Institutional Annual Research Reports

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Assessment of Fungal Contamination in Fish Feed from the Lake Victoria Basin, Uganda
(MDPI AG, 2020-04) Namulawa, Victoria Tibenda; Mutiga, Samuel; Musimbi, Fred; Akello, Sandy; Ngángá, Fredrick; Kago, Leah; Kyallo, Martina; Harvey, Jagger; Ghimire, Sita
bstract The emergence of commercial fish farming has stimulated the establishment of fish feed factories in Uganda. However, no information is available on the safety of the feed, mainly due to lack of mycotoxin testing facilities and weak regulatory systems. A study was carried out to examine fungal colonization and mycotoxin contamination in fish feed samples (n = 147) of different types collected from nine fish farms (n = 81) and seven fish feed factories (n = 66) in the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB). Fungi were isolated in potato dextrose agar, grouped into morphotypes and representative isolates from each morphotype were identified based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA sequences. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and total fumonisin (combinations of B1, B2 and B3; hereinafter named fumonisin) levels in feed samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A wide range of fungi, including toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides, were isolated from the fish feed samples. AFB1 was detected in 48% of the factory samples and in 63% of the farm samples, with toxin levels <40 and >400 µg/kg, respectively. Similarly, 31% of the factory samples and 29% of the farm samples had fumonisin contamination ranging between 0.1 and 4.06 mg/kg. Pellets and powder had higher mycotoxin contamination compared to other commercially available fish feed types. This study shows AFB1 as a potential fish feed safety issue in the LVB and suggests a need for more research on mycotoxin residues in fish fillets.
Can The National Micro, Small And Medi-um Enterprises Policy Reap From Flexibility?
(Uganda Management Institute, 2015) Uganda development management policy forum
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) form the bedrock of most economies. They are recognized worldwide, as engines of growth and development and in many countries there has been a conscious effort to support them so as to create the necessary employment opportunities, incomes and productive capacity among other benefits. Many governments and international donor agencies seek to promote the development of such enterprises through establishing support agencies and enterprise development projects. An important element for promoting enterprise development is to have a suitable enabling environment for business establishment, survival and growth. The enabling environment refers, among other things, to policy and regulatory issues, to infrastructure, and to financial and business development services. In this respect, Uganda has drafted a national policy for micro, small and medium enterprises which is under consideration and review by various stakeholders. This policy brief, thus, emerges to augment the feasibility of the national micro, small and medium enterprises policy draft.
A Case of Retreating Horizons and Worsening Circumstances? Annual State of Constitutionalism in Uganda in 2015
(Annual State of Constitutionalism in Uganda in, 2015) Kirunda, Robert
The state of constitutionalism in Uganda in 2015 calls for an analysis of various events and actions across the three arms of government. Twenty years into the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, this chapter conducts a juxtaposition of some of the events and decisions through the historical lens of what the expectations, aspirations and wishes of the people of Uganda were, and whether these are being met today. It is apparent that although much progress has been made, there is a lot of mileage to cover and in some instances, troubling strides in regression to recover from. There are many notable instances from 2015 in which it became more apparent how intertwined the functions of the three arms of government are in the Ugandan context. Divided into five other parts, the chapter evaluates each arm of government. The next part discusses the performance of the Executive arm of government and highlights a number of missed opportunities and reflects on some of the key challenges through the year. The next part discusses the performance of the legislature and interrogates the hypothesis that 2015 was largely a year of retreating horizons for this crucial arm of government. In its evaluation of the judiciary, the third part of the paper takes stock of major landmark decisions, highlighting the crucial progress that the courts have made in advancing the much needed culture of constitutionalism, but also pointing to areas in which the courts may need to take a more progressive approach in their adjudication of human rights. The paper also points to some challenges that have become so notorious that they deserve no further elaboration. The discourse on human rights and constitutionalism is advancing on new forms of media is an emerging area to which and more attention will need to be paid. In highlighting how new media forms are providing a new frontier, this chapter evaluates a few key events and hopefully tickles interest into these areas. Key events on the political scene are analyzed in order to evaluate Uganda’s progress in furthering good governance and human rights on a politically charged landscape. Before reaching the conclusion that the developments of 2015 left a trying realization that there is more ground to cover, the chapter highlights the areas in which a lot of work will have to be done in future, so as to foster the progress of constitutionalism in Uganda.
