Genetic progress achieved in bean breeding in Uganda

Several cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) have been released in Uganda over a period of five decades, but the genetic gain to selection in respect of yield and agronomic characteristics has not been determined. This study was conducted to estimate the gain in selection over the 1960 - 2016 period, of common bean breeding in Uganda. Twenty nine bush and eleven climbing type cultivars were evaluated for yield and yield components, in three locations, during 2017B and 2018A cropping seasons. The study was carried out at the National Crop Resources Research Institute (NaCCRI), Nakabango Research Institute in central and Kwachwekano Zonal Agriculture Research Institute in southwestern Uganda. The design used was a randomised complete blocks with three replicates for the climbing types; and a 3x10 Alpha lattice design with three replicates for bush types. Significant differences (P<0.001) were recorded among cultivars for most traits in both bush and climbers, except seed number per pod (NSP). The range of genetic gain in grain yield was between 1,505 to 2,418 kg ha-1 for bush type cultivars, and 1,641 to 2,687 kg ha-1 for the climbing types. Yield has increased by16.3 and 26.3 kg ha-1 per year for bush and climbers, respectively; with a relative gain of 1.27%/year for bush types and 1.54%/year for the climbing types. Biomass yield and harvest index explained most of the variation in grain yield and number of pods per plant in climbing types. Among climbing types, biomass yield was significantly and positively correlated with grain yield per plant and grain yield per ha (P<0.05, and r= 0.87) and with grain yield per ha (P<0.01 r = 0.98) for bush types, biomass yield was significantly and positively correlated with grain yield per plant (P<0.05, and r= 0.59) and with grain yield per ha (P<0.01 r = 0.80) and harvest index (P<0.5 r = 0.80)

The effect on mental health of a large scale psychosocial intervention for survivors of mass violence: A quasi-experimental study in Rwanda

Background: War has serious and prolonged mental health consequences. It is argued that post-emergency mental health interventions should not only focus on psychological factors but also address the social environment. No controlled trials of such interventions exist. We studied the effect on mental health of a large scale p

Psychometric properties and longitudinal validation of the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) in a Rwandan community setting: a validation study

Background: This study took place to enable the measurement of the effects on mental health of a psychosocial intervention in Rwanda. It aimed to establish the capacities of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) to screen for mental disorder and to assess symptom change over time in a Rwandan community setting. Methods. The SRQ-20 was translated into Kinyarwanda in a process of forward and back-translation. SRQ-20 data were collected in a Rwandan setting on 418 respondents; a random subsample of 230 respondents was assessed a second time with a three month time interval. Internal reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha. The optimal cut-off point was determined by calculating Receiver Operating Curves, using semi-structured clinical interviews as standard in a random subsample of 99 respondents. Subsequently, predictive value, likelihood ratio, and interrater agreement were calculated. The factor structure of the SRQ-20 was determined through exploratory factor analysis. Factorial invariance over time was tested in a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The reliability of the SRQ-20 in women ( = 0.85) and men ( = 0.81) could be considered good. The instrument performed moderately well in detecting common mental disorders, with an area

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Everyday suffering outside prison walls: a legacy of community justice in post-genocide Rwanda

Twenty years after the 1994 genocide, Rwanda shows all indications of moving quickly towards socio-economic prosperity. Rwanda's community justice system, Gacaca, was to complement this prosperity by establishing peace and stability through justice, reconciliation and healing. Evaluations of the Gacaca courts' achievements from 2002 to 2012 have had widely differing conclusions. This article adds to previous evaluations by drawing attention to specific forms of relatively neglected suffering (in literature and public space) that have emerged from the Gacaca courts or were amplified by these courts and jeopardize Gacaca's objectives. The ethnographic study that informs the article was conducted in southeastern Rwanda from September 2008-December 2012 among 19 ex-prisoners and 24 women with husbands in prison including their family members, friends and neighbors. Study findings suggest that large scale imprisonment of genocide suspects coupled with Gacaca court proceedings have tainted the suffering of ex-prisoners and women with imprisoned husbands in unique ways, which makes their plight unparalleled in other countries. We argue that the nature and scale of this suffering and the potentially detrimental impact on families and communities require humanitarian action. However, in Rwanda's post-genocide reality, the suffering of these two groups is overwhelmed by that of other vulnerable groups, such as genocide survivors and orphaned children; hence it is rarely acknowledged

