NRU :: Browsing by Author "Tabuti, John R.S."

Browsing by Author "Tabuti, John R.S."

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Community Attitudes And Preferences Towards Woody Species: Implications For Conservation In Nawaikoke, Uganda
(Oryx, 2009) Tabuti, John R.S.; Ticktin, T.; Arinaitwe, M.Z.; Muwanika, V.B.
Worldwide many important tree resources, and the livelihoods of local community members who depend on them, are threatened. Effective management of tree resources requires, among other things, knowledge of which species are preferred locally and can therefore be successfully adopted into conservation plans, as well as an understanding of local attitudes towards tree conservation. We conducted a study in Nawaikoke Sub-county of eastern Uganda to address three questions: (1) Which woody species are considered most valuable to rural communities and how do priorities vary across different sectors of the communities? (2) What are local perceptions of the status of woody species and of the main threats to their conservation? (3) What attitudes do local people hold towards conservation and what challenges do conservation initiatives face? We carried out focus group discussions with different specialist groups, key informant interviews, and semi-structured interviews with 62 households. Our results illustrate that local communities value 26 woody species highly, 15 of which are indigenous. However, priorities vary greatly across different specialist user groups. According to respondents most of the prioritized species are threatened, with the greatest threats being charcoal burning, overexploitation and expanding agriculture. Community members are actively managing and/or interested in managing those tree resources with economic value but largely ignore the greater diversity of woody species, especially shrubs. Administrative, political and traditional leadership institutions do not currently assist in the conservation of woody species. We provide suggestions for a conservation action plan that involves multiple strategies.
Conservation of priority woody species on farmlands: A case study from Nawaikoke sub-county, Uganda
(Applied Geography, 2011) Tabuti, John R.S.; Muwanika, Vincent B.; Arinaitwe, Mary Z.; Ticktin, Tamara
In tropical Africa, woody species provide products and services that millions of people depend on. However, many of these species are also threatened and declining and this can have serious livelihood consequences for communities who depend on them. Identifying which species are most at risk and which ones are being conserved is therefore critical. In this study, we undertook a survey in Nawaikoke Sub-county, Uganda to assess which of 26 most preferred species are managed on farmland, to identify what environmental factors influence their availability, and to describe their conservation statuses. Individuals of these species were enumerated and measured in 320 plots across the eight parishes of Nawaikoke. Seven of the 26 species were not encountered in any plots. The rest were found close to homesteads in homegardens, in crop gardens and in young fallows on well drained soils. Only Combretum collinum and Acacia seyal were associated with old fallows and poorly drained clay loamy soils. Mangifera indica, Milicia excelsa, Ficus natalensis, Ficus sycomorus, Artocarpus heterophyllus and Albizia coriaria were found in numerous plots in at least six of the eight parishes, and at relatively high densities and we consider them to be at the lowest risk of disappearance from the landscape. Size-class distributions of all preferred species, regardless of their abundance, exhibited little recruitment from juvenile life stages. We conclude that most of the species face some level of threat through destruction of seedlings and saplings and that for these species to persist into the future there is need to work with farmers to encourage them to plant or spare those found growing naturally. There is a high potential for these species to increase in abundance because they grow in a wide diversity of farm niches. For the farmers to become more involved, focus should primarily be on native species that provide shade, fruits and timber. Some of these target species also play ecological roles, increasing their functionality. Lastly, there is need to protect non-crop habitats like fallows and wetlands.
Conversion of native vegetation in protected areas fuels co2-equivalent losses in Uganda
(Nova Publishers, 2017) Olupot, Giregon; Otukei, John R.; Muwanika, Vincent B.; Esaete, Josephine; Tabuti, John R.S.
