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Item Promoting indigenous wild edible fruits to complement roots and tuber crops in alleviating vitamin A deficiencies in Uganda(Proceedings of the 13th ISTRC Symposium, 2007) Musinguzi, E.; Kikafunda, J. K.; Kiremire, B. T.Micronutrients lack in most of the foods eaten by majority of Ugandans and consequently, micronutrient malnutrition is so high in Uganda. Due to low incomes, many people cannot afford to buy exotic sources of these nutrients. Local sources of nutrients should be sought, as a food-based approach to complement supplementation and fortification efforts that currently leave a lot of ‘hard to reach people’not served. Indigenous fruits could be such nutrient sources. Unfortunately the nutrient content for most of them is not known. Chemical analyses were carried out on Physalis minima and Carissa edulis fruits and indicated that they are rich sources of micronutrients especially minerals. These indigenous fruits compared well with the exotic ones (mangoes, paw paws and Physalis peruviana) in nutrient content.Item Phytoconstituent Analyses of Selected Wild Edible Plants Constituting Diets of Pregnant Women in Buikwe District, Uganda(Int. J. Biochem. Res. Rev, 2016) Nabatanzi, Alice; Kabasa, John D.; Nakalembe, Immaculate; Owiny, David; Mugisha, Charles; Nyanzi, StevenPregnancy is a very critical phase in a woman's life where she has to ensure that she eats the right food, in the right portions and with the necessary nutrient requirements for proper foetal development. Aims: To determine the proximate, mineral and vitamin composition of five wild edible plants (WEPs) consumed by pregnant women in Buikwe district. Study Design: Experimental. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry, Natural Chemotherapeutic Research Institute (Ministry of Health, Uganda) and Department of Chemistry, Uganda Industrial Research Institute (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda), between March 2016 and August 2016. Methodology: Solanum nigrum L. (leaves), Solanum anguivi Lam. (fruits), Aframomum angustifolium (Sonn.) K. schum. (fruits), Physalis angulata L. (fruits) and Cleome gynandra L. (leaves) were analysed. Proximate and vitamin analyses were carried out following standard procedures. Minerals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Total carbohydrate and energy were calculated as crude by difference and using Atwater factorsrespectively. Species were scored and each species’ contribution towards the pregnancy Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) calculated. Results: S. nigrum had the highest potassium (3042.8±107.39), sodium (44.12±0.86), magnesium (176.71±15.57) and iron (61.37±2.20). P. angulata had the highest moisture (1.76±0.00), copper (3.12±0.77), vitamin A (1.86±0.18) and vitamin C (26.27±2.53). C. gynandra had the highest crude ash (17.16 ±0.13), protein (35.13±0.04), phosphorous (3349.4±429.4) and calcium (1113.7±79.36). S. anguivi had the highest crude fibre (40.19±0.09). A. angustifolium had the highest crude fat (3.02±0.01), total carbohydrate (85.91±0.34), energy (410.10±411.59), zinc (55.76±3.87) and manganese (30.19±0.14). There was a significant difference (P>.05) in the protein, fibre, potassium, sodium and vitamin A content of all the species. S. nigrum and P. angulata had the highest mineral (81.67%) and vitamin (105.38%) scores respectively. All values are mg per 100 g of dry sample. Conclusion: Results justify the nutritional significance of the analysed species thus their ability to meet pregnancy nutrient requirements.Item Navigating through Complexity by Profiling the Main Threats to Sustainable Tropical Wetlands Management and Governance: A Case Study of Mityana District, Uganda(Discover Environment, 2024-03-12) Matovu, Baker; Bbira, Yasin; Muhoozi, Yosia; Lukambagire, IsaacWetlands are crucial ecosystems that promote sustainable livelihood and biodiversity conservation, especially in tropical regions. However, recent studies have reported increasing threats to wetlands both environmental and human which threaten the provision and acquisition of several wetland benefits. Though there is recognition of the value of wetlands, in most local communities in Uganda; especially around the Lake Wamala region in Mityana district, there is still limited knowledge and research on the benefits of wetlands and the level of threat thus affecting wetland governance. This research addresses this gap by using participatory research to create a baseline inventory that could be used by wetland managers to identify the main wetlands threats to inform policy on how to develop participatory actions and local area-based management practices. The study was conducted in 14 sub-counties and a sample of 105 wetlands along the wetlands of Lake Wamala and River Mayanja wetlands system in Mityana District was captured. Study findings revealed increased human threats to wetlands especially in the River Mayanja seasonal wetlands zone. The increased effects of environmental threats such as climate change are also altering permanent wetlands along Lake Wamala. Our developed inventory based on local participants' perspectives