A study was carried out on improving library services at St. Joseph’s Girl’s Senior Secondary School Nsambya. The objectives of the study were to establish the current status of library services, to find out how library services at St. Joseph’s were managed, to identify the challenges facing library services and to propose best practices for providing library services for the secondary school. A case study research design was used because with it an in-depth study of the case was attainable. Data was collected mainly by use of questionnaires, interviews and observation checklist which helped to obtain information such as the kind of services in the school library and the challenges they face. Data analysis involved editing and scrutiny of the questionnaires to make sure they were reliable and valid. Findings showed that reading space and reference services were the major and most used services offered in the school library text books were available but inadequate for all the school library users. The school library lacked ICT services and the school library users expressed a need for them. Important recommendations included buying and adding more text books and recreational books to the collection. In order to keep up with the changing information and digital world it was also suggested that ICT services be integrated into the library so that they can work along aside the mainly conventional library services like use of borrowing circulation slips, reading only print books and print references like encyclopedias that already exist in the library.

The West Nile has the largest percentage (43.2%) of the unmet need for family planning among all the regions in Uganda and only 29.2 percent of the total demand for modern family planning methods is satisfied (UBOS 2017). Access to modern contraceptive services has been found to avert unintended pregnancy, reduce maternal and child mortality. However, use of modern methods remains low. The major objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with the use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age in West Nile region in Uganda. Secondary sources of data were used in this study and the Uganda Demographic Household Survey (UDHS) data of 2016 was used in this particular case. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATA software at univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. Data was expressed as absolute numbers and percentages. Comparisons between the groups was made using Chi-square (χ2) test and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Chi-square results at bivariate level of analysis show that factors that included age, education, wealth index, marital status and occupation were all statistically significantly associated with modern contraceptive use since the p-values are less than 0.05. Based on the findings, there is need for increased access and subsidization of family planning services among the poor women of reproductive age in West Nile since the poor women were significantly associated with high odds (1.488) of not using contraceptives compared to women who were not poor.

Reducing gender inequalities is morally, ethically, and economically viewed as one of the principal strategies for reducing food insecurity and poverty in the developing world. Resource access in favour of men has bred a productivity gap, stagnated growth in agricultural GDP and increased the national price of food insecurity. Empirical evidence on the impact of gender on food security required to re-align intended and actual food security sensitive policy outcomes remains scarce in Uganda. This study thus sought to 1) determine the degree of, and characterise food security in female and male headed households, 2) determine whether the drivers of food security differed between female and male headed households, and 3) determine the causal effect of gender of the household head on food security. The study adopted 2012 and 2014 panel data of 3626 households collected by Makerere University and the Nutrition Innovation Laboratory for Africa in parts of South Western and Northern Uganda to address the objectives. The Household food Insecurity Access Scale-score (HFIAS-score) was adopted to measure the degree of household food insecurity. The Exogenous Switching Treatment Effects Regression (ESTER) framework was adopted to estimate the drivers of, and the impact of gender on household food security. Descriptive statistics show that access to food was more constrained in female than male headed households in both 2012 and 2014. Anxiety for future food supplies, severe consumption of less desirable and nutrient sparse meals, and prevalence of severe food insecurity were most evident in female headed households. Contrastingly, more male than female headed households consumed fewer and smaller meals in both years. Households residing in South Western exhibited greater food insecurity than those in Northern Uganda. Significantly more male headed households accessed credit and extension services, adopted sustainable agricultural practices, adopted improved marketing techniques, had diversified agricultural portfolios, and earned higher crop income in a season than their female counterparts. Econometric results revealed that completion of primary and secondary education, larger farm size, ownership of a radio, and growth of cash crops significantly improved food security in both household types. However, agricultural diversification (growing cereals, tubers and owning livestock), adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, product value addition, access to credit and extension services, annual income, social group membership, location and employment of improved marketing techniques were significant only in male headed households. Decomposition analysis based on the ESTER model showed that food insecurity would decrease by 4.5% in female headed households if they were exposed to similar conditions as their male counterparts. On the contrary, food insecurity would increase by 13% in male headed households if they were accorded similar conditions as female headed households. The study recommends more efforts in ensuring equitable access to extension services and credit; increased promotion of value addition, collective marketing and agricultural portfolio diversification among female headed households as is the case in male headed households.

