Busitema University (BU) is a university in Uganda. It is one of the eight public universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country.BU has its main focus on the instruction of agricultural sciences, agricultural mechanization, and agribusiness.
This study evaluated the radiological quality and associated health risks of water from Lake Edward, located in Rukungiri District, Uganda. Water samples were collected from sixteen locations grouped into four zones representing fishing, farming, domestic/livestock, and control areas. Gross alpha and gross beta activities were measured as preliminary indicators of radiological water quality, while activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides (226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K) were determined using gamma-ray spectrometry. Radiological health risks were assessed by estimating the annual effective dose (AED) from water ingestion for adults and children, excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), and radiological hazard index (HI) in accordance with guidelines recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the World Health Organization. The mean gross alpha activity ranged from 0.16 ± 0.07 Bq L⁻1 in the fishing zone to 0.66 ± 0.05 Bq L⁻1 in the farming zone, while gross beta activity ranged from 0.22 ± 0.03 to 0.75 ± 0.05 Bq L⁻1 across the study area. Most samples complied with WHO guideline limits for drinking water, although a few locations in the farming zone showed elevated alpha and beta activities. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 228Ra, and 40K ranged from below detection limit to 0.28 ± 0.03 Bq L⁻1, 0.21 ± 0.03 Bq L⁻1, and 0.44 ± 0.06 Bq L⁻1, respectively, with higher concentrations observed in agriculturally influenced areas. The calculated AED ranged from 0.022 to 0.128 mSv y⁻1 for adults and from 0.010 to 0.065 mSv y⁻1 for children. Two locations within the farming zone exceeded the WHO screening level of 0.1 mSv y⁻1 for adults. The estimated ELCR values were within internationally acceptable limits, although the hazard index exceeded unity at selected sampling points, indicating potential long-term radiological concern. Overall, the results suggest that water from Lake Edward generally presents low radiological risk for consumption; however, localized elevations in radionuclide concentrations associated with agricultural activities were observed. This study provides essential baseline radiological data for Lake Edward and highlights the need for routine monitoring and improved land-use management to ensure the long-term radiological safety of water resources in the region.
Introduction Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) and referral systems are critical for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. In rural Uganda, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) remain key community actors but are rarely formally integrated into MPDSR processes. Objective To explore the roles, practices, and challenges of TBAs in MPDSR and referral processes in Mayuge District. Methods A narrative qualitative study was conducted among 15 TBAs using in-depth interviews, observations, and document review of community and facility records related to maternal and perinatal deaths. Data were inductively coded and thematically analysed, with document review findings triangulated to enrich interpretation of reporting and referral practices. Results TBAs contributed to maternal and perinatal death notification primarily through informal community networks, with frequent delays and limited engagement in formal MPDSR processes. Document review confirmed gaps in formal reporting and inconsistencies between community and facility records. TBAs rarely participated in structured death reviews due to exclusion, fear of blame, and limited system integration. Referral practices were adaptive and included referrals to health facilities, other TBAs, and traditional healers, shaped by logistical, cultural, and social factors. Conclusion Traditional Birth Attendants in rural Uganda play an important but often informal role in the MPDSR process and referrals. Despite the lack of formal training and integration within the health systems, TBAs contribute significantly to maternal and perinatal death notifications and provide vital feedback on death reviews. Improving training on danger sign recognition, establishing structured community death notification pathways, and strengthening referral linkages between TBAs and health facilities could enhance MPDSR effectiveness while maintaining the national emphasis on skilled birth attendance.