revealed that since the level of damage to wetlands in Mityana especially the permanent wetlands is relatively low, a focus on developing new mapping, and a decentralized approach to wetland management that focuses on capacity building, development of wetlands action plans, increased support to local wetland authorities, and a system thinking approach in wetland threat identification and management could help in the regeneration of most wetlands zones.Item In Vivo Antimalarial Activity of Cleome gynandra Extracts(J Nat Prod Res Updates, 2016) Igoli, John O.; Masao, Catherine A.; Orkpeh, Uterdzua; Nakamatte, Esther; Yakumbur, Donald T.; Nnadozie, Theresa; Yunusa, Saratu; Vihior, Burbwa; Manyi, Manasseh M.; Tor-Anyiin, Terrumun A.Cleome gynandra is a commonly neglected plant in East and West Africa. It is used as a vegetable and for the treatment of malaria and several ailments. Samples of the plant were collected from Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. The plant samples were extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol and the extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening and in vivo antimalarial activity. Chromatographic techniques were used to isolate apigenin, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, kaempferol, taraxasterol, pheophytin A, sitosterol, stigmasterol, monoacetyl glycerol, 2-monoacetyl glycerol, oleic acid, mixtures of fatty acids and triglycerides, hexadecanoic acid and two novel eicosatetraenes identified as 5, 7, 13, 15-eicosatetraen-9, 12-diol and 9-hydroxy-5, 7, 13, 15-eicosatetraen-12-one. The compounds were identified based on their NMR spectra and compared with literature reports. The combined methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of the plant were evaluated for in vivo antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei NK65 using white albino mice. Forty eighty mice of either sex were separated into eight groups of six each. Seven groups were intraperitoneally inoculated with 107Plasmodium berghei NK65 per body weight. The 8thgroup was neither infected nor treated. Group 2-7 were orally administered with 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200mg/kg of the plant extract and 25mg/kg of Halofantrine (as control) for four days, whereas the mice in group 1 were not treated. The in vivo antimalarial results revealed significant clearance of Plasmodium bergheiNK65 from group 4 administered 50mg/kg of the plant extract and group 7 administered 25mg/kg of halofantrine on the 14th day of post infection. Group 1 which was infected and untreated showed significant level of parasitaemia up till 14th day of post infection. The dose at 50 mg/kg body weight of extract showed the best activity against Plasmodium berghei NK65since it showed 73.2% clearance.Item Foliar micro-morphology of Carex sect. Phacocystis in northern Europe(Nordic Journal of Botany, 2010) Nakamatte, Esther; Lye, Ka°re A.A micro‐morphological analysis of leaf epidermis (adaxial and abaxial sides) of fifteen taxa of Carex section Phacocystis was carried out using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three taxa were epistomatic (C. nigra var. nigra, C.nigra var. juncea and C. subspathacea), seven taxa were hypostomatic (C. acuta, C. bigelowii ssp. bigelowii, C. bigelowii ssp. rigida, C. cespitosa, C. elata, C. lyngbyei and C. paleacea) and five amphistomatic (C. aquatilis, C.×halophila, C. rufina, C. stans and C. trinervis). Epidermal modifications such as prickles were present in many species. The micro‐morphological leaf characters of the investigated species were found to be important for distinguishing individual taxa but not for subsectional classification.Item AFLP-based differentiation in north Atlantic species of Carex sect. Phacocystis(Nordic Journal of Botany, 2007) Nakamatte, Esther; Lye, Kare A.A total of 59 plants from 30 populations of 15 species of Carex sect. Phacocystis (including Carex bicolor as outgroup) from eastern Canada and northern Europe were investigated for genetic differentiation of taxa using AFLP. Seven species were studied with material from both Europe and America, three species were investigated with North American material only and five species with European material only. The neighbour joining analysis (NJ) indicates that Carex bicolor may not belong to section Phacocystis, while all other investigated species clearly belong to this section. The sorting of the species according to NJ and UPGMA is mostly in accordance with accepted taxonomy, but with the exceptions that the American C. bigelowii ssp. bigelowii may be specifically distinct from European C. bigelowii ssp. rigida, and C. stans should perhaps not be considered a subspecies or variety of C. aquatilis, but either as a separate species or as a hybrid between C.aquatilis and C. bigelowii. North American C. aquatilis is heterogenic and may contain more than one species.Item The informal sawn wood value chains in Uganda: structure and actors(Commonwealth Forestry Association, 2023-05) Kambugu, R.K.;; Banana, A.Y.;; Byakagaba, P. ;; Bosse, C.;; Ihalainen, M.;; Mukasa, C.;; Schoneveld, G.;; Zziwa, A.;; Cerutti, P.O.With increasing scarcity and