Protected areas (PAs) play many unique yet, irreplaceable ecosystem functions, most importantly, mitigation of CO2 emissions. However, the influence of land use and land cover (LULC) change on the sequestration of carbon in these PAs and related ecosystems is strikingly limited. This chapter consolidates the scanty data on the impact of LULC change on biomass and soil carbon stocks for evaluation of the impact of such LULC changes on CO2-equivalent (CO2-e) fluxes in the PAs of Uganda. The gist of the study was to test the hypothesis that any change in LULC or shift away from the pristine LULC type (PAs in our case), would lead to a net CO2-e loss. The results indicate that deliberate revegetation of an old (39–63 years) pine plantation segment of Kibale National Park with indigenous tree species resulted in a net 56.8% increase in CO2-e sequestration (18.10 Mg CO2-e ha-1) in 10 years. In Mt Elgon National Park (MENP) with mature native forest (>80 years), over 87% of the CO2-e was sequestered by mature trees in the intact tropical high forest (ITHF). A change in LC from an ITHF to a degraded tropical high forest (DTHF) to grassland has resulted in net losses of 91.5% and 93.6% of the CO2-e sequestered by the ITHF, respectively. In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a shift from closed forest canopy (CFC) to open forest canopy (OFC) translated into a net loss of over 76.8% of CO2-e. There was a significant effect of LULC change on the depth distribution of soil carbon stocks in KNP. Highest soil carbon stocks (19.0±0.86 Mg C ha-1) were observed under maize whereas the smallest (16.4±1.54 Mg C ha-1) were under ITHF. However, about 70% of the soil carbon stocks under the forest covers (11.2 Mg C ha-1) were accumulated deeper than 0–0.15 m compared with only about 47% (about 8.9 Mg C ha-1) under maize. The 2.3 Mg C ha-1 in the 0.15–0.6 m layer of soil under ITHF and restored forest in excess of what we observed under maize, highlights the importance of the forests in sequestering carbon in the area and potentially in related ecosystems elsewhere in Uganda. Our synthesis indicates that change in LULC or shift away from native LULC type leads to a net loss of CO2-e. Therefore, conservation of such PAs in Uganda is not an option but mandatory for climate change mitigation.
Determinants Of Participation In State And Private PES Projects In Uganda
(Scientific African, 2020) Aganyira, Kellen; Kabumbuli, Robert; Muwanika, Vincent B.; Tabuti, John R.S.; Sheil, Douglas
Climate change mitigation can improve rural livelihoods through payment for environmental services (PES) approaches. However, participation in PES projects is voluntary, uncertain and some people's participation is more important than others. In this article, we use quantitative and qualitative methods to examine factors that determine local peoples’ participation in state (Rwoho and Kasagala) and private (‘Undisclosed’ and Hoima) forestry carbon projects in Uganda. We find that such determinants vary within and between projects. For example, older people with more land parcels were more likely to participate in private projects compared to their counterparts in state projects. In plantation forests, participation was motivated by access to forest products (timber and charcoal), while the desire to conserve water sources was important for participants adjacent to natural forests. While expected carbon payments were important in one state project, they were less significant in the others. Non-participation was linked to high entry costs, distrust for forest managers in state projects and non-ownership of natural forests. In all case studies, non-participation was mainly associated to limited project information. To gain broad participation, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) and other PES mechanisms must critically identify and consider community specific needs, expectations and concerns in their design and implementation. This requires willingness to diagnose community concerns and allow adjustments.