Sexual transgression and social disconnection: healing through community-based sociotherapy in Rwanda

A distinguishing feature of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and the preceding 1990-1994 war in Rwanda was the social intimacy of the crimes committed. The legacy of this kind of violence includes distrust in social relations within communities and families, an increase of violence in everyday social interaction, transgressive sexual engagements, and a range of psychological problems. Many people feel nostalgia for their past social life, but are unable to change their current situation. In 2005, a community-based sociotherapy programme was introduced into this context of mental and social distress. The goal was to help people regain feelings of dignity and safety and to reduce distress. This paper is based on qualitative research, in particular, case studies. It explores how sociotherapy, as a specific form of peer group counselling, may facilitate the healing of suffering related to issues of sexuality, violence within the family and the breakdown of social connections on a community level. Una característica que distingue al genocidio en 1994 contra los tutsi de la anterior guerra entre 1990-1994 en Ruanda es la intimidad social de los crímenes cometidos. El legado de este tipo de violencia es la desconfianza en las relaciones sociales dentro de las comunidades y las familias, un aumento de la violencia en la interacción social diaria, la participación en actividades sexuales transgresoras y toda una serie de problemas psicológicos. Aunque muchas personas sienten nostalgia por su vida social anterior, son incapaces de cambiar su situación actual. En 2005 se introdujo un programa socioterapéutico de la comunidad para abordar las dificultades mentales y sociales. Su objetivo fue ayudar a las personas a recobrar sus sentimientos de dignidad y seguridad y reducir la angustia. Este artículo se basa en un estudio cualitativo, en particular con estudios de casos. Analizamos el modo en que la socioterapia, como una forma específica de asesoramiento en grupo, puede facilitar la curación del sufrimiento relacionado con cuestiones de sexualidad, violencia dentro de la familia y el deterioro de las conexiones sociales en la comunidad. Une particularité du génocide de 1994 contre les Tutsis au Rwanda et de la guerre qui l'avait précédé entre 1990 et 1994 a été l'intimité sociale des crimes commis. Les séquelles de ce type de violences comprennent la méfiance vis-à-vis des rapports sociaux au sein des communautés et des familles, une augmentation de la violence dans l'interaction sociale de tous les jours, des engagements sexuels transgressifs et un ensemble de problèmes psychologiques. Nombreux sont les gens qui sont nostalgiques de leur vie sociale passée mais qui sont incapables de changer leur situation actuelle. En 2005, un programme communautaire de sociothérapie a été introduit dans ce contexte de désarroi mental et social. Il avait pour but d'aider les personnes à retrouver un sentiment de dignité et de sécurité et de diminuer leur détresse. Cet article s'appuie sur une recherche qualitative - en particulier des cas d'études. Il examine comment la sociothérapie, en tant que méthode spécifique de counselling dans un groupe de pairs, peut faciliter la guérison des souffrances relatives aux questions de la sexualité, de la violence au sein des familles et de la dégradation des connexions sociales au plan communautaire

Care as a turning point in sociotherapy: remaking the moral world in post-genocide Rwanda

Community-based sociotherapy was introduced in Rwanda in 2005 in order to contribute to the healing of social worlds that were severely damaged by war and genocide. People who participate in sociotherapy perceive this intervention as medicine for their troubled hearts. Each sociotherapy group, averaging twelve people, holds fifteen weekly meetings. Two facilitators guide the group through six different phases: safety, trust, care, respect, new rules, and memory. It is mostly during the care phase that a substantial part of the participants experience a change in their lives, which is the beginning of the reparation of their morally shattered social world and, subsequently, the reconstruction of social capital in its entirety. The analysis of this process is based on qualitative research about the practice of sociotherapy and its impact on the communities where it is practiced