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ItemActor-oriented analysis of power relationships behind heterogeneous sanitation infrastructure in Kampala, Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)This study employed an actor-oriented analysis of the power relations underlying Kampala’s Heterogeneous Sanitation Infrastructures (HSIs). Unlike much existing research – which remains largely reductionist and deconstructive – this study, through the lens of Situated Urban Political Ecology (SUPE), offers critical insights into the everyday modalities of sanitation inequality across the sanitation gradient from faecal waste containment to treatment and disposal. It used a primarily qualitative approach involving in-depth key informant interviews, follow-along participant observation (FAPO), critical observation, and literature reviews. The analysis revealed that, unlike the centralised sewerage system, Kampala’s HSIs were tethered by complex power relational logics and socio-material dynamics. Subsequently, sanitation access was enabled for some, while the cycle of sanitation inequality persisted for others. These HSIs can be conceptualised as a continuum from “infrastructures of survival” to “disruptive infrastructures,” featuring unpredictable and impervious faecal flows contrasting with more coherent, socially networked ones. These logics and dynamics influenced the HSI (re)production through institutional legitimacy, social acceptance, economic affordability, and control over the adoption, promotion, and diffusion of various socio-technological options to close sanitation infrastructure deficits. In conclusion, HSIs are important for understanding how power relations exacerbate or mitigate sanitation inequalities in cities like Kampala. Such engagement enables decoding urban life and informing strategies against pervasive challenges like sanitation inequality. Key actors like the KCCA and NWSC should integrate HSIs and micro-level actors (e.g. landlords/ladies, community toilet caretakers, managers etc.) into urban sanitation programming; reskill urban development professionals emphasising trans-disciplinarity, critical thinking, and innovative local solutions; and balance market-based approaches with public sanitation services to close infrastructure deficits.
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ItemExamining the implications of past and future extreme drought characteristics on grasslands in Kiruhura District(Makerere University, 2025)Drought is one of the major challenges in achieving sustainable development with impacts including; disruptions in the ecosystems, water and food resources among others. Understanding drought dynamics is therefore vital for protecting lives, securing food and water, preserving ecosystems and building climate resilience. This study investigated the characteristics and implications of past and future extreme drought on grasslands, with an aim of contributing towards building drought resilience of the cattle keeping communities in Kiruhura District. Specifically, the objectives of the study included; (1) examining the past and future extreme drought characteristics, (2) examining the impact of past extreme drought on spatiotemporal distribution of grasslands and (3) examining the projected impact of future extreme drought on the temporal distribution of the grasslands. The research employed the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) to analyze past and projected drought conditions focusing on the duration, severity, and intensity of extreme drought events. The spatiotemporal changes in the Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) against the Standard precipitation index (SPI) were used to investigate the impacts of extreme drought on the grasslands. The results reveal that the grasslands were negatively impacted by extended extreme drought periods of 6 and 12 months. Both SPI indices had a statistically significant relationship shown by the Pearson moment correlation analysis. SPI6 and SPI12 having P-values of 0.0031 and 0.0022 respectively. In the future, under both SSP245 and SSP585 climate scenarios, the relationship between drought and NDVI was generally insignificant with Pearson moment correlation P-values between 0.33 - 0.84, way above the significance level of 0.05. Comparing the two projected climate scenarios, the implication of this relationship was much more pronounced under SSP585 as revealed by the time series analysis where NDVI showed to respond to longer – term droughts although not statistically significant. Drawing from the study conclusions including the grasslands being resilient to short-term extreme droughts but vulnerable to prolonged droughts and the fact that no extreme drought control on grassland cover was evident in future projections. The study recommended grassland management policies that emphasize adaptive strategies such as controlled stocking rates, pasture rotation, restoration of degraded grasslands, and protection of key dry season grazing reserves to reduce vulnerability to prolonged and severe droughts to enhance resilience.