The study was undertaken with an aim of finding out the determinants of job mobility in Uganda case study of Bunamwaya Ngobe central zone in Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality Wakiso District. A sample size was calculated using Cochran method. Data was collected using well-designed questionnaires. The data was then entered into Microsoft excel and then was analyzed using a statistical package known as STATA. Analysis was done at three stages that is first Univariate analysis, at this stage analysis was done using pie charts, frequencies and percentages. Secondly bivariate analysis and this was done using one-way ANOVA and then through chi Square cross tabulation. Multivariate analysis was done using logistic regression. All analyses were done at 0.05 level of significance. It was found in the analysis that at the bivariate level salary/wage of a person, organizational factors of a person’s work place, education level of a person and family size of a person were the major determinants of job mobility in multivariate analysis no variable turned out be significant. Areas for further study should be done be on the relationship between unemployment and job mobility. Thorough research should be on the factors that influence job mobility to find out which exact factors influence job mobility in Uganda and should be modelled into a model.

The study examined the relationship between perceived social support, self-esteem and resilience among adolescents. A correlation study design that is quantitative was used. The target population constituted of 126 randomly chosen respondents who were students at Mengo Senior School located in Kampala District. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and was analyzed using a computer program called Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Pearson’s Correlation Co-efficient (r) was used to obtain the significance of the hypotheses. The findings of the study revealed that there is a significant relationship between perceived social support and self-esteem among adolescents (r=-.278, p=0.002<0.01) as well as self-esteem and resilience among adolescents (r=-.202, p=0.024<0.05). However, results revealed that there is no significant relationship between perceived social support and resilience among adolescents (r=.027, p=0.767>0.01). Thus, adolescents should be supported in their respective environments to fully develop their resilience levels by all people concerned.