spatial dispersion of tree resources, Uganda's forest sector – similarly to several other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa – has experienced a shift from the large-scale concessionary model historically used to access and harvest forests, to more versatile models involving smaller-scale operators. The timber they produce is sold not only locally in producer countries but also across borders and beyond. Yet small-scale operators largely work outside established regulatory frameworks and as such remain invisible to national and international production and trade statistics, rendering these players voiceless during policy-reform processes. Uganda is no exception, and little is known about the nature of people involved in various small-scale forestry activities, the constraints they face in day-to-day operations, and the dynamics that influence these aspects. Through 452 interviews, of a random sample of actors engaged directly in the sawn wood value chain, conducted between 2016 and 2019, this paper describes sawn wood flows from production areas to markets in Uganda. It assesses the socioeconomic characteristics of operators and the organisation of activities. Findings indicate that the majority of actors in the informal sawn wood value chain are adult males, belonging to a limited number of ethnic groups, exogenous to logging areas and generally deriving their income from the timber business. The sawn wood value chain shows a high degree of fragmentation, with low levels of organisation and lack of vertical and horizontal integration. We conservatively estimate the total volumes sold annually between 386,000 and 467,000 cubic meters of sawn wood. With the expected progressive shift from natural forests to plantations as the primary source of wood, it is key for the Government of Uganda to embrace a paradigm shift on the current policy framework, to ensure that it facilitates rather than constrains the sawn wood value chain, since most of the timber will be sourced from privately owned forests instead of State-owned forests. If most legal provisions remain based on the latter, it is likely that legality will remain the exception rather than the norm. CrossRefItem Community-based forest management promotes survival-led livelihood diversification among forest-fringe communities in Uganda(Frontiers Media S.A, 2023-05) Mawa, Christopher;; Tumusiime, David Mwesigye;; Babweteera, Fred ;; Okwir, Eric;; Tabuti, John Robert StephenLivelihood diversification is a prominent feature of rural households in developing countries. It is a strategy commonly pursued by households to enhance their resilience to shocks and/or risks that affect their livelihood. While a common characteristic of Uganda’s community-based forest management (CBFM) is the promotion of alternative livelihood activities to reduce household reliance on natural forest resources from gazetted forests, it is unclear how livelihood diversification has been embraced by households engaged in CBFM. We explore livelihood diversification using cross-sectional survey data collected from 423 households in villages adjacent to Collaborative Forest Management (CFM) compartments and non-CFM compartments of Budongo Central Forest Reserve as well as two Community Forests (CF) in mid-western Uganda. We quantified the levels of diversification and fitted a Gini-Simpson Diversity Index as the response variable in two Tobit regression models to examine the determinants of livelihood diversification among forest-fringe communities in CFM and CF sites. Our results reveal high levels of survival-led household livelihood diversification in the area, with an average household engaging in five livelihood activities that were predominantly on-farm or involved the extraction of forest products for subsistence. In the CFM sites, livelihood diversification levels significantly increased with household heads’ duration of residence in the village and membership in other social groups in the village. In villages adjacent to the community forests, only the household dependency ratio positively influenced household livelihood diversification. Membership in forest conservation groups did not significantly predict the level of household livelihood diversification. Given the current survival-led diversification that these communities pursue, we recommended that development and conservation agencies in the area and other similar sites of CBFM deliberately enhance household access to high-return on-farm and non-farm livelihood activities to achieve meaningful transformations in rural livelihoods.Item Smart Urban Forest Management in East Africa: The Case of Nairobi and Kampala Cities(SAGE Publications, 2023-07) Chisika, Sylvester Ngome;; Yeom, ChunhoDigital technologies are increasingly being incorporated in the management and governance of urban forests to provide the information needed for sustainable and more livable cities. However, there is scarce information on the documented lessons from applying these digital technologies for urban forestry management in many developing countries. This study addressed this challenge using a literature review in the case of Nairobi, Kenya, and Kampala, Uganda. The