Optimising stocking rates on livestock farms neighbouring wetlands for sustainable productivity and ecological stability

Uganda’s wetlands, especially in south-western Uganda are increasingly being invaded by cattle herders, particularly during droughts. Such uncontrolled grazing is accelerating wetland degradation. The objective of this study was to assess seasonal forage availability on farms neighbouring Ekigaaga wetland in south-western Uganda, and to determine their optimum stocking for sustainable productivity and ecological stability. The grazed area on each side of the virgin wetland was taken as a block, giving two blocks. In each block, three square metre sampling plots were demarcated along a transect line cutting across farms adjacent to the wetland. Some of these plots were fenced and others were left open to grazing by livestock. Two months after setting up the study, vegetation samples were collected from the fenced and unfenced plots in each block once every month, for a period of six months. Livestock classes and numbers grazing on each block were established and standardised into Tropical Livestock Units (TLU); where one TLU is equivalent to a cow weighing 250 kg. During wet and dry seasons, Cynodon dactylon was the most abundant forage species in the unfenced plots in both blocks. Fencing increased the prevalence of Chloris gayana and Themeda triandra in block 2. Sporobolus pyramidalis was the most abundant weed in both blocks. Fenced and unfenced plots in block 1 had higher grazeable forage yields (488.05 and 399.97 kg ha-1, respectively) than block 2 (432.08 and 371.97 kg ha-1, respectively). The TLU that could be safely grazed on blocks 1 and 2 were 121 and 107, respectively compared to the TLU being grazed on blocks 1 (279) and 2 (381). Therefore, to sustain the productivity and ecological stability of these grazing areas, there is need to control weeds/thickets, improve forage resources by oversowing with quality forages, and to adjust livestock numbers to match with forage quantities available for grazing. &nbsp

Local community participation in restoration of watersheds in Uganda

Open Access Journal; Published online: June 26, 2017Despite the involvement of the local community in Awoja watershed activities, restoration was not fully achieved. Studies on community participation in Awoja watershed have focused on its importance with little known on the extent to which they participate, yet the level of community participation determines the success of restoration of watersheds. This study analysed the extent of local community participation in restoration of Awoja watershed of Eastern Uganda. It was conducted in Ngora district and respondents were asked about two restoration sites of FIEFOC and COBWEB. Data were collected from 237 respondents using a questionnaire from April to July 2015. Descriptive analysis and independent t-test were employed to analyze data. Results indicated that overall level of local community participation in Awoja was average with varied patterns in social, economic and environmental participation. Results showed significant differences between level of participation in overall (P=0.034) and environmental (P=0.044) in FIEFOC and COBWEB restoration sites. Community involvement at all project phases should be encouraged to create a sense of ownership and guidance in similar upcoming projects

Trench layering using indole-3-butyric acid and local organic substrate mixtures to enhance rooting and survival of apple rootstocks

