vessel features and user practices to ensure good water quality.
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    Invasive Fungal Diseases in Africa: A Critical Literature Review
    (Journal of Fungi,, 2022) Bongomin, Felix; Ekeng, Bassey E.; Kibone, Winnie; Nsenga, Lauryn; Olum, Ronald; Itam-Eyo, Asa; Ngouanom Kuate, Marius Paulin; Pebalo Pebolo, Francis; Davies, Adeyinka A.; Manga, Musa; Ocansey, Bright; Kwizera, Richard; Baruch Baluku, Joseph
    Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are of huge concern in resource-limited settings, particularly in Africa, due to the unavailability of diagnostic armamentarium for IFDs, thus making definitive diagnosis challenging. IFDs have non-specific systemic manifestations overlapping with more frequent illnesses, such as tuberculosis, HIV, and HIV-related opportunistic infections and malignancies. Consequently, IFDs are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. We critically reviewed the available literature on IFDs in Africa to provide a better understanding of their epidemiology, disease burden to guide future research and interventions. Cryptococcosis is the most encountered IFD in Africa, accounting for most of the HIV-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Invasive aspergillosis, though somewhat underdiagnosed and/or misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, is increasingly being reported with a similar predilection towards people living with HIV. More cases of histoplasmosis are also being reported with recent epidemiological studies, particularly fromWestern Africa, showing high prevalence rates amongst presumptive tuberculosis patients and patients living with HIV. The burden of pneumocystis pneumonia has reduced significantly probably due to increased uptake of anti-retroviral therapy among people living with HIV both in Africa, and globally. Mucormycosis, talaromycosis, emergomycosis, blastomycosis, and coccidiomycosis have also been reported but with very few studies from the literature. The emergence of resistance to most of the available antifungal drugs in Africa is yet of huge concern as reported in other regions. IFDs in Africa is much more common than it appears and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. Huge investment is needed to drive awareness and fungi related research especially in diagnostics and antifungal therapy.