results substantiate that urban forests are important city assets enhancing ecological stability and sustainable development. As such, the digital technologies of urban forest management practices are rapidly expanding in the two cities to enhance urban forestry and create new opportunities for sustainable development. Both cities have differentiated integration of digital technologies in the vegetative, community support, and resource management components of urban forest governance and management, with important information and lessons being generated for city authorities and policymakers. In general, the technology implementation level in Kampala city is higher than in Nairobi City. This differentiation could be attributed to differences in the socio-political contexts of the two cities, which present different enablers and barriers to technology application in urban forestry. Nevertheless, more location-specific practices and experiences with a focus on how to diversify opinions and actors in digital technologies should be pursued. CrossRefItem Fungal degradation of bamboo treated with crude lake salt and a mixture of borax and boric acid(Elsevier B.V, 2024-08-10) Mwanja, Christine Kalembe;; Terziev, Nasko;; Ishengoma, Romanus ;; Banana, Abwoli;; Kalanzi, FredThis study compared the effectiveness of crude lake salt, a traditional preservative used by artisans in Uganda, and borax-boric acid, a conventional preservative, against fungal degradation. Using the European standard, an experiment was set up to determine the durability of Oxytenanthera abyssinica, Oldeania alpina and Bambusa vulgaris treated with 2 % and 6 % crude lake salt and borax-boric acid against Gloeophyllum trabeum, Coniophora puteana and Trametes versicolor. Mass loss comparisons between treated and untreated bamboo samples were made. Durability classes were assigned according to the amount of mass lost. Bamboo samples exposed to G. trabeum had lower surface hyphal coverage compared to those exposed to C. puteana and T. versicolor irrespective of the preservative used. Samples treated with borax-boric acid were in durability class I compared to those treated with crude lake salt that were between class II and III according to European standard. The lowest mass loss for bamboo treated with crude lake salt was 5.9 % in O. abyssinica exposed to G. trabeum. The highest mass loss for bamboo treated with crude lake salt was 14.24 % in B. vulgaris exposed to T. Versicolor. The study confirmed that while artisans use crude lake salt as a traditional preservative, it does not protect against white and brown rot while all concentrations of borax-boric acid provided protection against all fungi.Item Predictors of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia and Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma among Ugandan Patients A Hospital-based Study(Middle East African journal of ophthalmology, 2018-05-06) Lloyd, Harrison‑Williams C. M.; Arunga, Simon; Twinamasiko,; Onyango, JohnThe aim of the study was to assess the predictors of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) among Ugandan patients. Patients presenting for removal of ocular surface lesions received human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, completed questionnaires about demographic, behavioral, and historical potential risk factors for conjunctival neoplasia, and had lesions examined for interpalpebral versus other locations, rough versus smooth texture, and number of feeder vessels. Biopsies were classified pathologically using standard definitions classified OSSN and SCC. HIV rates were calculated for patients: with OSSN, SCC, and benign lesions. Potential risk factors and gross findings were tested for abilities to predict OSSN and SCC. One hundred and ninety-five patients presented with 212 lesions in 203 eyes. Nearly 34% of the patients were more than 60 years old, 67% were peasants, 88% spent more than 20 h/week outdoors, and only 10% wore sun protection. No potential risk factors predicted neoplasia. HIV prevalence was 17.1% among patients with OSSN compared to 11.1% among those without OSSN; 42.9% among SCC patients compared to 12.0% among those without SCC. Rough tumor surface (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.4 and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2–9.1), six or more feeder vessels (aOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3–5.2), and interpalpebral tumor location (aOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.5–7.1) predicted OSSN. Only a rough tumor surface (aOR = 34.6, 95% CI: 7.8–153.4) predicted SCC. HIV infection remained a risk factor for OSSN and particularly, SCC, but less so than in the past. Lesions' rough surface, six or more feeder vessels, and interpalpebral location increased OSSN risk. Only a rough tumor surface increased risk for SCC.Item Speciation of heavy metals in water from the Uganda side of Lake Victoria(International journal of environmental studies, 2010-02-15) Mbabazi, Jolocam; Twinomuhwezi, H.; Wasswa, J.; Kwetegyeka,J.; SchrǾder, K.H.Different forms of copper Cu, zinc Zn, lead Pb and cadmium Cd in water from the Uganda side of Lake Victoria (25°C, pH 6.75–7.18), the second largest inland freshwater lake in the world, have been studied using ion‐exchange, dialysis and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicate that heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd are present mainly in the cationic form (80–83%). Small quantities of anionic (13–22%), non‐ionic, dialyzable (4–8%), and non‐ionic, non‐dialyzable (< 1.3–4.4%) forms were also detected for all metals except Cd. The corresponding concentrations lay in the ranges: cationic, 0.06–0.99; anionic, < 0.001–0.25; non‐ionic, dialyzable, < 0.001–0.08; non‐ionic, non‐dialyzable, < 0.001–0.06 µg ml−1. The existence of the metals in non‐ionic and non‐dialyzable forms is attributable to metal associations with high relative molecular mass (RMM) organic matters.Item Contamination by heavy metals in silver fish (Rastreneobola argentea) caught from Lakes Kyoga and Victoria, Uganda(International Journal of Environmental Studies, 2010-08-25) Mbabazi , Jolocam; Wasswa, JohnLittle information exists on heavy metal contamination in silver fish (Rastreneobola argentea) caught from Lake Victoria. A large number of Ugandans consume the species. Sun‐dried silver fish were collected from 10 landing sites on Lake Victoria, and from five control sites along Lake Kyoga. The finely ground fish was digested with analytical reagent grade nitric acid. Analyses were performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The specimens were found to contain significantly higher levels (p ≤ 0.05) of zinc, Zn (86.1%), copper, Cu (99.1%), cadmium, Cd (99.3%) and lead, Pb (94.6%) compared with those from the control sites. The fish contamination was attributed to discharge into Lake Victoria of untreated industrial and anthropogenic effluent. Although mean Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations were still below, those of Cd were higher than the maximum permissible levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Overconsumption of the silver fish could pose Cd‐related health risks.Item Adsorption isotherms and kinetics of vanadium by shale and coal waste(Adsorption Science & Technology, 2018-09-26) Kajjumba, George William; Serdar, Aydın; Sinan, Gu¨neysuThe use of adsorption using nanomaterials has become a very competitive method for removal of hazardous materials from wastewater. With increasing consumption of fossil fuels and development of energy storage systems, the levels of vanadium pollution are expected to increase. Utilizing natural shale and coal waste as adsorbents, batch adsorption, isotherms, and kinetics of vanadium was studied. The adsorption characteristics of shale and coal waste were studied using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscope and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The effect of pH, the amount of adsorbent, vanadium concentration, temperature, and contact time between adsorbate and adsorbents were also studied to obtain optimum conditions for maximum adsorption of vanadium. The Fourier Transform Infrared results show little distortion in the vibration of bands, and hence the surface properties remain unchanged for both sorbents after adsorption. The adsorption kinetics are best described by pseudo-second order, while Langmuir model fits the adsorption isotherm for both adsorbents. Maximum sorption capacity is 67.57 mg/g for shale while that of coal is 59.88 mg/g at 298 K and pH 3. For both adsorbents, the adsorption process is spontaneous, endothermic, and chemisorption in nature. Both adsorbents can effectively be recycled twice.Item Association betweenWood and Other Biomass Fuels and Risk of Low Birthweight in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey Data(International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022) Epuitai, Joshua; Woolley, Katherine E.; Bartington, Suzanne E.; Thomas, G. NeilIn utero exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from polluting cooking fuels has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes including low birthweight (LBW). No previous study in Uganda has attempted to investigate the association between the different types of biomass cooking fuels and LBW. This study was conducted to investigate the association between wood and other biomass cooking fuel use with increased risk of LBW, using the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey for 15,270 live births within five years prior to interview. LBW, defined as birthweight of <2500 g, was estimated from maternal recall and health cards. Association between household exposure to the different solid biomass cooking fuels and LBW was determined using multivariable logistic regression. Biomass cooking fuels were used in 99.6% of the households, with few (0.3%) using cleaner fuels and 0.1% with no cooking, while the prevalence of LBW was 9.6% of all live-births. Although the crude analysis suggested an association between wood fuel use and LBW compared to other biomass and kerosene fuel use (AOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.67–1.00), after adjusting for socio-demographic and obstetric factors, no association was observed (AOR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.72–1.22). LBW