Apples ( Malus domestica ) were introduced to enhance nutrition and improve livelihoods of famers in highlands of Uganda. However, adoption and commercialisation of apples is largely constrained by low quality rootstocks due to poor rooting and low survivability. This study determined the effect of organic substrate mixtures (OSM) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on rooting, sprouting and survival characteristics of apple rootstocks propagated by trench layering. Four apple rootstock varieties (M106, M109, MM793 and bitten-felder) were planted in OSM (Site soil as control, TsaOm and TsdOm) then treated with IBA concentrations (IBA-0 ppm, IBA-4000 ppm and IBA-8000 ppm) in a factorial randomised block design with three replications. Results showed significant (P<0.001) variability among rootstocks for all characters. OSM significantly (P<0.01) increased rooting, root numbers and root length while IBA significantly (P<0.01) increased all traits, except rooting. The highest rooting (46.7%), root numbers (23.1) and root length (14.9cm), and sprout length (59.5cm) were obtained in bitten felder under TsaOm + IBA-4000ppm, TsaOm, and TsdOm, respectively. For M106, maximum rooting (28.1%) and root numbers (22.3) were obtained under TsaOm + IBA-8000ppm while root (14.3cm) and sprout (35.2cm) lengths under TsdOm. TsaOm gave the highest root numbers (14.2), root (12.8cm) and sprout (30.7cm) lengths in M109 likewise root (7.8cm) and sprout (38.3cm) lengths in MM793. Logistic regression revealed that rooting, sprout length, and IBA-4000ppm significantly (P<0.01) increased survival of apple rootstocks. The highest survival rates in bitten felder and M106 were 52.4% and 51.7% under TsdOm + IBA-4000 ppm and TsdOm + IBA-8000 ppm respectively; likewise 49.5% in M109 and 51.7% in MM793 both treated with IBA-8000 ppm. The results demonstrate that trench layering with OSM and IBA improves rooting and survival of apple rootstocks which might improve farmers\u2019 access to quality apple planting material.Les pommes ( Malus domestica ) \ue9taient introduites pour renforcer la nutrition et am\ue9liorer le niveau de vie des producteurs dans les r\ue9gions montagneuses d\u2019Ouganda. Toutefois, l\u2019adoption et la commercialisation des pommes sont largement limit\ue9es par la faible qualit\ue9 des porte-greffes \ue0 cause du pauvre enracinement et la faible capacit\ue9 de survie. Cette \ue9tude visait \ue0 d\ue9terminer l\u2019effet des m\ue9langes du substrat organique (OSM) et l\u2019acide indole-3-butyrique (IBA) sur l\u2019enracinement, la germination et les caract\ue9ristiques de survie des porte-greffes de la pomme propag\ue9e par le marcottage de tranch\ue9e. Quatre portes greffes des vari\ue9t\ue9s de pomme (M106, M109, MM793 et bitten-felder) \ue9taient plant\ue9es dans l\u2019OSM (site de sol servant de contr\uf4le, TsaOm et TSdOm) et trait\ue9e avec diff\ue9rentes concentrations de l\u2019IBA (IBA-0 ppm, IBA-4000 ppm et IBA-8000 ppm) dans un design factoriel \ue0 blocks compl\ue8tement al\ue9atoires avec trois r\ue9plications. Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 de variabilit\ue9 significative (P<0,001) entre les porte-greffes des vari\ue9t\ue9s pour tous les caract\ue8res. OSM significativement (P<0.01) a fait accro\ueetre l\u2019enracinement, le nombre de racines et la longueur de la racine; alors que IBA a augment\ue9 significativement (P<0.001) tous les traits, sauf l\u2019enracinement. Les plus grandes valeurs des caract\ue8res \ue0 savoir\ua0; l\u2019enracinement (46,7%), le nombre de racines (23,1), la longueur des racines (14,9 cm), et la longueur des pousses (59,5cm) \ue9taient obtenues sur bitten felder sous TsaOm + IBA-4000ppm, TsaOm, et TsdOm, respectivement. Pour M106, les valeurs maximales de l\u2019enracinement (28,1%) et de nombre de racines (22.3) \ue9taient obtenues sous TsaOm + IBA-8000ppm alors que les valeurs maximales de la longueur des racines (14,3 cm) et des pousses (35,2 cm) sous TsdOM. TsaOm ont donn\ue9 le plus grand nombre de racines (14,2), la plus grande longueur des racines (12,8 cm) et de pousses (30,7 cm) dans M109 pareillement \ue0 la longueur des racines (7,8 cm) et de pousses (38,3 cm) dans MM793. La r\ue9gression logistique a r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que l\u2019enracinement, la longueur de la pousse et IBA-400ppm ont augment\ue9 significativement (P<0,01) la survie des porte-greffes de la pomme. Les plus forts taux de survies sur le bitten felder et M106 \ue9taient 52,4% et 51,7% sous TsdOm+IBA-4000 ppm et TsdOm+IBA-8000 ppm, respectivement\ua0; de m\ueame 49,5% ont \ue9t\ue9 obtenus sur M109 et 51,7% sur MM793 tous trait\ue9s avec IBA-8000 ppm. Les r\ue9sultats ont d\ue9montr\ue9 que le marcottage de tranch\ue9e avec OSM et IBA am\ue9liore l\u2019racinement et la survie des porte-greffes qui pourrait am\ue9liorer l\u2019acc\ue8s des producteurs \ue0 des mat\ue9riels de plantation de pomme de qualit\ue9

Association of diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use with subclinical-to-symptomatic spectrum of tuberculosis in 16 countries: an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys

