The Mountains of the Moon University (MMU), is a public university in Uganda. Founded as a private, non-profit institution, the university became a public institution following an executive directive in January 2018. It is named after the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the Mountains of the Moon.
Background: Aquaculture intensification generates nitrogenous and phosphorus-rich effluents that threaten aquatic ecosystems. Fermented plant-based feeds are increasingly used to enhance nutrient digestibility and protein availability, yet their impact on effluent water quality remains poorly understood. Understanding how substrates such as banana, jackfruit seeds, and sweet potato influence ammonia, nitrite, BOD, and phosphates is critical for developing sustainable feeding strategies and minimizing environmental pollution in intensive African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) culture. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of solid-state fermented ripe banana, jackfruit seeds, and sweet potato tuber feeds on effluent water quality in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), focusing on ammonia, nitrites, phosphates, BOD, copper, EC, and microbial composition to identify environmentally safer feed options. Methods: African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings were stocked in 50 L glass aquaria and fed either fermented ripe banana, jackfruit seeds, sweet potato tubers, or commercial feed as control. Each treatment was triplicated in a completely randomized design. Effluent water was sampled weekly for four weeks to measure total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrites, phosphates, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), copper concentration, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and microbial composition. TAN and nitrites were determined using colorimetric HS aqua test kits, phosphates and copper via Palin 7100 photometer, BOD₅ with a magnetic stir BOD system, and microbial counts on nutrient agar. Statistical differences were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Effluent water from tanks fed fermented banana and sweet potato exhibited lower total ammonia nitrogen (0.2–0.3 mg L⁻¹) and nitrites (0.01–0.12 mg L⁻¹) compared to jackfruit seeds (TAN 1.3 p < 0.05 mg L⁻¹, nitrites 0.75 p < 0.05 mg L⁻¹) and commercial feed (TAN 2.7 mg L⁻¹, nitrites 0 mg L⁻¹). Phosphate concentrations and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) exceeded regulatory limits in all treatments except partial reduction in sweet potato tanks. Copper concentrations and electrical conductivity remained below permissible limits across all feeds. Microbial analysis revealed dominance of Bacillus and Lactobacillus species, with highest Bacillus counts in jackfruit seed tanks and Lactobacillus in banana tanks. Kruskal-Wallis tests confirmed significant differences (p < 0.05) among treatments for TAN, nitrites, phosphates, BOD₅, copper, EC, and microbial counts. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the potential of specific fermented plant-based feed ingredients to mitigate nitrogen pollution in aquaculture systems. In particular, the inclusion of fermented ripe banana and sweet potato tubers in fish diets was shown to reduce ammonia and nitrite concentrations in culture water and effluent. However, high BOD and phosphate persisted, revealing a knowledge gap on nutrient release and effluent dynamics, guiding future sustainable feed research.
Background Low Vitamin D levels are prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and are associated with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk. This study examined the association between atherogenic indices and low vitamin D levels among PLWH in Southwestern Uganda. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among 218 randomly selected PLWH who had been on ART for ≥6 months at Mbarara City Health Centre IV, Southwestern Uganda from August 13, 2024 to August 23, 2024. Low serum Vitamin D level was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration <30 ng/mL. Results Atherogenic combined index (ACI), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)/HDL-C ratio, and total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol – body mass index (TC/HDL-C-BMI) index were independently associated with low vitamin D. Compared to the first tertile, ACI second and third tertiles had higher likelihood of low vitamin D (aPR = 2.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28-3.89, P = 0.005; aPR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.05-6.05, P = 0.023). The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (hs-CRP/HDL-C) ratio third tertile was also significant (aPR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.05-1.96, P = 0.024). TC/HDL-C-BMI index third tertile showed nearly twice the prevalence (aPR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.10-3.45, P = 0.023). Conclusion ACI, hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio, and TC/HDL-C-BMI index are potential predictors for Low serum Vitamin D levels among PLWH.