Challenges Faced by Adolescent Girls in Urban Areas of Uganda and the Case for Targeted Social Protection Programmes
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Mugume, Regean; Atwine, Blessing; Mpuuga, Dablin
Adolescent girls in urban areas of Uganda suffer unique challenges that affect their safe transition to adulthood. These challenges include;early school dropout, domestic and sexual violence, child labour and exploitation, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, among others. These vulnerabilities increase social and economic exclusion and have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent measures to slow down its spread, for instance, the countrywide lockdown and the school closures. This policy brief provides a snapshot of the unique challenges faced by adolescent girls in urban areas and makes the case for transformative social protectionprogrammes that address structural barriers to the economic and social inclusion of adolescent girls. In light of the findings, the brief recommends the need for community sensitization against sexual and physical abuse, and enforcement of laws to protect adolescent girls in urban settings.
Challenges of Mobilising Resources to Finance Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP)
(2017) Lakuma, Corti Paul; Lwanga, Musa Mayanja
A fall of global commodity prices and the resultant lower export revenues, reduction in donor financing and the increased expenditure on infrastructure have expanded the budget deficit in Uganda. In addition, the debt market is becoming increasingly costly. Interest payment on both domestic and foreign debt are projected to reach 12 percent of total public expenditures in 2017. This calls for alternative modes of revenue mobilisation. As such, Public Private Partnership (PPPs), improving efficiency in resource utilization, taxing growth sectors such as agriculture and mining, improving VAT collection and implementing policy changes to accommodate temporary macroeconomics shocks will be imperative to both mobilizing resources and financing projects planned under the National Development Plan (NDP).
COVID-19 Implications on Private Investment and Markets in East Africa
(African Economic Research Consortium, 2021) Mwesigye, Francis
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which started in China at the end of 2019, has spread across the world at an increasing rate. The disease gained recognition in the rest of the World in March 2020 and no continent has escaped the virus. As of 30th March 2021, there were about 128 million confirmed cases and 2.8 million deaths around the world. Declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11th March 2020, COVID-19 has become a global emergency, given its impact on the entire world population and the economy. The pandemic has had deleterious effects on the health systems and health and, as a result, led to loss of lives. To curb the spread of COVID-19, governments have taken various steps such as general confinement and largescale shutdown of economic activities, which curtailed the movement of people and goods. These measures have had serious social and economic implications.
EPRC Annual Report July 2015 - June 2016
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2016) Economic Policy Research Centre
2015/16 was a momentous financial year for the Economic Policy Research Centre, as Cabinet approved the National Fertiliser Policy for Uganda, its strategy and investment plan, that the Centre had worked on for over five years in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. The policy was endorsed by the Cabinet chaired by the Head of State, President Yoweri Museveni on May 4, 2016.
Improving the growth and transition of small and medium enterprises in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2017) Kuteesa, Annette; Lakuma, Paul; Gupta, Rakesh; Kasirye, Ibrahim
Urban areas in Uganda are increasingly facing competition for their resources in the face of rising population. More than one out of every five Ugandans are residing in urban areas and the urban population is expected to triple in next two decades. Most of the urban population resides in GKMA—a region challenged with unemployment and inadequate opportunities. Enhancing firm performance in urban areas offers a promise for jobs and local revenue to boost city development. Local governments and city council need to create mechanisms that address firm constraints and harness the factors that drive firm competiveness, growth and transition. Potential opportunities lie in collaborating with financial institutions to provide affordable credit, improving taxation procedures, establishing of business spaces for the small firms and influencing vocational schools to impact relevant skills.
