In this thesis, I analyze the potential for a REDD+ program to succeed in Uganda at this time, and I explore why this may or may not be possible. REDD+, which stands for Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation, aims to enhance carbon stocks while also conserving and sustainably managing forests. In doing so, REDD+ not only works to offset carbon emission levels and conserve forests and forest biodiversity, but also provides financial benefits to REDD+ participant countries, thus improving the livelihoods of local people living adjacent to forests. This program is widely regarded as the most effective and least risky solution to deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, however, I argue that this may not be the case. Government documents reveal a rather simplistic and idealistic view of the policy, its implementation process, and desired outcomes, while specific case studies in countries outside of Uganda in which the REDD+ program has been implemented or is in the process of being implemented reveal unaddressed concerns with the mechanism itself and within the surrounding communities. Based on my research, I believe that if the recommendations that I propose are not included in the REDD+ preparation and implementation phases, the REDD+ mechanism is not only predestined to fail, but also to harm the most at-risk stakeholders that it is meant to benefit.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), is the world’s most widely grown starch storage root crop. It is a principal food staple in sub-Saharan Africa where it accounts for approximately one-third of the total production of staple food crops. It plays a key role as a food security and an income-generating crop for millions of smallholder farmers. In Uganda, cassava ranks second to bananas (Musa spp.) in terms of area occupied, total production and per capita consumption; however, nearly 5% of the total population experiences hunger with the prevalence of food energy deficiency at the country level standing at 48%. Cassava is a crop with high potential to alleviate food shortages and energy deficiencies, owing to its unique advantages of producing acceptable yields and starch on infertile soils amidst erratic rainfall, when most other crops would fail. Hoewever, its yield potential has not been fully realised since most of the cassava cultivars grown are susceptible to pests and diseases, low yielding and late bulking. The main objective of the research was to develop high yielding, early bulking cassava genotypes that combine resistance to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD) with farmer preferred traits for cultivation in Uganda. The specific objectives were to: (i) evaluate farmers’ attitudes to and/or perceptions of cassava early bulking, production constraints and cultivar preferences; (ii) determine the extent of genetic variability in storage root bulking and other important traits of selected cassava genotypes; (iii) assess the effects of genotype x environment interaction on early bulking and related traits of selected cassava genotypes; (iv) develop and evaluate cassava F1 families for early bulking in terms of the attainment of early, high fresh storage root yield (FSRY) and resistance to CBSD and CMD; and (v) determine the combining ability and gene action controlling early bulking and yield-related traits, as well as resistance to CBSD and CMD. Through the farmer participatory survey, a number of cassava production constraints were identified, key of which were: diseases, especially CBSD and CMD; lack of early bulking cultivars; rodents and insect pests. Farmers rated early bulking as the second most important preferred trait after FSRY, but suggested that early bulking should be complemented with high dry mass content (DMC), sweetness, high FSRY and resistance to pests and diseases. The analysis of variance of 12 cassava genotypes selected for evaluation in three diverse locations and at five different harvest times indicated significant variation among genotypes, harvest times, locations and their interactions for FSRY and most of the other traits evaluated. Fresh storage root yield and the other traits evaluated were predominantly under the control of genetic variation, indicating that genetic advance would be achieved through hybridisation of the test genotypes. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis of the data collected at nine months after planting (MAP) indicated a non-significant GEI for early FSRY, but significant GEI for other traits assessed. Eight of the 12 genotypes analysed had relatively low interaction with locations for early FSRY, signifying that these genotypes were relatively stable for early FSRY. Thirty-six F1 families were generated from a 9 x 9 diallel and exhibited a high degree of variation between and within families for all the traits assessed at the seedling evaluation stage. Diallel analysis at the seedling evaluation stage at 10 MAP indicated that additive gene effects were predominant in the expression of early FSRY and most of the other traits analysed. At the clonal evaluation stage, the 36 families were assessed for early FSRY at 8 MAP and this trait together with most of the other traits assessed were found to be predominantly under the control of non-additive gene effects. High mid- and better-parent heterosis for early FSRY was recorded in most families at the clonal evaluation stage with NASE3 x Nyara, Nyara x B11 and NASE3 x B11 recording the highest. Selection from the 36 families at the clonal evaluation stage based on farmers’ top two preferred traits, viz. early bulking for FSRY and DMC, plus resistance to CBSD and CMD identified 50 genotypes that had early FSRY of ≥25 t ha-1 at 8 MAP compared to the best parent, CT1 that had 15.9 t ha-1 at 8 MAP. The selected genotypes also had high DMC and dual resistance to CMD and CBSD. Advancement of the selected genotypes should go a long way towards increasing cassava yield per unit time, reducing food shortages and increasing the income of smallholder farmers in Uganda. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Alternaria leaf petiole and stem blight is an important disease of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) causing yield losses in both landraces and improved cultivars. The most important species causing economic yield loss in Uganda are Alternaria bataticola and A. alternate with A. bataticola the most aggressive and widely distributed. The study was conducted to: i) establish farmer-preferred sweet potato attributes, production constraints and Alternaria leaf petiole and stem blight awareness; ii) evaluate Ugandan sweet potato germplasm for Alternaria leaf petiole and stem blight resistance; iii) determine the mode of inheritance of resistance to Alternaria leaf petiole and stem blight and storage root yield components of sweet potato through estimation of the general combining ability (GCA) of the parents and the specific combining ability (SCA) of the parents for each cross; and iv) determine the adaptability and farmer acceptability of selected F1 genotypes across environments. The participatory rural appraisal was conducted to establish farmer preferences and production constraints revealed that farmer preferred sweet-potato traits were high yield, sweetness (taste), early maturity, high dry mass, resistance to pests and diseases, and in-field root storability after maturity. A majority of the farmers considered Alternaria leaf petiole and stem blight a serious production constraint causing yield loss of over 50%. The main control measures against the disease were roguing of infected plants, spraying with fungicides, use of healthy planting materials and planting resistant genotypes. Thirty sweet potato land races and improved cultivars were evaluated for Alternaria blight severity; yield, dry mass, harvest index, sweetpotato weevil (Cylas spp.) damage and sweetpotato virus disease at two sites (Namulonge and Kachwekano) over three seasons (2010B, 2011A, 2011B) under Alternaria inoculum and fungicide spray treatments. Landrace Shock was more resistant to Alternaria blight than Tanzania, the resistant check. Genotypes NASPOT 1, NASPOT 7, New Kawogo and Dimbuka were the most susceptible. Thirty two F1 families were generated from 16 parents in two sets in a North Carolina II mating scheme. The families were evaluated at two sites using a 5 x 7 row-column design with two replications. There were significant (P<0.05) differences among the families in Alternaria blight severity. Both GCA and SCA mean squares (MS) for Alternaria blight were highly significant (P<0.001) but the predominance of GCA sum of squares (SS) for Alternaria blight at 67.4% of the treatment SS versus 32.6% for SCA SS indicated that additive effects were more important than the non-additive effects in controlling this trait. For the yield components, the GCA MS were significant (P<0.05) and accounted for more than 60% of the treatment SS except for percentage dry mass composition where SCA SS accounted for 53.0% of the treatment SS implying that non-additive genetic effects were slightly more important than additive for this trait. Some parents that had desirable high, negative GCA effects for Alternaria blight produced families with undesirable positive SCA effects and the reverse was also true. This implied that the best parents should not be chosen based on GCA effects alone but also on SCA effects of their best crosses. The promising F1 genotypes selected from previously evaluated crosses together with one Alternaria blight resistant check (Tanzania) and one susceptible check (NASPOT 1) were evaluated at three sites (Namulonge, Kachwekano and Serere) using a randomised complete block design with three replications. Scientists and farmers evaluated the agronomic performance and also quality traits of the genotypes before and at harvest. Genotypes G14, G16, G24, G29, G49, G59 and G69 were the most stable across the sites for low Alternaria blight severity and can, therefore, be recommended for further evaluation under both low and high disease pressure areas. Genotypes G67, G13, G14, G24, G29 and G53 were the most high yielding and stable across the sites and were therefore the most widely adapted. In the participatory selection, before harvest and at harvest, Spearman’s rank correlation of the scientists and farmers’ mean ranking of the genotypes at each site was positive and significant. This indicated that the scientists in the study were capable of selecting for farmer preferred traits. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Abstract There has been a steady increment in economic growth in Uganda and as the economy is on the rise, the demand for energy also increases. Hydro power energy production has been growing in Uganda as a result of the different types of dams created in Uganda along the River Nile. Uganda has been trying to reach the target of electricity capacity so as to ensure that her people get the energy required to improve on their livelihoods. Uganda as a whole has different energy sources but in this thesis, Bujagali dam will be at the center of the focus. Looking at the social and environmental impacts made upon its construction in Jinja. The main objective of this thesis was therefore to show how the livelihoods of the people dwelling in the neighborhood and the environment were affected by the construction of the dam. The livelihoods of the people before the construction of the dam were reviewed in regard to their social life as well as the environment from past literature provided. The different aspects in which the people and environment were affected after the construction of the dam were also reviewed through different interviews with the residents of Bujagali.   There were both positive and negative effects, socially, environmentally and economically due to the construction of the Bujagali. The positive social effects were: provision of land for farming, provision of employment opportunities for the residents, increase in tourism at the dam, the falls and the cultural centers, community development including education, health facilities, skill training, water supply and power supply while the negative effects were loss of land, cultural loss, and less access to different points of the river for fishing purposes for the residents. The positive environmental effects were increase in fish species, more health and safety awareness, and thermal plants closure hence less green house gases effects on the ozone layer, the noise levels effects due to the dam construction, were of no consequence as they were in the required standard.  The negative environmental effects were majorly water levels fluctuation that affects the head of water which in turn affects the capacity of power produced at the dam and air quality of the area during and after the construction of the dam especially air emissions. The positive economic effects were: increment of power to the national grid, lower electricity costs, closure of thermal plants as they were expensive to run and maintain and reduction of load shedding. The negative effect was the financial loan that the government of Uganda obtained to construct the dam that has to be paid back.

