Browsing by Author "Mbabazi, D."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Can protected areas work in artisanal fisheries of Uganda? The case of Lakes Edward-George and Kazinga Channel
    (African Journals Online (AJOL), 2014) Bassa, S.; Mbabazi, D.; Taabu-Munyaho, A.; Nakiyende, H.; Muhumuza, E.; Nsega, M.; Amiina, B.; Rukuunya, E.; Bakunda, A.; Balirwa, J.S.
    The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management agitates for provision of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which seem to be effective in developed countries. However, efforts to control artisanal fisheries through protection have not been adequately assessed. The Uganda portion of Lake Edward, Kazinga channel and half of Lake George are located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, controlled and managed by the Uganda Wild Life Authority (UWA). Three of the seven recognised landing sites on Lake George occur outside the park, and by proxy are unprotected. The objective of this study was to compare fishing efforts, gears and fishery yield of the protected and unprotected lake areas and landing sites of Uganda during 2011 and 2013. Fishing effort data sets were generated through periodic census of fishing inputs, in addition to the yield. Of the total annual fish production (9,200 metric tonnes) from the Edward-George system on the Uganda portion, protected areas contributed 87% and were markedly higher than the unprotected area (13%). The number of illegal gillnets in the protected area increased by 88% relative to 12% in the unprotected area, over the same period. The principle of MPAs in conservation in artisanal fisheries may not be effective and achievable in these regions.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Common fish diseases and parasites affecting wild and farmed Tilapia and catfish in Central and Western Uganda
    (2014) Walakira, J.; Akoll, P.; Engole, M.; Sserwadda, M.; Nkambo, M.; Namulawa, V.; Kityo, G.; Musimbi, F.; Abaho, I.; Kasigwa, H.; Mbabazi, D.; Kahwa, D.; Naigaga, I.; Birungi, D.; Rutaisire, J.; Majalija, S.
    Intensification of aquaculture production in Uganda is likely to result into disease out-breaks leading to economic losses to commercial fish farms and associated natural aquatic ecosystems. This survey assessed health profiles of selected commercial fish farms and adjacent natural aquatic ecosystemsto identify fish diseases and parasites affecting Nile tilapia (Oreochroms niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in aquaculture systems in Uganda. Fish farms encounter disease out-breaks that cause low survival rates (0-30%), especially catfish hatcheries. Health management issues are not well understood by fish farmers, with some unable to detect diseased fish. Current control strategies to control aquatic pathogens include use of chemotherapeutants and antibiotics. Bacterial pathogens isolated included Flavobacterium columnare, Aeromonas sp., Edwardsiella sp., Psuedomonus sp., Steptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Proteus sp., and Vibrio sp. A high occurrence of Flavobacterium columnare exists in both asymptomatic and symptomatic fish was observed. Parasites included protozoans (Ichthyopthirius multiphilis, Trichodina sp. and Icthyobodo sp.) and trematodes (Cleidodiscus sp. and Gyrodactylus sp.). Diagnosis and control of diseases and parasites in aquaculture production systems requires adoption of a regional comprehensive biosecurity strategy: the East African (EAC) region unto which this study directly contributes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Uganda's National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure Project: Technical Challenges and the Way Forward
    (Fiber and Integrated Optics, 2011) Bulega, T.; Kyeyune, A.; Onek, P.; Sseguya, R.; Mbabazi, D.; Katwiremu, E.
    Several publications have identified technical challenges facing Uganda's National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure project. This research addresses the technical limitations of the National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure project, evaluates the goals of the project, and compares the results against the technical capability of the backbone. The findings of the study indicate a bandwidth deficit, which will be addressed by using dense wave division multiplexing repeaters, leasing bandwidth from private companies. Microwave links for redundancy, a Network Operation Center for operation and maintenance, and deployment of wireless interoperability for microwave access as a last-mile solution are also suggested.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Uganda’s National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure Project: Technical Challenges and Way Forward
    (IEEE, 2010-12-30) Bulega, T.; Kyeyune, A.; Onek, P.; Sseguya, R.; Mbabazi, D.; Katwiremu, E.
    Several publications such as media articles have pointed out key technical challenges facing Uganda's National Transmission Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) project. The challenges emanate from the use of G652 instead of other fiber-optic cable types like the G655 fiber-optic cable. However, the articles do not suggest ways of addressing the technical limitations of the project. This paper uses an exploratory, quantitative and analytical approach to evaluate the goals of the project, and the already deployed part of the infrastructure, and compares the evaluation results, against the technical capability of the backbone, based on global backbone infrastructure performance benchmarks. A survey of previous work and results from related studies form inputs to a grounded theory-based hypothesis formulation. The paper highlights the national demand of bandwidth by all anticipated users such as government ministries, universities, schools, health centers, administrative headquarters and private sector entities. The findings of the study are validated through comparisons with results of investigations carried out on similar projects in developing countries. Finally the paper suggests ways of addressing the challenges of the NBI project using alternatives such as the use of Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) repeaters after shorter distances, leasing bandwidth from private companies to cater for the deficit, use of microwave links for redundancy, setting up a Network Operation Center (NOC) for operation and maintenance, and deployment of WiMAX as a last mile solution.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Variations and changes in habitat, productivity, composition of aquatic biota and fisheries of the Kyoga lake system: lessons for management
    (African Journal of Aquatic Science, 2013) Ogutu-Ohwayo, R.; Odongkara, K.; Okello, W.; Mbabazi, D.; Wandera, S. B.; Ndawula L. M.; Natugonza, V.
    The Kyoga lake system, which is c. 4 m deep, originally had a diverse fish fauna, extensive macrophytes and wetlands. Most (82%) of its water comes from Lake Victoria, is controlled through three dams and has a short residence time of c. 3 months. Physical and chemical factors, plankton productivity and composition vary across the lake from east to west. The macrophyte cover decreased after the heavy El Niño rains of 1961, and the area of wetlands decreased by 48.5% between 1994 and 2008 mainly because of their conversion to agriculture. The main lake was infested with water hyacinth in the 1990s but subsequently this was brought under control. The native fishes were overexploited and non-native fishes, including a top piscivore, Nile perch Lates niloticus L., were introduced and boosted fish production, but they also were overexploited. Nile perch also preyed upon and decimated native species, which survived only in satellite lakes. Populations of some of these species recently have started to recover in the main lake. Efforts should be made to control habitat loss and water-level fluctuations, wetland loss, overexploitation of the fishes, conserve the surviving fish species and address the emerging challenge of climate change.