This study evaluated the antioxidant and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of processed Cheddar cheese fortified with cloves, cumin, or black pepper during 0-9 months of storage. Freeze-dried ethanol-soluble extracts (ESE) and water-soluble extracts (WSE) collected during ripening were also examined. The WSE of black-pepper cheese showed the strongest antioxidant activity, with higher DPPH radical scavenging ability (1516.4 +/- 180 & micro;mol Trolox equivalent/g) and reducing power (38.12 +/- 0.38 & micro;g/g), along with the highest total phenolics (82.48 +/- 3.2 & micro;g GAE/g). After simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the antioxidant properties significantly increased in all the treatments. Digested black-pepper cheese exhibited the highest total antioxidant activity (5752.8 +/- 83.3 & micro;g Trolox equivalent/g), while control cheese showed the lowest (4603.3 +/- 86.2 & micro;g Trolox equivalent/g). Overall, digested spiced cheeses showed superior antioxidant and ACE-inhibitory activities compared to their corresponding freeze-dried extracts. Results highlight digestion-released bioactive compounds and support spiced Cheddar cheeses as promising functional dairy products.
BackgroundSerum Alanine aminotransferase to High density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (ALT-to-HDL-C ratio) has been identified as a significant predictor of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. This study investigated the association between serum aminotransferases to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among people living with HIV (PLWH) on Dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Western Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis study from June 15, 2025 to August 20, 2025 using a dataset generated from hospital-based cross-sectional study that investigated an association between aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase ratio and MetS among 377 PLWH who were on DTG-based ART at Ruhoko Health Centre IV, South Western Uganda.ResultsThe prevalence of MetS was 44.6%(168/377); 95% CI: 39.6 - 49.6 and significantly increased from the lowest to the highest ALT-to-HDL-C ratio tertiles (30.2% vs 47.7% vs 56.1%, p < 0.001). In the adjusted model, higher ALT-to-HDL-C ratio was significantly associated with MetS. Individuals in the second tertile had 2.35-fold higher odds (aOR 2.35, 95% CI: 1.26-4.41, p = 0.008), and those in the third tertile had over fourfold higher odds (aOR 4.65, 95% CI: 2.25-9.61, p < 0.001) of MetS compared to the lowest tertile. ALT-to-HDL-C ratio at an optimal cutoff of 0.33 had a significant ability (AUC=0.820, 95%CI: 0.782 - 0.861) to differentiate between participants with MetS from those without MetS at a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 54%.ConclusionHigher ALT-to-HDL-C ratio is potentially associated with MetS. Since both ALT and HDL-C are routine measurements in HIV Care, this warrants further studies on the potential of ALT-to-HDL-C ratio as a biomarker for MetS.
The common market scenario today for many firms: is dependence on their suppliers to satisfy their internal production needs and market demands. This means that the role of suppliers in any firm’s operations cannot be underrated, however some firms have evidently failed to manage the unique part of external relations that directly influence quality of service delivery. This study was conducted purposely to examine the effect of supplier management practices on procurement performance of Kyenjojo District local government. The study had three specific objectives: to examine the influence of supplier selection on procurement performance; to assess the effect of supplier relationship management on procurement performance and lastly, to determine the influence of supplier development on procurement performance. Given the time constraints, a cross-sectional survey design was adopted to collect quantitative data from different categories of officers (i.e accounting officers, suppliers’ committee staff, procurement and disposal unit staff, technical planning committees staff and service providers) and qualitative data from the senior procurement officers, the heads of human resource department, the heads of stores, heads of the production department and the heads of finance). The study used multiple linear regression technique to analyse quantitative data whereas content analysis was used to process interview data into quotations to supplement the quantitative findings. Findings revealed that supplier selection has a significant positive relationship with procurement performance (Beta= .132, p < 0.05). A similar positive significant relationship was observed between supplier relationship management and procurement performance (Beta =.304, p < 0.05) and also between supplier development and procurement performance (Beta= .395, p < 0.05). Previous studies paid less attention to the predictive power of supplier management practices on procurement performance in a local government context. The present study provides evidence on the extent to which supplier management practices influence procurement performance in local governments. It therefore means that supplier selection, supplier relationship management and supplier development should be maximized to enhance procurement performance outcomes.