The three economically important species of pumpkin namely Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita pepo and Cucurbita moschata have many varieties. Pumpkin peel and flesh are key inter and intra specie distinguishing features but there is dearth of knowledge about the peel and flesh characteristics and how these relate to postharvest stability of the different varieties. Pumpkin flesh and seeds greatly contribute to human diet but also promote health through antioxidant effects hence often dried and powdered to increase their usability. However, no study has provided optimum drying temperature time combination for optimal nutritional quality and bioactivity of pumpkin flesh and seeds. This study aimed at understanding fruit characteristics and how they associate with postharvest stability of the major pumpkin varieties grown in Uganda, optimising nutritional quality and bioactivity of flours from flesh and seeds and assessing the suitability of the flours for value addition. To determine the pumpkin fruit varietal characteristics and how they relate to postharvest stability, mature fruits of C. maxima duchesne subsp maxima, C. pepo L var. fastigata and C. moschata decne were stored at ambient conditions (28 oC average temperature and 78% relative humidity) for 8 months. Cell microscopic structure, intercellular space size, sugars, starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, degree of esterification of pectin, polygalacturonase activity, and cumulative moisture lost were determined monthly. Factor analysis revealed the major changes affecting postharvest stability in the first 3 months to be reduction in sucrose, esterification of pectin, starch, hemicellulose and cellulose, with factor loadings of -0.97, -0.88, -0.87, -0.82 and -0.79, respectively. Moisture loss from the flesh (0.95) and peel (0.94), and change in size of intercellular spaces (0.93) were major changes from 4 to 7 months, while polygalacturonase activity (0.64) was the major factor from 7 to 8 months. Sucrose, starch, cellulose and hemicellulose content and degree of esterification of pectin of different varieties decreased with storage. Glucose and fructose content increased to a maximum at 4 months and then reduced. Polygalacturonase activity and lignin generally increased with storage time. Size of intercellular spaces, and cumulative moisture lost from both flesh and peel increased with storage. The results suggest that postharvest stability of pumpkins is determined by an interplay of factors. The deterministic factor was found to change with storage time. Sucrose breakdown was key during 0 to 3 months, while moisture loss was important at 4 months of storage. Polygalacturonase activity became paramount from 7th month of storage. Of all the varieties studied, C. moschata decne deteriorated fastest. In the first 3 months of storage, the rate of starch breakdown was 0.45, 0.52 and 0.84 g/100 g/month FW in C. maxima duchesne subsp maxima, C. pepo L var. fastigata and C. moschata decne, respectively. The pumpkin varieties also showed a breakdown in sucrose of 0.51, 0.22 and 0.38 g/100 g/month FW respectively, in the first 5 months of storage. C. moschata decne also had the least starch (3.56 g/100 g FW), sucrose (3.15 g/100 g FW), and hemicellulose (1.60 g/100 g FW) contents compared to other varieties. Pumpkin varieties with more lignified peel had lower rates of sucrose breakdown and moisture loss and tended to be more stable postharvest. Varieties with low level of hemicellulose had their cell walls degrade early, while deterioration of pumpkins with highly esterified pectin and closely packed cells was delayed. To select a pumpkin variety to be used in optimisation of drying conditions for maximum nutritional quality and bioactivity of flour from pumpkin flesh and seeds, flesh and seeds of mature C. maxima duchesne subsp maxima, C. pepo L var. fastigata and C. moschata decne, were assayed for proximate composition, α, β, γ, δ-tocopherols and tocotrieonols, total carotenoids, ascorbic acid content, and antioxidant activity. C. moschata decne flesh and seeds had significantly higher (p<0.05) antioxidant activity (% DPPH radicals scavenged) of 44.68% and 53.13%, respectively. Among the three varieties, C. maxima duchesne subsp maxima flesh and seeds had the least antioxidant activity (% DPPH radicals scavenged) of 41.02% and 50.15%, respectively. Fat content of the flesh (0.17-0.23 g/100 g FW) and seed (15.11-19.23 g/100 g FW) and moisture content of the flesh (86.68-90.08 g/100 g FW) and seed (39.85-44.85 g/100 g FW) render all the matrices oil-in-water systems which favours the activity of non-polar antioxidants like tocopherols, tocotrienols and carotenoids. Seed matrices being more non polar favour the activity of polar ascorbic acid unlike flesh matrices. For each variety, β and γ-tocopherols existed in same amounts. Hence C. pepo L var. fastigata that was more shelf stable than C. moschata decne and with antioxidant activity second to C. moschata decne was selected for optimisation of drying conditions for nutritional quality and nutraceutical value of pumpkin flesh and seeds.

Online social interactions have become a way of life. Virtual meetings and chatting are now a large component of our social circles. These engagements have broken physical barriers and have made communication even more seamless and better. Sadly, these social interaction platforms haven't been much utilised in very many institutions, yet they come with loads of benets. This study is localised to Makerere University, but it's ndings are generalizable to most institutions and the solutions provided can be customized to the various places of need. In this study, we set out to understand the gap in the communication and interaction between the university, it's alumni and the students. Consequently, the main objective of this research project was to identify the information gap between the administration, alumni and students of Makerere University and thereafter devise solutions to this challenge. To fully understand the problem at hand, data collection techniques such as use of questionnaires, interviews, reviewing existing literature were used. Design methods such as process modelling, functional modelling and data modelling were used in the system analysis & design phase. The implementation was done with programming languages such as HTML5, CSS, PHP, JavaScript and their related frameworks such as jQuery and Bootstrap. The developed system bridges the gap between the dierent stakeholders by providing a platform of engagement for information sharing, fundraising for given causes, mentorship, real time tracking of projects and recognition for all the outstanding alumni.