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ItemAssessing the performance and user perspectives of improved cookstove designs in the Rhino refugee settlement, West Nile region of Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)Improved cookstoves (ICS) are widely promoted as a clean cooking solution due to their potential to reduce fuel consumption and household air pollution. However, evidence on their long-term performance and sustained user acceptance remains limited, particularly in humanitarian settings. This study assessed the two-year technical performance and user perspectives of improved cookstove designs in Rhino Refugee Settlement, North-western Uganda, with the aim of informing clean cooking policies, technical guidelines, and implementation strategies. A mixed-methods research design was applied, combining laboratory-based performance testing with household surveys and focus group discussions. Thermal efficiency and emissions of particulate matter (PM₂ .₅ ) and carbon monoxide (CO) were evaluated for 36 cookstoves, including 12 baseline units and 24 stoves that had been in use for one to two years across four models, following ISO 19867-1 protocols using a Laboratory Emissions Monitoring System (LEMS). User perspectives were collected from 380 households through a structured questionnaire and 12 focus group discussions conducted across four settlement zones. Results indicated that thermal efficiency declined across all cookstove models over the two- year period, with significant differences between models (F = 129.94, p < 0.001). Performance changes were driven mainly by operational conditions, fuel type, and stove design rather than stove age alone. Emissions of PM₂ .₅ and CO generally increased with prolonged use, although trends varied across models, with the highest increases observed in dual-fuel stoves. User analysis showed that frequent fuel addition, longer cooking times, and firewood stove use were associated with higher dissatisfaction, while charcoal stoves demonstrated higher acceptance. Although most users reported satisfaction with reduced smoke emissions, high upfront costs and poor durability significantly reduced overall satisfaction. The study concludes that sustained adoption of improved cookstoves depends not only on initial efficiency and emission reductions but also on affordability, durability, and ease of use. Strengthening performance standards, improving stove design and repairability, and expanding affordable financing mechanisms are critical for long-term clean cooking success in refugee and low-income settings
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ItemThe influence of Lantana camara invasion on plant, mammal and avifauna diversity in Katonga wildlife reserve, western Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)Invasive plant species are a growing threat to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity worldwide. In Uganda Lantana camara, is one of the most aggressive invaders that have spread across Uganda’s protected areas, yet its ecological impacts in savanna ecosystems remain poorly documented. This study assessed the influence of Lantana camara invasion on the diversity of native plants, avifauna, and medium to large mammals in Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Western Uganda. Six transects (three invaded and three non invaded) were surveyed using quadrats, point count, and line transect methods, for plants, avifauna and mammals respectively A total of 103 plant species, 92 bird species, and 14 mammal species were recorded. Plant species diversity was significantly higher in non invaded sites than the invaded (t (26) = 4.201, p = 0.0003). In contrast, avifauna diversity across ecological categories and feeding guilds, as well as mammal diversity based on feeding guilds, did not differ significantly between invaded and non invaded sites. Community composition differed significantly between invaded and non invaded sites for plants (Global RANOSIM = 0.377, p = 0.001), avifauna (Global RANOSIM = 0.110, p = 0.003), and mammals (Global RANOSIM = 0.407, p = 0.001). SIMPER analysis indicated that plant community dissimilarity was primarily driven by Cymbopogon afronardus Stapf (17.04%), Setaria sphacelata (Schumach.) Stapf & C.E. Hubb. ex Moss (9.53%), Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (5.07%), and Panicum maximum Jacq. (4.61%). For avifauna, the species contributing most to dissimilarity between invaded and non invaded transects included Cuculus solitarius Stephens (3.59%), Colius striatus Gmelin (2.99%), Pycnonotus barbatus Desfontaines (2.88%), and Camaroptera brachyura Vieillot (2.80%). Mammalian dissimilarity was mainly influenced by Kobus ellipsiprymnus Ogilby (3.94%), Tragelaphus scriptus Pallas (3.94%), Xerus erythropus É. Geoffroy Saint Hilaire (3.94%), and Piliocolobus tephrosceles Elliot (3.46%). The findings highlight that Lantana camara significantly alters plant diversity and may indirectly affect faunal assemblages. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) prioritize targeted control of Lantana camara in invaded areas and investigate the impacts of invasion of forage quality in the reserve.
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ItemThe influence of weather variables on mango fruit flies abundance and their management in selected agro-ecological zones of Uganda(Makerere University, 2026)Mango fruit flies pose a considerable challenge to mango production, considerably impacting both yield and fruit quality. Despite the recognized importance of weather variability as a key determinant of pest populations and their associated damage, the existing literature on the relationship between local meteorological conditions and the population dynamics of mango fruit flies in Uganda is limited. This study was set out to assess (i) the influence of weather on the abundance of mango fruit flies in two different agro-ecological zones of Uganda, (ii) assess mango farmers’ knowledge and perceptions towards the management of mango fruit flies, and (iii) to examine farmers’ management practices of mango fruit flies. Two agro-ecological zones of Kyoga Plains and Para savannah with representative districts of Soroti and Nwoya respectively were used for this study. A case study design was used to conduct in-depth investigations on the mango fruit flies’ population of two genera, including Bactrocera, and Ceratitis, under different weather conditions. Four mango farms, 2 in each district, were selected based on fruit fly monitoring guidelines and used as case studies. The stud y also utilized a descriptive cross-sectional research design to collect quantitative data from 192 farmers. The study found that the genus Bactrocera was more abundant with 98.6% of total individuals captured as compared to Ceratitis in both districts. There were significant positive relationships between the abundance of Bactrocera and weather variables of temperature 6and surface pressure in both Nwoya and Soroti districts. However, wind speed showed significant relationship with the abundance of Bactrocera, but not Ceratitis, and only in Nwoya district. There was no observed significant influence of any weather variable on Ceratitis. It was noted that while the majority of mango fruit farmers had good knowledge of managing mango fruit flies, their perception on mango fruit fly management is neutral across all agro-ecological zones. It was revealed that mango fruit farmers employed various methods to control the mango fruit fly such as removing and destroying infested mangoes, using synthetic pesticides and use of traps. Additionally, mango fruit farmers faced challenges such as financial constraints, limited knowledge of pesticides, among others. The study concluded that some, but not all, weather variables can influence the abundance of mango fruit flies, and that the influence may vary among different agro-ecological zones. It is also concluded that farmers’ management practices of mango fruit flies and challenges vary with agro-ecological zones implying that strategies to support farmers in managing the mango fruit flies should consider the specific dynamics of each agro-ecological zone.