Ethnoveterinary knowledge in pastoral Karamoja, Uganda
(Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2009) Gradé, J.T.; Tabuti, John R.S.; Damme, Patrick Van
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The people of Karamoja of northern Uganda chiefly rely on ethnoveterinary knowledge (EVK) to control common livestock health problems. In spite of cattle’s central role in Karamojong culture and livelihoods, there has been no systematic recording of their ethnoveterinary plant-based cures to date. Aim of study: To document the remedies used to treat livestock diseases, their preparation and administration. Methods: Datawere collected using semi-structured interviews, guided questionnaires, group discussions, direct observations and collection trips. Results: We present information on 209 plant species and 18 non-plant materials. Plant species are distributed over 116 genera and 54 families. The most common medicinal use was treatment against anaplasmosis. Balanites aegyptiacus, Carissa spinarum, Warburgia salutaris and Harrisonia abyssinica had themost uses of all species. All different plant partswere used; bark and underground partswere exploited more frequently than other plant parts. Most remedies listed used a single ingredient, typically soaked in water; only 12.8% remedies used multiple plants. The route of administrationwas primarily oral followed by topical applications. Almost all plants are collected from the wild; none of the few cultivated plants used had been planted for medicinal purposes. Conclusions: The pastoralists in the study site possess a wealth of EVK which they use to maintain animal health. Their rich knowledge and high diversity of plants were recorded here for the first time.
Ethnoveterinary medicines for cattle (Bos indicus) in Bulamogi county, Uganda: plant species and mode of use
(Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003) Tabuti, John R.S.; Dhillion, Shivcharn S.; Lye, Kaare A.
In this paper, we present an inventory and the mode of use of plants to treat cattle. This study was carried out in Bulamogi county of Uganda, using methods consisting of semi-structured interviews employing a checklist of questions, questionnaires, direct observations, and biological inventories. Farmers employ both traditional and western medicine to treat their animals. The local people identified 33 different diseases, and had herbal treatments for nine of these. Some of the diseases mentioned by farmers indicated symptoms of diseases. Thus, the naming of diseases by local people when compared to the western veterinary medicine system, at times did not distinguish between diseases and symptoms of diseases. This is because the local disease nomenclature is based on symptoms of diseases, whereas under western veterinary science diseases are named according to aetiological information. As for traditional medicine, we report for the first time the use of 38 plant species, distributed in 37 genera and 28 families, to treat the common cattle diseases in Bulamogi. Most of these plants grow wild (76.3%), are indigenous (68.4%) and are shrubs (60.5%). The plant parts most frequently used for treating cattle are roots (37.5%) and leaves (27.5%). Medications are mostly prepared as infusions and seldom as decoctions. Topical application of some medicines is practised as well. The species used to treat cattle are also used to treat some human ailments and have some other uses as well. Most of the curative species reported here are directed at treating East Coast fever (ECF), a disease known to cause high fatalities in cattle.
Fodder Plants for Cattle in Kaliro District, Uganda
(African Study Monographs, 2009) Tabuti, John R.S.; Lye, K.A.
The need for cultivating cattle feed in Uganda’s Kaliro District has become urgent because the natural grazing areas are rapidly declining. The aim of this study was to generate information that would lead to the development and cultivation of livestock feed in the farming system. The specific objectives were (1) to describe cattle husbandry practices and (2) to document the indigenous cattle fodder and browse species. Our results show that 95% of the Kaliro households rear cattle, but are keeping fewer heads because of low fodder availability. They are also tethering animals as a direct response to the declining area of natural pastures. The cattle of Kaliro commonly feed on 42 plant species, dominated by grass and herb species. These species according to the respondents are becoming scarce because pasturelands have been converted to crop agriculture and to settlement. Fodder is also reportedly scarce in the dry season. Results of this study suggest that a diversity of plant species is available in Kaliro District from which to select some to cultivate in the variety of niches around the farm. Thirty of the fodder species reported here have other uses besides their use as fodder for cattle for the community. This may make them especially easy to select for cultivation by farmers around the farm.
Herbal medicines used in the treatment of malaria in Budiope county, Uganda
(Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2008) Tabuti, John R.S.