The Independence of the Judiciary: an Assessment of the Reality of the Constitutional Doctrine in Uganda
(Available at SSRN 2984300., 2017) Ssensikombi, Alexander
This paper seeks to discuss the Constitutional doctrine of the Independence of the Judiciary as enshrined in Article 128 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (as amended); its safeguards and also gives an assessment of the applicability of this doctrine in Uganda; thereafter making recommendations
Introduction: special issue on weather and climate impacts in developing countries
(Cambridge University Press, 2021-10) Creti, Anna; Delacote, Philippe; Leblois, Antoine
Abstract Shocks related to weather variations have strong effects on developing countries’ economies. Climate change is expected to increase the occurrence and magnitude of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods or hurricanes that strongly affect agriculture and other activities. This special issue gathers literature reviews and case studies that aim to better understand heterogeneous impacts and their transmission channels, as well as to evaluate the impact of such weather shocks on developing economies, including Sub-Saharan African countries, India and Brazil.
Investing In Education
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
Due to the shift from sector based budgeting to programme based budgeting, the education sector lies under the human capital development programme. The brief therefore asseses the contribution of the education sector to the new HCD programmes as articulated in the NDPIII. The education sector is a critical component towards achieving human capital aspirations of building teachers and learners’ capacity as articulated in the recently approved third National Development Plan (NDP) III. Given the coronavirus pandemic and the associated school closures, ensuring that all formally enrolled children return to school will be critical during FY 2021/22.
Investing in education 2020
(UNICEF, 2020) The National Budget Framework
The education sector is a critical component towards achieving the human capital aspirations of Uganda as articulated in the recently approved third National Development Plan (NDP III)
Investing in Justice, Law And Order (JLOS)
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
Due to the shift from Sector Based Budgeting to Programme Based Budgeting, the justice law and order sector lies under the Governance and Security programme of the third National Development Plan. The brief therefore assesses the contribution of the JLOS sector to the new HCD programmes as articulated in the NDPIII.
Investing in Justice, Law and Order (JLOS) 2019
(UNICEF, 2019) The National Budget
Enhancing national policy, legal and regulatory framework through reform, harmonization and dissemination of priority laws, policies, procedures and standards; and enhancing public participation in reform processes. Enhancing access to JLOS services for all, particularly the poor and marginalized groups. Promoting the respect and observance of human rights and institutional accountability for service delivery.
Investing in Social Development
(Economic Policy Research Centre, 2021) Economic Policy Research Centre
In line with the change in the budgeting approach from sector to programme based budgeting, the social development sector lies under the Governance and Security programme, the Human Capital Development and the Community Mobilization and Mindset Change programmes of the third National Development Plan. This brief therefore assesses the contribution of the social development sector to the new Governance and Security programme as articulated in the NDPIII
Investing in Social Development 2019
(UNICEF, 2019) The National Budget
Promoting decent employment opportunities and labor productivity; • Enhancing effective participation of communities in the development process. Improving the resilience and productive capacity of the vulnerable persons for inclusive growth. Improving the capacity of youth to harness their potential and increase self-employment, productivity and competitiveness. Promoting rights, gender equality and women empowerment in the development process. Improving the performance of the Social Development Sector SDS institutions; and Restoring imbalances and promoting equal opportunity for all.
Performance of the Agricultural Credit Facility in Uganda: What are the trends?
(Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit, 2019) Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit
There is often an assumption that agriculture faces inherent difficulties in mobilizing credit and that this is a binding constraint on expanding agricultural output which justifies government intervention to provide or subsidize agricultural financing.Although the second National Development Plan (NDP II) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Development and Investment Strategy (DSIP) emphasize increased access to agricultural financing as a fundamental input to the sector transformation, this may not be achieved if the institutional and policy factors are not well streamlined along the credit market chain to solve the demand factors. Since the inception of Agricultural Credit Facility in 2009, various areas in the agriculture value chain have been financed under the scheme. With the introduction of Block Allocation under the current Memorandum of Agreement, 2018, a number of micro borrowers have accessed funding from the scheme which is intended to unlock credit to the smallholder farmers who are unable to access funding due to the stringent loan requirements such as collateral by Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs). This policy brief examines trends in funding, overall physical performance, inclusiveness and investments funded by ACF from FY2011/12 to FY2017/18. The brief uses data from the Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit (BMAU), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MFPED) and Bank of Uganda (BoU).