Summary Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors, such as smoking, increase the risk for tuberculosis (TB). Data are scarce on the risk of prevalent TB associated with these factors in the context of population-wide systematic screening and on the association between NCDs and NCD risk factors with different manifestations of TB, where ∼50% being asymptomatic but bacteriologically positive (subclinical). We did an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of national and sub-national TB prevalence surveys to synthesise the evidence on the risk of symptomatic and subclinical TB in people with NCDs or risk factors, which could help countries to plan screening activities. Methods In this systematic review and IPD meta-analysis, we identified eligible prevalence surveys in low-income and middle-income countries that reported at least one NCD (e.g., diabetes) or NCD risk factor (e.g., smoking, alcohol use) through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and by searching in Medline and Embase from January 1, 2000 to August 10, 2021. The search was updated on March 23, 2023. We performed a one-stage meta-analysis using multivariable multinomial models. We estimated the proportion of and the odds ratio for subclinical and symptomatic TB compared to people without TB for current smoking, alcohol use, and self-reported diabetes, adjusted for age and gender. Subclinical TB was defined as microbiologically confirmed TB without symptoms of current cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss and symptomatic TB with at least one of these symptoms. We assessed heterogeneity using forest plots and I2 statistic. Missing variables were imputed through multi-level multiple imputation. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021272679). Findings We obtained IPD from 16 national surveys out of 21 national and five sub-national surveys identified (five in Asia and 11 in Africa, N = 740,815). Across surveys, 15.1%–56.7% of TB were subclinical (median: 38.1%). In the multivariable model, current smoking was associated with both subclinical (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.27–2.40) and symptomatic TB (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.34–1.66). Self-reported diabetes was associated with symptomatic TB (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17–2.40) but not with subclinical TB (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.55–1.55). For alcohol drinking ≥ twice per week vs no alcohol drinking, the estimates were imprecise (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.70–3.62) for subclinical TB and OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.59–3.46 for symptomatic TB). For the association between current smoking and symptomatic TB, I2 was high (76.5% (95% CI 62.0–85.4), while the direction of the point estimates was consistent except for three surveys with wide CIs. Interpretation Our findings suggest that current smokers are more likely to have both symptomatic and subclinical TB. These individuals can, therefore, be prioritised for intensified screening, such as the use of chest X-ray in the context of community-based screening. People with self-reported diabetes are also more likely to have symptomatic TB, but the association is unclear for subclinical TB

Transnational corporations, violence and suffering: the environmental, public health and social impacts from comparative case studies in Zimbabwe and Uganda

The present effects of transnational corporations (TNCs) on social, health, and environmental aspects of local societies have a long history. The preconditions for the insertion of the types of economic initiatives now seen in the Global South, and driven by TNCs, were set through histories of colonialism and development schemes. These initiatives disrupted local economies and modified environments, delivering profound effects on livelihoods. These effects were experienced as structural violence, and have produced social suffering through the decades.In this paper, we compare two African cases across time; the conjunction of development initiatives and structural adjustment in the Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe in the early 1990s and industrial plantation forestry in present-day Uganda. Each case presents a specific constellation of political and economic forces that has produced prejudicial effects on local populations in their time period of application and are, essentially, different versions of structural violence that produce social suffering. While each case depicts a specific type of violent encounter manifest at a particular historical moment, these are comparable in the domains of environmental impacts, disruptions to societies, co-opting of local economies, disordering of systems of meaning and social reproduction, and nefarious effects on well-being. We analyze the conjunction of these effects through a theoretical lens of structural violence and social suffering. Our analysis draws particular attention to the role of TNCs in driving this structural violence and its effects

Community-based natural resource use and management of Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, Uganda, for livelihood benefits

publisher versionConservation and sustainable management of wetlands requires participation of local stakeholders, including communities. The Bigodi Wetland is unusual because it is situated in a common property landscape but the local community has been running a successful community-based natural resource management programme (CBNRM) for the wetland for over a decade. Whilst external visitors to the wetland provide ecotourism revenues we sought to quantify community benefits through the use of wetland goods such as firewood, plant fibres, and the like, and costs associated with wild animals damaging farming activities. We interviewed 68 households living close to the wetland and valued their cash and non-cash incomes from farming and collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and water. The majority of households collected a wide variety of plant and fish resources and water from the wetland for household use and livestock. Overall, 53% of total household cash and non-cash income was from collected products, mostly the wetland, 28% from arable agriculture, 12% from livestock and 7% from employment and cash transfers. Female-headed households had lower incomes than male-headed ones, and with a greater reliance on NTFPs. Annual losses due to wildlife damage were estimated at 4.2% of total gross income. Most respondents felt that the wetland was important for their livelihoods, with more than 80% identifying health, education, craft materials and firewood as key benefits. Ninety-five percent felt that the wetland was in a good condition and that most residents observed the agreed CBNRM rules regarding use of the wetland. This study confirms the success of the locally run CBNRM processes underlying the significant role that the wetland plays in local livelihoods