was significantly more likely among female neonates (AOR: 1.32 (95% CI: 1.13–1.55) and neonates born to mothers living in larger households (AOR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00–1.07). LBW was significantly less likely among neonates delivered at term (AOR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.31–0.49), born to women with secondary or tertiary level of education (AOR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.64–1.00), living in households with a higher wealth index (AOR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50–0.96), Eastern (AOR: 0.76; 95% CI:0.59–0.98) and Northern (AOR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.57–0.99) regions. The study findings suggest inconclusive evidence regarding the association between the use of wood compared to other biomass and kerosene cooking fuels and risk of LBW. Given the close observed association between socioeconomic status and LBW, the Ugandan government should prioritize public health actions which support female education and broader sustainable development to improve household living standards in this setting.Item The silent but powerful communication of the physical environment of Nkozi campus of Uganda Martyrs University(African Journals Online (AJOL), 2019-01-31) Otaala, Laura ArikoThe purpose of this research was to find out what Uganda Martyrs University students think about the physical environment of the Nkozi campus, which is the main campus of the university with a view to find out if that factor can be used to market the university. Two sets of examination papers (one for second year and the other for first year students) were identified from the registry archives of the university because of their relevance to the topic of research. Initially, there was no certainty about the contents of these documents, but the titles of the pieces of work were suggestive enough to qualify them for selection. The documents were analysed using thematic analysis procedures. The findings indicate that most of the students have positive things to say about the beauty of their campus. In terms of student university selection process, the information found is very useful for Uganda Martyrs University in developing a marketing strategy that can be extended as far as senior one students. Since campus visits have been found to attract many students to specific universities, Uganda Martyrs University could develop a campus visit programme in which parents, potential students and other interested persons can experience the beauty of Nkozi campus. The current students could also be used to advertise the university since they know what the university can offer apart from the beautiful campus. It is recommended that Uganda Martyrs University develop a marketing strategy that has campus visits on top of the list of strategies to be adopted in increasing student intake.Item Historicizing Natural Hazards and Human-Induced Landscape Transformation in a Tropical Mountainous Environment in Africa: Narratives from Elderly Citizens(MDPI AG, 2025-02) Kanyiginya, Violet;; Twongyirwe, Ronald;; Mubiru, David ;; Michellier, Caroline;; Ashepet, Mercy Gloria;; Kagoro-Rugunda, Grace;; Kervyn, Matthieu;; Dewitte, OlivierStudying natural hazards in the context of human-induced landscape transformation is complex, especially in regions with limited information. The narratives of the elderly can play a role in filling these knowledge gaps at the multi-decadal timescale. Here, we build upon a citizen-based elderly approach to understanding natural hazard patterns and landscape transformation in a tropical mountainous environment, the Kigezi Highlands (SW Uganda). We engaged 98 elderly citizens (>70 years old) living in eight small watersheds with different characteristics. Through interviews and focus group discussions, we reconstructed historical timelines and used participatory mapping to facilitate the interview process. We cross-checked the information of the elderly citizens with historical aerial photographs, archives, and field visits. Our results show that major land use/cover changes are associated with a high population increase over the last 80 years. We also evidence an increase in reported natural hazard events such as landslides and flash floods from the 1940s until the 1980s. Then, we notice a stabilization in the number of hazard events per decade, although the two most impacted decades (1980s and 2000s) stand out. Despite this new information, an increase in natural hazard frequency due to land use/cover change cannot yet be quantitatively validated, especially when the probable modulator effect of climate variability is considered. Nevertheless, the increase in the exposure of a vulnerable population to natural hazards is clear, and population growth together with poor landscape management practices are the key culprits that explain this evolution. This study demonstrates the added value of historical narratives in terms of understanding natural hazards in the context of environmental changes. This insight is essential for governments and non-governmental organizations for the development of policies and measures for