The potential distribution of Bacillus anthracis suitability across Uganda using INLA
(Nature Publishing Group, 2022-11) Ndolo, V A; Redding, D; Deka, M A; Salzer, J S; Vieira, A R; Onyuth, H; Ocaido, M; Tweyongyere, R; Azuba, R; Monje, F; Ario, A R; Kabwama, S; Kisaakye, E; Bulage, L; Kwesiga, B; Ntono, V; Harris, J; Wood, J L N; Conlan, A J K
Abstract To reduce the veterinary, public health, environmental, and economic burden associated with anthrax outbreaks, it is vital to identify the spatial distribution of areas suitable for Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of the disease. Bayesian approaches have previously been applied to estimate uncertainty around detected areas of B. anthracis suitability. However, conventional simulation-based techniques are often computationally demanding. To solve this computational problem, we use Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) which can adjust for spatially structured random effects, to predict the suitability of B. anthracis across Uganda. We apply a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) within the INLA Bayesian framework to quantify the relationships between B. anthracis occurrence and the environment. We consolidate a national database of wildlife, livestock, and human anthrax case records across Uganda built across multiple sectors bridging human and animal partners using a One Health approach. The INLA framework successfully identified known areas of species suitability in Uganda, as well as suggested unknown hotspots across Northern, Eastern, and Central Uganda, which have not been previously identified by other niche models. The major risk factors for B. anthracis suitability were proximity to water bodies (0–0.3 km), increasing soil calcium (between 10 and 25 cmolc/kg), and elevation of 140–190 m. The sensitivity of the final model against the withheld evaluation dataset was 90% (181 out of 202 = 89.6%; rounded up to 90%). The prediction maps generated using this model can guide future anthrax prevention and surveillance plans by the relevant stakeholders in Uganda.
Redeem Policy Implementation In Uganda By Takling The Political Question
(2014) Uganda Development Management Policy Forum
For many poor countries, especially in Africa, decision-making and policy formulation appear to be the easier job. Moving from policy making to policy execution and providing public goods and services is the tougher task. Many African countries, including Uganda, have made modest but significant advances in entrenching participatory politics, election management and institutionalizing the power to make decisions. However, there has been little progress in attaining socioeconomic transformation and improving the material conditions of the majority poor. Indeed some indicators of Uganda’ economy display improvement, though, the improvements do not tally with the actual, lived conditions of the wider Ugandan society. Many observers have lamented the poor record of policy implementation in a robust and thorough manner as the key reason for the continued dire socioeconomic conditions of Ugandans. Why has the modest progress in institutionalizing decision-making power and producing excellent policies not matched with the capacity to execute policies? What can be done to redeem policy implementation? This policy brief attempts to provide alternatives to this question.
A Stage-Structured Fishery Model for African Catfish and Nile Tilapia Feeding on Two Food Resources with Harvesting
(Hindawi Limited, 2022-01-17) L. Nankinga; L. S. Luboobi; J. Y. T. Mugisha; B. Nannyonga; L. Carlsson
In this paper, a fishery model for African catfish and Nile tilapia is formulated. This model is used to compare financial profit and biomass outtakes in a two-species system versus single species systems. We consider a stage-structured fish population model consisting of the aforementioned fish species together with two food resources. The model dynamics include cannibalism, predator-prey, feeding, reproduction, maturation, development, mortality, and harvesting. We prove consistency of the model in the sense that the solutions will stay bounded and nonnegative over time. Conditions for local stability of fish-free equilibrium point are established. The simulation results reveal asymptotically stable solutions with coexistence of African catfish, Nile tilapia, and two food resources. The major conclusion from our findings is that fisheries should culture both species to maximize the biomass outtake and financial profit.

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