The anti-Amin resistance in retrospect: the contribution of the Ugandan exile organisations towards democratic change in Uganda, 1972-1979

Paper presented at the Wits History Workshop: Democracy, Popular Precedents, Practice and Culture, 13-15 July, 1994

Determinants of Electronic Learning Adoption in Higher Institutions of Learning in Uganda: A Learnersa Perspective

The introduction of electronic learning (EL) has been initiated in Higher Institutions of Learning (HIL) as an attempt to improve on education institutions2019; service delivery. By adopting the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, this study was aimed at investigating the determinants of the e-learning adoption in HIL where eight TOE factors were examined. The study adopted a quantitative approach, a descriptive research and cross-sectional survey for the research design. A questionnaire was developed based on the eight identified TOE study constructs and administered to a population of 5438 students in three Faculties of Makerere University Business School (MUBS). In regard to data analysis, factor analysis and assessment of reliability and validity of the measurements items was done. Finally, a multiple regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the relationship between the predictor variables and e-learning adoption. The findings of this study imply that the TOE can be used to analyze ELearning adoption in Universities and other HIL as relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, size, competitive intensity and regulatory environment were identified as significant predictors of EL adoption. Whereas top management support and IT/IS knowledge are insignificant predictors in the adoption of EL

Policies on poverty and the fisheries sector in Uganda: the current policy trends

There are concerns, at least among the proponents of development, on how to link policy development processes in Uganda and the associated transformation of the poor to high standards of living. In fact some questions have been posed as to whether it's the absence of poverty-targeted policies that a good proportion of individuals or communities are still poor. In the fisheries sector where most of the fish dependent communities live, poverty indications are still prevalent although arguments have been put that current reforms in the sector have transformed the lives of the fish dependent communities. The 1999/2000 household survey report indicates that the poverty levels reduced to 35% of Uganda's total population from 44% in 1997. The question that arose, which still arises anyway, was to define who is actually poor. When measuring poverty one is ultimately interested in the 'standards of living' of individuals especially those, whose standards of living are inadequate. The basic element of measuring this inadequacy/adequacy, at least in Uganda, is to use the household income or consumption per adult equivalent. Studies have demonstrated that household consumption expenditure is a good approximation of household income1. Therefore, for purpose of this report, we define poor households to mean based on that that one adopted by the Ministry of Finance to mean "households whose expenditure per adult equivalent falls below the poverty line 3 ". Many government documents report that the poverty line is one dollar a day. Therefore someone is below the poverty line if he or she lives on less than one dollar a day. In this paper, we analyse the evolution of poverty-driven policies that have been put in place by government and how these policies are shifting or are likely to shift the lives of fish dependent communities. We argue that combinations of poverty-policies are being translated into increased incomes and welfare of most individuals in the fisheries sector. The reasons for this shift, we argue, is as a result of a combination of factors all supported by non other that poverty-led government policies

Inventory survey of fishing factors in the Ugandan part of lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is the second largest lake in the world with a surface area of 68,000 sq.km. The lake is shared by 3 riparian states, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania with Uganda's part constituting 30,720 sq.km

Characteristics of Some Landing Sites on Lake Albert and Implications for Catch Assessment Survey (CAS) Estimates

This report describes observation made at some fishing landing sites on lake Albert in order to better understand the stastical data collection proccess being practised at that level.special attention is given to proceedures for sample selection of fishing units for catch measurement recommentions for improvement of prsctices and procedures are give

Factors Influencing the Short Message Service (SMS) Mobile Banking Adoption: A Users’ Perspective in the West Nile Region in Uganda

The purpose of the study was to investigate empirically which factors contribute to the adoption of Short Message Service (SMS) banking in the West Nile region in Uganda based on student mobile users who own bank accounts. Respondents were drawn from 3 University Campuses in the West Nile region in Uganda where students and mobile users who own bank accounts were identified. Through purposeful sampling, a self-administered questionnaire was administered to a sample of 90 graduate students from the three selected University Campuses with 60 questionnaires returned hence a response rate of 70%. Quantitative statistics that includes means, frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data. The results reveal that there is strong positive relationship between financial cost, quality of Internet connectivity, complexity and trialability as far as SMS banking adoption is concerned. Age and gender also played a significant influence in SMS banking at different categories of students. Whereas perceived ease of use, security and trust influence were not significant for SMS banking adoption. Consequently, the study conclude that in order to increase adoptability of SMS banking, banks in liaison with telecom service providers, are advised to improve on the Internet connectivity and affordability to support usage of mobile money platform. Keywords: Short Message Service (SMS) mobile Banking, Adoption factors, Users Perspective, and West Nile Regio

