Non-Tariff Barriers, Environmental Scanning and Export Performance: the Case of Uganda’s Dairy Exports to Kenya

This research was prompted by the significantly low levels of intra-East African Community (EAC) trade, despite the presence of preferential trade agreements in the region. By focusing on Uganda’s dairy sector, the study sought to establish the structure of the sector’s exports, establish the competitiveness of the sector’s exports into the Kenyan market, to determine the extent to which specific Non-Tariff Barriers are hindering dairy exports from Uganda into the Kenyan dairy market and to establish the mediating role of environmental scanning in the relationship between NTBs and export performance of Uganda’s dairy exporters into the Kenyan dairy market.  A cross-sectional survey of all Ugandan milk and cream (concentrated or sweetened) dairy exporters was undertaken. The findings revealed that Uganda’s diary exports are concentrated and dependent on mainly two product categories accounting for 92 % of the dairy exports and that the exports are concentrated in only one export market; Kenya (80%). The most detrimental NTBs were: Procedural Problems, Charges on Imports and Customs & Administration Entry Procedures. They study also established that environmental scanning was not significantly related to NTBs and therefore could not mediate the relationship between NTBs and Export performance. Keywords: Non-tariff barriers, Environmental scanning, export performance, dairy exports, International business, Ugand

Uganda’s Comparative Agricultural Export Performance: A Shift-Share Analysis Approach.

The paper sought out to establish the comparative export performance of Uganda’s main agricultural exports.The paper adopted a Shift Share Analysis (SSA) methodology, where Uganda’s agricultural trade wasdecomposed into four components (i.e. Global component, Geographical component, Product Compositioncomponent and the Performance component). The study focused on the top agricultural exports that contributean average of 35 percent of the nations export earnings, thus Coffee, Refined Sugar, Tobacco, Black tea, Palmoil and Vegetable fats &oils. These products were studied at the 6-digit HS level. The findings revealed thatalthough Uganda gained market share for its main agricultural exports, such growth was marginal, and that muchof the agricultural export earnings were dominated by one agricultural commodity. The study also revealed thatin the BRICs trading Bloc, much of the agricultural exports were destined for India and the Russian federation,with less destined to high growth markets like China.Key words: Comparative Export Performance, Shift-Share Analysis, Agricultural Exports & Ugand

A comparative study of vaginal misoprostol and intravenous oxytocin for induction of labour in women with intra uterine fetal death in Mulago Hospital, Uganda

Background : Intrauterine fetal death is a major problem in obstetrics particularly in developing countries such as Uganda. Induction of labour in cases of fetal death using the available method of oxytocin is often difficult, expensive and frustrating. Objectives : To compare the effectiveness of vaginal misoprostol and intravenous oxytocin in induction of labour in women with intrauterine fetal death Methods : One hundred and twenty mothers were allocated in a randomised controlled way to one of the two induction groups. Oxytocin infusion was titrated based on patient response. The starting dose was 50mcg (1/4 tablet) in misoprostol group and the dose was doubled every six hours till effective contractions were achieved. The two groups were compared for induction to delivery intervals, costs of the drugs and their safety during induction. Results : The success rate within 48 hours of induction was 100% in the misoprostol group and 96.7% in oxytocin group. The mean induction to delivery time was significantly longer in the oxytocin group compared with the misoprostol group (23.3 versus 12.4 hours; p= 0.004). In the gestational age before 28 weeks, the induction to delivery interval in oxytocin group, was more than twice that used in misoprostol. However beyond 28 weeks, there was no significant difference. Women with intact membranes had induction to delivery interval of 27.9 hours in the oxytocin group and 14.7 hours in the misoprostol group (p=0.002). When the membranes were ruptured, the values were 10.5 and 8.5 hours respectively (p=0.6). The induction to delivery time in cases with Bishops score 6 were 10 and 7.9 hours respectively (p=0.6). The majority of patients in misoprostol group (62%), required less than one tablet for successful induction. Misoprostol was cheaper (0.65 USD than oxytocin (7.86 USD) Retained placenta occurred in only 3.3% of the patients in the misoprostol group. There were no cases of ruptured uterus in both groups. Conclusion : Intravaginal misoprostol is more effective and cheaper than intravenous oxytocin for inducing labour in patients with intrauterine fetal death. African Health Sciences 2001; 1(2): 55-5

USABILITY OF COMPUTERS IN TEACHING AND LEARNING AT TERTIARY-LEVEL INSTITUTIONS IN UGANDA

Since a computer-enriched learning environment is positively correlated with users’ attitudes towards computers in general, the rationale of this study was to investigate the extent to which computers were applied in the teaching and learning at tertiary-level institutions; specifically at the Core Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs). The study accordingly set out to examine this duo-fold ideal at Shimoni and Kibuli Core PTCs; both in Kampala District in Uganda. The specific objectives were to find out the level to which computers have been integrated in teaching and leaning at PTCs and to determine the competency of both the tutors and the students in the use of information and communication technology (ICT). Both categories served as respondents to whom a questionnaire was subjected. Findings indicated that although computers were generally being integrated in the teaching process, there was need for more guidance and support in order to ensure expertise of both tutors and students in the use of ICT. This article is cognisant that integration of technology requires a move from the traditional model of teacher presentation to a learning model whereby students draw information relevant to their future profession.

Morphological traits of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.): Indicators of diversity, selection and germplasm dispersion in Uganda

Uganda is one of the African countries with increasing production demands of jackfruit since it has gained popularity as a food and nutrition security crop with therapeutic benefits. However, the jackfruit germplasm in Uganda had not been adequately characterized to guide its production and there were reports of farmer-selection against inferior varieties. Therefore, this study comprehensively catalogued the morphological diversity of jackfruit to foster purpose-driven cultivation of jackfruit in Uganda; identified varieties and traits prone to negative selection to guide germplasm conservation efforts and established germplasm dispersion patterns to inform exchange programs of germplasm found suitable for commercial production. This was achieved using 47 qualitative and 30 quantitative traits of 249 jackfruit trees from four ethno-varieties, three administrative regions and three agro-ecological zones analyzed for the Shannon index (H'), coefficient of variation (CV), heritability (H2), and genetic advance as percentage of the mean (GAM). Seed surface color was the most variable qualitative trait (H' = 3.16) and number of fruits per tree (H2 = 99.83) and fruit weight (GCV = 69.45, PCV = 69.76) were the most diverse quantitative traits. Ethno-varieties of low economic value registered low diversity (Serebere: H' = 0.92, Namata: H' = 1.04), depicting negative selection against undesired varieties. The qualitative morphological diversity of jackfruit was highest in the Central region (H' = 1.07) and lowest in Eastern Uganda (H' = 1.02). Given the positive correlation between tree age and trunk circumference (r = 0.99, p = 0.001), the Central region with the oldest trees, largest trunks and samples with associations in Eastern and Western regions, is presumed the center of jackfruit diversity and pioneer of jackfruit cultivation in Uganda. In conclusion, jackfruit diversity in Uganda is still robust despite selection constraints. However, for future jackfruit improvements, it is vital to conserve the less preferred ethno-varieties