This studywas conducted to document herbal medicines (HMs) used in the treatment of malaria as well as the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices related to malaria recognition, control and treatment in Budiope county, Uganda. Methods: Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, and open- and close-ended questionnaires. Results: The respondents had a good understanding of malaria, and could recognize it and distinguish it from other fever types. They were also aware that malaria was spread by mosquitoes. Malaria prevalence was high, and affected individuals an average of six times a year. Respondents avoided mosquito bites by using mosquito nets, clearing bush around their homesteads, and burning plant parts to generate smoke. They preferred treating malaria using allopathic medicines because, according to them, they lacked the appropriate traditional knowledge necessary to exploit plants for the treatment of malaria. Secondly, allopathic medicines were believed to be superior to HMs in the treatment of malaria. Twenty-seven species were used for the treatment of malaria. The most frequently mentioned were Vernonia amygdalina, Momordica foetida, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Lantana camara and Mangifera indica. Drugs from these plants were prepared from single species as water extracts and were administered in variable doses over varied time periods.
Homegardens and the future of food and nutrition security in southwest Uganda
(Agricultural Systems, 2017) Tabuti, John R.S.; Luedeling, Eike; Whitney, Cory W. a Yehf, Jens Gebauera, Eike Luedelingb; Hensel, Oliver; Yeh, Ching-Hua; Gebauer, Jens
Governments around the world seek to create programs that will support sustainable agriculture and achieve food security, yet they are faced with uncertainty, system complexity and data scarcity when making such choices. We propose decision modeling as an innovative approach to help meet these challenges and offer a case study to show the effectiveness of the tool. We use decision analysis tools to model the possible nutrition-related outcomes of the Ugandan government's long term agricultural development plan termed ‘Vision 2040’. The analysis indicates potential shifts in household nutritional contributions through the comparison of the current small-scale diverse systems and the envisioned industrial agricultural systems that may replace them. A Monte Carlo simulation revealed that Vision 2040 plans outperform homegardens in terms of energy and some macronutrients, yet homegardens are likely to be better at producing key vitamins and micronutrients, such as Vitamin A. Value of information calculations applied to Monte Carlo outputs further revealed that gathering more data on the annual yields and nutrient contents of staples, pulses, vegetables, and fruits could improve certainty about the nutrition contribution of both scenarios. We conclude that the development of Uganda's agricultural sector should consider the role that agrobiodiversity in the current small-scale agricultural systems plays in national food and nutrition security. Any changes according to Vision 2040 should also include farmers' voices and current crop management systems as guides for a sustainable food supply in the region. This modeling approach may be a tool for governments to consider agricultural policy implications, especially given the data scarcity and agricultural variability in regions such as East Africa.
Important Woody Plant Species, their Management and Conservation Status in Balawoli Sub-county, Uganda
(Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 2012) Tabuti, John R.S.
Woody plant species are threatened in Uganda. To conserve these species there is need to generate information that may be used to design management plans. This study was conducted in Balawoli Sub-county, Kamuli District, Uganda between July 2009 and January 2010. We addressed four questions: (1) which woody species are most preferred? (2) what is the conservation status of these species and for which species have changes in local availability been observed? (3) what management practices exist for woody species? and (4) what tenure rights exist for woody plants? Data were generated through guided questionnaire interviews. Seventeen species are valued most within the community. These species are multipurpose and altogether have 25 different uses for the community. The most frequently harvested products are edible fruits, firewood and timber. The value of these species as a source of income is low. Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C. Berg, Albizia coriaria Welw. ex Oliv., Combretum molle R. Br. ex G. Don, Terminalia glaucescens Planch. ex Benth., Coffea spp., Combretum collinum Fresen. and Citrus spp. are becoming scarce. However, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., Mangifera indica L., Ficus natalensis Hochst., Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, Acacia sp., Senna siamea (Lam.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, Eucalyptus spp., Pinus spp., Carica papaya L. and Lantana camara L. are increasing in abundance. The main factors leading to the scarcity of some species include over-harvesting, destructive harvesting, pests, poor planting of trees by farmers, and droughts. The key factors contributing to some species’ success are that the species are: planted, drought resistant, regenerate naturally, easy to manage, mature fast, available as seedlings. Farmers maintain 51 woody species that they plant or retain when found growing naturally on their land. Some farmers are constrained in planting trees by lack of seedlings, pest infestations, drought and lack of land. Species are managed in crop fields, the courtyard and home garden. Men own trees in the homestead, are more involved in tree management and selling of tree products, than women.
