Circulation of copper and copper alloys in hinterland southern Africa: material evidence from Great Zimbabwe (1000-1700CE)

This dissertation seeks to establish the possible provenance of copper and copper alloys used at Great Zimbabwe (1000-1700CE) to infer local and regional circulation circuits. It employs archaeological, archival, and geochemical methods to characterize samples of 26 wound wire bracelets, bangles, anklets, necklaces, and other forms of expressive and decorative wear excavated from the southern terrace, (Hill Complex) at Great Zimbabwe. The samples were macroscopically, microscopically, chemically and isotopically characterized to understand the technique of manufacture, chemical composition, lead isotopic ratios and the starting composition of uranium and thorium in relation the model ages. The Pb isotopic data calculated 238U/204Pb (μ), 232Th/ 238U(κ) ratios and estimated model ages (T) were compared with published lead isotopic ratios from various ore samples from central and southern Africa. Within opportunities afforded by the historical record and limitations imposed by small sample sizes especially of the comparative geology, indications are that the studied objects were produced using ores matching the Cu-Ni mineralization at Empress Mine (in Zimbabwe), Cu Ag and Cu Pb Zn Ag mineralization associated with the Kundelungu Plateau (bordering Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo). This suggests that Great Zimbabwe participated directly and indirectly in the vibrant micro, regional and interregional circulation of copper and other resources. Future work, must however, add more trace element data from the objects and increase the number of samples from ancient mines and other sites to develop a fuller picture of the movement of copper in Iron Age southern Africa through space and time

Three Essays on “Production and Technical Efficiency”

This dissertation examines production and or technical efficiencies in agricultural and energy systems. The first essay examines production capabilities of smallholder corn farmers following Zimbabwe’s fast track land reform program of 2000. This paper accounts for semi-parametric production frontier to provide more reliable efficiency estimates than can be obtained using traditional parametric methods. The second essay examines efficiency and state level fuel substitution in the US electricity generation sector. I apply the recent fixed effects stochastic frontier estimation to understand the implications of changes in inter-fuel substitution for technical efficiency. The third essay examines the role of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) in the US natural gas production. This study considers variations in producing, newly completed and drilled but uncompleted wells to understand the current production of natural gas

Compliance with regional commitments on sexual and gender based violence in Uganda: Promoting external visibility to achieve internal viability

This paper examines Uganda‘s compliance with commitments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). The findings show that Uganda has partially complied with these commitments mainly by incorporating them into national laws and policies. Compliance is primarily motivated by domestic factors. Firstly, it aims at addressing a real need given that SGBV is a pervasive phenomenon in this country. Secondly, and in accordance with international relations perspective, this compliance, though partial, advances additional agendas, namely (1) promoting the country‘s positive image while diverting international and regional attention from internal governance deficits including controversial presidential elections of 2011 and 2016, (2) responding to advocacy pressure from women-led organisations‘ and (3) achieving political correctness in the eyes of national and international partners

THE PREVALENCE OF ANAEMIA AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE SERVICES AT KIYUMBA HEALTH CENTRE IV IN MASAKA DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background The study was to improve the health being of pregnant women and reduce conditions associated with anemia, maternal transfusion, premature delivery, and high mortality rate among others.  Methodology A cross-sectional study design was used and this is because it was cheap and the study was to take relatively a short period. It was conducted among 186 respondents at Kiyumba Health Centre IV between June and July 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants and the selected participants signed consent forms and thereafter questionnaires to fill those who were unable to read and write and were interviewed.  Results The results showed that out of the 186 respondents, 35 pregnant women were found to be anemic 32(91.43%) had mild anemia, (5.71%) had severe anemia, and only (2.86%) had moderate anemia. During the study, malaria and area of residence were found to be the risk factors and determinants of anemia among pregnant women where the majority,(17.20%) had suffered from malaria and as regards to the area of residence, (91.4%) were urban dwellers and (8.60%) were rural dwellers. Finally, the participants had suffered from different signs and symptoms during the pregnancy for example headache, dizziness, fatigue, and depression.  Conclusion The study found that the magnitude and severity of anemia among pregnant women are high in the third and second trimesters respectively. The study found that marital status, area of residence, and infections like malaria are the main risk factors and determinants of anemia among pregnant women..  Recommendations Health workers to make sure all pregnant mothers are tested for hemoglobin levels at every antenatal visit to determine their anemic states