Background:Undernutrition is a type of malnutrition in which there are deficiencies in nutrient intake. It is caused by inadequate dietary intake and disease. Undernutrition contributes toward poor health outcomes of a child, and imposes a financial burden on the child's household. This study aims to determine under-five undernutrition prevalence, its inequality and associated socioeconomic and demographic factors in Uganda. Methodology:We analyzed secondary data of 2019/2020 Uganda National Panel Survey. From 815 households, selected 815 children under 5 who had complete data on age (months), weight (kilograms), and height (centimeters). This was used for computing the z scores. Based on the World Health Organization reference, we used the z scores to determine the children's nutritional status. We then compared households of malnourished and those of the well-nourished children using the student's t-test and the chi square (χ2) test respectively. Results:Among 815 children included in the study, undernutrition prevalence was 16.9% stunted, 6.1% wasted, and 11.8% underweight. This corresponds to catastrophic health expenditure being 1.1%, 1.7%, and 0.7% lower among households with stunted, wasted and underweight children respectively, compared to households with well-nourished children. The distribution was not statistically significant: ( χ 2 ( P ) = 2.331 (0.312)), ( χ 2 ( P ) = 0.863 (0.649)), and ( χ 2 ( P ) = 0.335 (0.846)), respectively. Conclusion:The odds of undernutrition didn't differ by nutritional status, but undernourished children had significantly higher transport expenses. MoH should invest in community healthcare services to reduce these costs.
Integrated crop residue management with micronutrient application can effectively addresses dual challenges of maintaining productivity while enhancing grain nutritional quality of rice in calcareous soils. This study evaluated the role of different soil properties for enhancing yield and grain quality of rice under 29 years of long-term effects of crop residue incorporation and zinc (Zn) fertilization in calcareous Typic Haplaquepts soils. Results showed 100% crop residue incorporation significantly enhanced soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen, available Zn, soil respiration, and wet aggregate stability by 26.6%, 46.2%, 14.3%, 94.7% and 38.2% respectively as compared to control (no residue incorporation), benefiting aggregation and water retention in the soil. The combination of 100% residue incorporation with 10.0 kg ha-1 Zn achieved highest grain yield (6.56 t ha-1) and improved grain protein and iron concentrations by 5.8% and 18.0% respectively. Principal component analysis revealed that wet aggregate stability, plant available water, SOC, available NPK, sulfur, available Zn and Fe, soil respiration, active carbon, autoclaved extractable protein were found as main soil properties representing 81.6% variation responsible improved rice production and grain nutritional quality. Thus, full crop residue management with Zn application of 10.0 kg ha-1 offers significant potential for biofortification and climate-resilient rice production.
BACKGROUND:Malnutrition significantly contributes to mortality among people with tuberculosis (TB). However, evidence on factors associated with the specific forms of malnutrition, specifically underweight and overweight/obesity, beyond clinical determinants, remains limited in many settings. We investigated the prevalence and determinants of underweight and overweight/obesity among people with pulmonary TB across five health facilities in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS:This analytic cross-sectional study involved people with pulmonary TB, either clinically diagnosed or bacteriologically confirmed, aged ≥18 years sampled across five health facilities in Kampala, Uganda. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) and categorized as underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5-24.9), and overweight/obese (≥25.0). To identify factors independently associated with nutritional status, normal weight was considered as the reference category in a multinomial logistic regression analysis, adjusting for multiple covariates and clustering at the health facility level. The measure of association was the adjusted relative risk ratios (aRRR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS:Of the 818 participants studied, 417 (51.0%) had normal weight, 302 (36.9%) were underweight, and 99 (12.1%) were overweight or obese. Adjusted analysis showed that being underweight was associated with household food insecurity (aRRR 2.04, 95% CI: 1.48-2.80) while being overweight or obese was associated with self-employment (aRRR 2.26, 95% CI: 1.35-3.79) and being newly diagnosed with TB (aRRR 2.10, 95% CI: 1.30-3.41). CONCLUSION:This study, conducted among people with pulmonary TB in an urban setting in Uganda, showed that underweight and overweight/obesity are prevalent. Furthermore, the study showed that food insecurity is associated with being underweight, while being overweight or obese is associated with being self-employed or newly diagnosed with TB. Therefore, TB control programs need to regularly assess the nutritional status of people with TB to mitigate the effect of being underweight or overweight on treatment outcomes.