This thesis investigates the introduction of new information management strategies intended to promote an informational approach to management at the operational health service level in low-income countries. There is a lack of in-depth empirical research into the health information systems planning and implementation process in low-income countries which develops an understanding based on existing theory and research. Furthermore, a training package for managers, which is intended to strengthen health information management in low-income countries, has been introduced without independent evaluation. In order to understand the practice and attempts at improving information support to district level management in low-income countries, two ethnographic case studies are presented. The first follows the introduction of PHC MAP, the package mentioned, and the second follows the implementation of a non- computer-based health management information system in Uganda. The research methodology is informed by several approaches which fit within the interpretative, rather than the positivist tradition. Hence, the research question developed from the desire to understand and examine empirical situations. Furthermore, an exploratory approach was utilised rather than identifying theoretical frameworks prior to the field investigation. After the initial fieldwork, the diffusion of innovation framework, the concept of organisational forces existing in dynamic equilibrium, and different information systems development methodologies proved useful in interpreting the evidence collected. My research indicates that the design of PHC MAP and the health management information system focused on technological issues, to the detriment of the wider issues of technological innovation management, and organisational change. The implications of this research, for the practice of introducing new information strategies in order to develop an informational approach to management, are explored.

In Uganda there is a gap between the coverage of cARV programs and the number of people who require treatment. Community-based initiatives are necessary to scale-up cARV programs. Healers have been shown to be able to play a role in other aspects of HIV care including prevention. This study assessed the potential to include healers in Kabarole district in community-based cARV programs to increase program coverage in this rural area. We completed 219 questionnaires and quantified knowledge of HIV/AIDS, attitude towards HIV/AIDS patients, previous experience in collaborating with conventional medical care, and willingness to collaborate to provide cARVs to their villagemates. Multivariate modeling identified characteristics of types of healers that may make them more suitable for collaboration. Qualitative analysis indicated that both healers and health care workers would be willing to work together to try and improve care for HIV/AIDS patients. / Global Health

<p>Clubfoot is the most common congenital structural deformity that leads to physical impairments in children in many poor developing countries. Inadequately treated or neglected clubfoot has been found to be a common cause of ohysical disability globally among children and young growing adults. Many children are referred to the clinics for treatment but some parents do not comply with the treatment regimen whcih requires attending for consecutive treatment sessions. The purpose of this study was to investigate barriers to treatment attendance parents/caregivers of children with clubfoot encounter in complying with clubfoot treatment during the plaster csting phase in Uganda.</p>

Youth, the World Bank argues, need to become a constituency for reform in developing countries. This case study responds to this challenge by investigating adolescent students' understanding of the relationship between health literacy, HIV/AIDS, and gender in the context of Uganda. The four questions investigated are: (i) What kind of health literacy, HIV/AIDS, and gender-related information is accessible to Ugandan adolescent secondary school students? (ii) In the students' view, what are the factors contributing to health and HIV/AIDS related challenges faced by young people in Uganda today? (iii) According to these students, what is the impact of the debate on gender equality in the fight against health epidemics including HIV/AIDS? and (iv) What do these students consider to be the way forward for Uganda to achieve better health and improve life chances for all? The theoretical framework includes critical pedagogy and indigenous knowledge systems, as well as integrative gender frameworks. Each contributes a different but complementary understanding of adolescent students' perspectives on the issues under investigation. Data were collected in a qualitative study from January 2005 — May, 2007. The data corpus includes: student journals, reflective reports, artifacts/documents, life history interviews, questionnaires, informal ethnographic conversations, focus group discussions and critical inquiry discussions. In response to each of the research questions, the major findings were as follows: i) The students' understanding of the relationship between health literacy, HIV/AIDS, and gender were in part influenced by the media, and in part their own experiences. ii) Poverty and peer pressure impact young people's health practices. iii) Young people want gender equality debates to have a focus on marginalized males as well as females. iv) Youth suggest that education, fair trade, and better health care services are important in the attainment of the "better health for all" goal in Uganda. The study concludes that marginalized groups, especially youth, need opportunities to develop a united voice and be active participants in reform processes. Further, new analysis frameworks are needed to understand the gender/power relations in Uganda.

Zugl.: Hohenheim, Univ., Diss., 2005

Thesis (S.T.M.)--Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 231-243).