A study was carried out to identify needs for stocktaking, to appraise its processes and practices, to examine the challenges faced during stocktaking and thereafter develop a framework that might guide stocktaking activities in university libraries. Three university libraries were selected namely, Makerere University Library, Uganda Christian University Library and Nkumba University Library. It was necessary since in MakLib, the exercise was not done regularly and was not comprehensive. There was absence of stocktaking reports at NUL, and UCUL only assists the Facilities office to carry out the exercise. The purpose of the study was to generate a stocktaking framework that might be used to ease, regulate and guide regular and comprehensive stocktaking in academic university libraries. A sample of 29 library staff was purposively selected and the study used a case study design. The methods used for collecting data were the questionnaire for quantitative data and document analysis, focus group discussion (FGDs) and observation for qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that the university libraries view stocktaking as a library management activity that provides information on the state of the collections and gives a true picture of the collection status since it, identifies what should be added to or withdrawn from the collection and what has been lost or stolen. In addition it ensures proper, efficient and effective book loans management, enables correction of both the catalog and collection anomalies and helps to account for library resources by providing figures for accountability, annual library reporting. It therefore contributes to service delivery of the libraries using the stocktaking facilities, application of stocktaking methods and information technology and practices for frequency, schedules, responsibility, report writing, strategies to curb book losses and doing minor book repairs. The major challenges during the stocktaking exercise in the three libraries included absence of a policy, lack of updated accession registers and catalogues, inadequate time to cover all collections and massive stock size. Minimal administrative support leading to low funding, poor facilitation, exclusion of ICTs, poor records keeping and management, book safety and losses, insufficient staff that lack motivation, skills, morale and team spirit. Lastly, the study proposed a Framework as a guide that might set realistic steps for effective and comprehensive stocktaking in academic libraries.

Title: Prevalence and factors associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in children aged 2 months to 12 years with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) at Mulago Hospital. Background: H. pylori infection is widespread all over the world and is currently estimated to affect more than 50% of the world’s population. Globally, the prevalence of childhood H. pyloriis high, especially in low income countries. In children, H. pylori infection can initiate a vicious cycle of events that leads to malnutrition and growth retardation that impacts both morbidity and mortality. SAM affects about 20 million children under the age of five and is associated with 1-2 million preventable deaths. Children with SAM are nine times at increased risk of dying. Several studies have shown an association between H. pylori and SAM with gastric colonization with H. pylori being associated with suboptimal nutrition and growth in childhood. The magnitude of this infection among malnourished children in Uganda remains largely unknown. Objectives: This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with H. pylori infection among children aged 2 months to 12 years with severe acute Malnutrition at Mulago hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 354 children 2 months to 12 years with SAM at Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit (MNU) of Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda over a 4-month period. Consecutive sampling was used to enroll the children who had assented and whose parents had given informed consent. Sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and stool samples were collected from the children and tested for H. pylori stool antigen. The data was entered into Epi data 3.1 and analyzed in STATA version 15. To assess the factors associated with H. pylori in SAM, a generalized linear model of the Poisson family with a log link and robust variance estimation was used. Selected variables were included in the multivariate model based on previous literature. Other factors were included at multivariate analysis if they had a p value less than 0.25. All variables included in the model were assessed for collinearity and in the case of collinearity, the variable with greater biological plausibility and/ or measure of association was retained. Adjusted prevalence ratios were presented. Results: Of the 354 children with SAM, the mean age was 23.8 (SD 1.5) months; the majority were males and one hundred fifty-four of the 354 or 44% (95% CI: 38.3 – 48.8) had H. pylori infection. The factors associated with H. pylori in severe acute malnutrition were: age of the child; children who were 24 to 60 months (APR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.24-0.91, p= 0.02)and 6 to < 24 months of age (APR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.46-0.98, p=0.04) were less likely to have H. pylori infection compared to those 2 to < 6months of age; Children who reported no vegetable consumption (APR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.16-2.41, p= 0.01), those who were vomiting (APR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.10-2.02, p=0.01) and those with acidic stool pH (APR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.03-1.94, p =0.03) were more likely to have H. pylori. Conclusions and Recommendations: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with SAM is high. Children with SAM who are 2 to <6 months of age, those with vomiting, no vegetables in their diet and those with an acidic stool pH are more likely to have H. pylori infection. Clinicians should screen all children with SAM who are 2 to <6 months of age, vomiting and have acidic stool pH for H. pylori and infected children should be given its treatment.