Association of diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use with subclinical-to-symptomatic spectrum of tuberculosis in 16 countries: an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors, such as smoking, increase the risk for tuberculosis (TB). Data are scarce on the risk of prevalent TB associated with these factors in the context of population-wide systematic screening and on the association between NCDs and NCD risk factors with different manifestations of TB, where ∼50% being asymptomatic but bacteriologically positive (subclinical). We did an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis of national and sub-national TB prevalence surveys to synthesise the evidence on the risk of symptomatic and subclinical TB in people with NCDs or risk factors, which could help countries to plan screening activities. Methods In this systematic review and IPD meta-analysis, we identified eligible prevalence surveys in low-income and middle-income countries that reported at least one NCD (e.g., diabetes) or NCD risk factor (e.g., smoking, alcohol use) through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and by searching in Medline and Embase from January 1, 2000 to August 10, 2021. The search was updated on March 23, 2023. We performed a one-stage meta-analysis using multivariable multinomial models. We estimated the proportion of and the odds ratio for subclinical and symptomatic TB compared to people without TB for current smoking, alcohol use, and self-reported diabetes, adjusted for age and gender. Subclinical TB was defined as microbiologically confirmed TB without symptoms of current cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss and symptomatic TB with at least one of these symptoms. We assessed heterogeneity using forest plots and I2 statistic. Missing variables were imputed through multi-level multiple imputation. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021272679). Findings We obtained IPD from 16 national surveys out of 21 national and five sub-national surveys identified (five in Asia and 11 in Africa, N = 740,815). Across surveys, 15.1%–56.7% of TB were subclinical (median: 38.1%). In the multivariable model, current smoking was associated with both subclinical (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.27–2.40) and symptomatic TB (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.34–1.66). Self-reported diabetes was associated with symptomatic TB (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17–2.40) but not with subclinical TB (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.55–1.55). For alcohol drinking ≥ twice per week vs no alcohol drinking, the estimates were imprecise (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.70–3.62) for subclinical TB and OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.59–3.46 for symptomatic TB). For the association between current smoking and symptomatic TB, I2 was high (76.5% (95% CI 62.0–85.4), while the direction of the point estimates was consistent except for three surveys with wide CIs. Interpretation Our findings suggest that current smokers are more likely to have both symptomatic and subclinical TB. These individuals can, therefore, be prioritised for intensified screening, such as the use of chest X-ray in the context of community-based screening. People with self-reported diabetes are also more likely to have symptomatic TB, but the association is unclear for subclinical TB

Tobacco smoking clusters in households affected by tuberculosis in an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys: Time for household-wide interventions?

Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through the archive maintained by the World Health Organization and searching in Medline and Embase from 1 January 2000 to 10 August 2021, which was updated on 23 March 2023. We compared the prevalence of NCD and their risk factors between people who do not have TB living in households with at least one person with TB (members of households with TB), and members of households without TB. We included 16 surveys (n = 740,815) from Asia and Africa. In a multivariable model adjusted for age and gender, the odds of smoking was higher among members of households with TB (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.23; 95% CI: 1.11–1.38), compared with members of households without TB. The analysis did not find a significant difference in the prevalence of alcohol drinking, diabetes, hypertension, or BMI between members of households with and without TB. Studies evaluating household-wide interventions for smoking to reduce its dual impact on TB and NCD may be warranted. Systematically screening for NCD using objective diagnostic methods is needed to understand the actual burden of NCD and inform comprehensive interventions

Linking forest tenure and anthropogenic factors with institutions and the effectiveness of management in Mpigi forests, central Uganda

This paper reveals the investigated effects of forest tenure and physical and socioeconomic correlates on conservation and management of forests in the Mpigi District, central Uganda. Tree diversity was surveyed in 156 nested plots of 20 m &#215 50 m. Tree density, mean diameter at breast height (dbh) and evidence of illegal forest use were used as indicators of forest conditions and the efficacy of forest management. The stand structure characteristics (i.e. tree density, mean dbh and basal area of trees) were higher in private forests than in Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) and Local Forest Reserves (LFRs) due to effective regulation and monitoring measures by private forest owners. Diameter size for all species combined followed the inverse J-shape, typical of mixed-age stands. Forests in close proximity to a dense human settlement and far from roads were heavily used, suggesting a high likelihood of population pressure on forest resources and limited capacity of forest owners and managers to effectively control and halt degradation in forests far away from agencies. A high proportion of plots in LFRs (81%) had signs of illegal forest use compared to CFRs (67%) and private forests (45%), even in LFRs and CFRs that were located closer to forest management institutions. Tenure alone did not ensure that forest condition is maintained but other factors such as distance to maintained roads and human pressure on the resource were also important. Management of forests in Mpigi needs to recognise and adequately address human impacts and improve the capacity of forest agencies and owners to monitor and regulate harvesting of forest produce. Keywords: anthropogenic factors; forest condition; forest tenure; UgandaSouthern Forests 2008, 70(3): 255–26