disaster risk reduction that are grounded in the path dependence of local realities.Item Translocal Livelihoods, Socio-Economic Differentiation and Lower Level Urbanisation in Uganda(Wiley Periodicals Inc, 2025-03) Andersson, Agnes;; Mackay, Heather;; Mukwaya, Paul IsoloABSTRACT In sub‐Saharan Africa, more than a quarter of the urban population lives in small towns, with rapid lower level urbanisation being driven largely by lacking rural opportunities. A growing interest in translocality considers relationships that position livelihoods within multiple spatial contexts. Terms of inclusion in translocal relationships vary, and the socio‐economic differentiation emerging out of these relationships is understudied. We use a mixed‐methods approach, combining survey data with qualitative data collected in seven small towns in Uganda to shed light on their translocal livelihood dynamics and to elucidate the empirical and theoretical linkages between translocality and socio‐economic differentiation.Item Investigating the interplay between electricity access and food security: Insights from refugee settlements in Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda(Elsevier Inc, 2025-04) Most, Hedda;; Moner-Girona, Magda;; Casati, Paola ;; Llorca, Manuel;; Haselip, James;; Fumagalli, ElenaWith increasing displacement trends, low energy access rates in refugee settlements, and the majority of forcibly displaced populations residing in countries experiencing acute food insecurity, the nexus between food security and energy access is increasingly relevant. While the pathways connecting energy access to the four dimensions of food security (availability, access, utilisation, and stability) are well established in the literature, only a few studies empirically provide evidence of the relationship between energy access and food security, particularly in the humanitarian context. Drawing from 926 household-level observations collected via in-person interviews in settlements in Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia, this study contributes new insights on the influence of electricity access on food security in protracted refugee situations. Within the sampled population, 65 % of households experience severe food insecurity while a substantial 76 % majority lacks access to a reliable electricity service. Through a logistic regression analysis, we detect a mitigating effect of electricity access on severe food insecurity, although weakly significant, while controlling for income, gender of the household head, household size, and settlement dummies. The odds of experiencing severe food insecurity are reduced by a factor of 0.7 for households with access to electricity compared to those without access. However, they increase for households located in the most economically disadvantaged settlement. The study highlights the importance of policies that support the right to work and empower female-headed households, as income-generating activities play a mitigating role; in turn, households headed by women are about 1.7 times more likely to experience severe food insecurity compared to those headed by men. More generally, in emphasising the role of reliable energy services in the consumption of safe and nutritious food, this work calls for an integrated humanitarian approach that addresses food security together with long-term, sustainable energy solutions. •Analysis of the pathways connecting energy access and food security•Evidence on electricity access and food security in protracted refugee situations•Access and income partially linked to refugee households' severe food insecurity•Local conditions largely affect refugee households' severe food insecurity.•Female-headed and larger households are more vulnerable to severe food insecurity.Item Transforming cooking practices in Uganda: transitioning toward clean energy solutions(Frontiers Media S.A, 2025-04) Elasu, Joseph;; Ntayi, Joseph M.;; Orobia, Laura A. ;; Adaramola, Muyiwa S.;; Onyinyi, BernardCooking in Uganda is deeply rooted in cultural traditions, influencing the choice of cooking solutions across different regions. This study aims to map clean cooking practices, identify key interventions, and highlight challenges hindering their widespread adoption and sustained use. A systematic literature review, guided by the PRISMA approach, was employed to ensure a rigorous and transparent selection of scholarly sources. Findings reveal that traditional biomass, mainly firewood and charcoal, continues to dominate Uganda’s cooking landscape, while modern alternatives like LPG, ethanol, and electric cooking remain underutilized due to cultural preferences, affordability constraints, and infrastructure limitations. To address these challenges, the study recommends targeted subsidies, Pay-As-You-Go financing models, and tax exemptions to reduce initial costs. Additionally, regulatory interventions should stabilize fuel prices, expand fuel distribution networks, and invest in rural electrification via solar mini-grids. Integrating electric cooking into Uganda’s broader renewable energy and climate policies would further support widespread adoption and contribute to sustainability goals.