The in vitro antimycobacterial activity of medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) to treat tuberculosis in the Lake Victoria basin in Uganda
(Chest, 2011) Kirimuhuzya, Claude; Bunalema, Lydia; Tabuti, John R.S.; Kakudidi K., Esezah; Orodho, John; Magadula Jangu, Joseph; Otieno, Nicholas; Paul, Okemo
Locally Preferred Woody Species and Their Management in Kiruhura and Arua Districts, Uganda
(Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 2015) Nyamukuru, Antonia; Nabatanzi, Alice; Mpiira, Sam; Tabuti, John R.S.
Trees and shrubs are disappearing fast in anthropogenic landscapes of Uganda. In order to promote their conservation on-farm, there is need to involve farmers. Farmers’ involvement in tree/shrub management requires a clear understanding of the households’ needs that trees can satisfy, the priority species to satisfy these needs, as well as tree management practices and challenges that hinder tree planting. This study was carried out to satisfy these information needs and to also determine species that are locally threatened. The study was conducted in selected villages of Arua and Kiruhura districts between June and October 2012 using an ethnobotanical approach. Our results indicate that farmers value tree products to satisfy household welfare needs of accessing food (edible fruits), generating income, and accessing construction wood. The species are multi-purpose, and the most preferred are Eucalyptus spp., Mangifera indica L., Persea americana Mill., Carica papaya L., Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam., Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, Annona senegalensis Pers., Pinus spp., and Tectona grandis L.f. Most farmers maintain trees on their land in courtyards, backyard gardens, or crop fields and ranches. Tree species are threatened by destructive harvesting and clearing land for agriculture. The key challenges to intensification of tree cultivation are livestock damage, land shortage, drought, and lack of financial resources. Farmers suggested that in order to strengthen tree planting, they should be provided with inputs including seedlings, chemicals, and tools. In conclusion farmers prefer exotic tree species to satisfy household needs. Intensification of tree management will need to address a number of challenges identified in this study.
Medicinal plants used by traditional medicine practitioners for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and related conditions in Uganda
(Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2010) Lamorde, Mohammed; Tabuti, John R.S.; Obua, Celestino; Kukunda-Byobona, Collins; Lanyero, Hindam; Byakika-Kibwika, Pauline; Bbosa, Godfrey S.; Lubega, Aloysius; Ogwal-Okeng, Jasper; Ryan, Mairin; Waako, Paul J.; Merry, Concepta
In Uganda, there are over one million people with HIV/AIDS. When advanced, this disease is characterized by life-threatening opportunistic infections. As the formal health sector struggles to confront this epidemic, new medicines from traditional sources are needed to complement control efforts. This study was conducted to document herbal medicines used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and related opportunistic infections, and to document the existing knowledge, attitudes and practices related to HIV/AIDS recognition, control and treatment in Sembabule, Kamuli, Kabale and Gulu districts in Uganda.
Oil Content And Physicochemical Characteristics Of Some Wild Oilseed Plants From Kivu Region Eastern Democratic Republic Of Congo
(African Journal of Biotechnology, 2011) Minzangi, Kazadi; Kaaya, Archileo N.; Kansiime, Frank; Tabuti, John R.S.; Samvura, Bashwira
Seeds were collected from Carapa grandiflora, Carapa procera, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Maesopsis eminii, Millettia dura, Myrianthus arboreus, Myrianthus holstii, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Podocarpus usambarensis, Tephrosia vogelii and Treculia africana from Kahuzi-Biega National Park and the surrounding areas in D.R. Congo. Oils were extracted using ethyl ether in Soxhlet extractor. Physicochemical characteristics were determined using the methods of the American Oil Chemists Society. The seed oil content obtained ranged from 17.2 to 64.4%; the highest was obtained from P. usambarensis and the lowest from T. vogelii. The oil specific gravity varied from 0.8050 to 0.9854; the oils melting point ranged from -12 to 32°C; the oil saponification values from 182.5 to 260.9 mg KOH/g; the oil acidity index from 1.74 to 5.31 mg KOH/g and the unsaponifiable matter from 0.54 to 2.25%. The plant seed oils content reported in this study are comparatively higher than some food crop plants such as soybean and olive. Five of these oils have oil melting range as that of edible oils. C. grandiflora, C. halicacabum, M. eminii and the two species of Myrianthus are in the range of common cooking oils by their specific gravity values. P. usambarensis seed oil with its relatively high unsaponifiable matter content can have efficacy as cosmetic.