The impact of septic systems density and nearness to spring water points, on water quality

Worldwide, 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean water and as a result, 2 million children die annually due to preventable waterborne diseases. In Uganda, 440 Children die every week of waterborne diseases. High prevalence of this death is reported in the peri urban areas. It is still unclear however the causes of water pollution in the peri-urban areas. The improper use of onsite sanitation facilities such as latrines and septic systems may lead to groundwater contamination. It is true that drain field of septic system located too close to water point, and or over population of the septic systems in a small area can lead to pollution of groundwater. Our study investigated the impact of septic systems density and nearness to water points on spring water quality. Samples from 15 spring wells were analysed for pH, nitrate and faecal coliform contamination. Locations and distances of spring from septic systems were determined using global positioning system (GPS) device and ArcGIS software, respectively. Water samples from all the spring wells had pH value less than 6.5, 66.7% had faecal coliform and 53% had nitrate above 2 mg L-1. While sample from one of the springs had nitrate concentration above the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) standard of 10 mg L-1. It was also noted that coliform counts and nitrate concentrations increases with increase in number of septic systems surrounding the spring well. In addition, increase in distance between spring wells and septic systems indicated decrease in both  coliform counts and nitrate concentration. It is therefore concluded that improper use of septic systems is one of the causes of groundwater pollution in the peri urban areas. The study recommends treatments of water from groundwater sources,  regular monitoring of groundwater sources and proper design and siting of septic systems using more robust methodologies.Key words: Spring water quality, septic systems density, proximity to spring,  coliform, nitrate

Anaemia and blood transfusion in African children presenting to hospital with severe febrile illness

BACKGROUND: Severe anaemia in children is a leading cause of hospital admission and a major cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, yet there are limited published data on blood transfusion in this vulnerable group. METHODS: We present data from a large controlled trial of fluid resuscitation (Fluid Expansion As Supportive Therapy (FEAST) trial) on the prevalence, clinical features, and transfusion management of anaemia in children presenting to hospitals in three East African countries with serious febrile illness (predominantly malaria and/or sepsis) and impaired peripheral perfusion. RESULTS: Of 3,170 children in the FEAST trial, 3,082 (97%) had baseline haemoglobin (Hb) measurement, 2,346/3,082 (76%) were anaemic (Hb <10 g/dL), and 33% severely anaemic (Hb <5 g/dL). Prevalence of severe anaemia varied from 12% in Kenya to 41% in eastern Uganda. 1,387/3,082 (45%) children were transfused (81% within 8 hours). Adherence to WHO transfusion guidelines was poor. Among severely anaemic children who were not transfused, 52% (54/103) died within 8 hours, and 90% of these deaths occurred within 2.5 hours of randomisation. By 24 hours, 128/1,002 (13%) severely anaemic children had died, compared to 36/501 (7%) and 71/843 (8%) of those with moderate and mild anaemia, respectively. Among children without severe hypotension who were randomised to receive fluid boluses of 0.9% saline or albumin, mortality was increased (10.6% and 10.5%, respectively) compared to controls (7.2%), regardless of admission Hb level. Repeat transfusion varied from ≤2% in Kenya/Tanzania to 6 to 13% at the four Ugandan centres. Adverse reactions to blood were rare (0.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Severe anaemia complicates one third of childhood admissions with serious febrile illness to hospitals in East Africa, and is associated with increased mortality. A high proportion of deaths occurred within 2.5 hours of admission, emphasizing the need for rapid recognition and prompt blood transfusion. Adherence to current WHO transfusion guidelines was poor. The high rates of re-transfusion suggest that 20 mL/kg whole blood or 10 mL/kg packed cells may undertreat a significant proportion of anaemic children. Future evaluation of the impact of a larger volume of transfused blood and optimum transfusion management of children with Hb of <6 g/dL is warranted. Please see related article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12916-014-0248-5. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-014-0246-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users