Plant Medicines Used in the Treatment of Malaria
(Novel Plant Bioresources: Applications in Food, Medicine and Cosmetics, 2014) Tabuti, John R.S.; Nyamukuru, Antonia; Lamorde, Mohammed
Globally, malaria ranks among the top three communicable killer diseases. Each year,malaria causes 781 000 deaths and illnesses in an estimated 225 million people worldwide (WHO, 2010).Most deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa (WHO, 2008), with young children and pregnant women at greatest risk for severe forms of malaria and death (WHO, 2008). Uganda has one of the highest burdens of malaria globally, with an estimated 70 000–110 000 children dying of malaria each year (Lynch et al., 2005). At the household and at the national level, malaria exerts significant social and economic costs (Sachs and Malaney, 2002). These costs include direct medical costs to treat the disease and also lost income resulting from inability to work or time taken off work to care for relatives with malaria. Malaria in children impacts negatively on school attendance and decreases savings at the household level. At the national level, governments incur the costs of prevention and treatment ofmalaria. Furthermore, the economic impact of malaria endemicity includes lower trade, tourism and foreign direct investment (Sachs and Malaney, 2002).
Practice and prospects of indigenous homestead based approaches to prevention of malaria; a case study of a high malaria transmission area in Uganda
(Scientific Research and Essays, 2010) Waako, Paul J.; Nsubuga, Rebecca N.; Sebulime, Peregrine; Tabuti, John R.S.
Environmental sanitation and indigenous practices based on homestead characteristics have not been emphasized in national malaria control strategies. This study explored homestead characteristics, housing attributes, indigenous practices and knowledge of malaria in a rural high malaria transmission community in Uganda. Structured interviews and direct observations of housing attribute and homestead characteristics were carried out in 100 randomly selected homesteads in Kaliro District, Uganda. Plants believed to be mosquito repellants were observed in a number of homesteads and most respondents correctly described malaria symptoms. Almost all homesteads (99%) had large crops grown around them and were close to kraals (within 50 m, 88%). A number of homesteads were in easy reach of un-protected water springs (49%), 32% had material that could harbour mosquitoes (e.g. tins or ditches). The community had good knowledge of malaria and its prevention. Homesteads had modifications aimed at reducing malaria transmission. Despite this knowledge, the environment of most homesteads was conducive for the survival and faster multiplication of malaria vectors and this collaborates with the high prevalence of malaria found in the study area. There is need to develop and pilot interventions focusing on modifications of homestead characteristics and housing attributes for sustainable control of malaria.
Review of indigenous knowledge in Uganda: implications for its promotion
(Afrika focus, 2012) Tabuti, John R.S.; Van Damme, Patrick
Indigenous knowledge (IK) is an important resource that contributes to social and economic needs, community sustainability and sustainable development (Broadhead & Howard, 2on). IK holders use it to exploit, manage and conserve their environments. In Uganda, a wide diversity of IK exists such as that associated with traditional medicine. However, IK is undergoing rapid change and is weakening because of factors that include the outside influence of western cultures and inadequate documentation. These issues are explored here. Specifically we review the role of IK for household and community well-being, discuss the weakening of IK and describe opportunities in the existing national legal and institutional structures for valorizing IK.

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