About half of the world’s population cook over an open biomass fire. These traditional stoves are characterized by very low efficiencies and harmful gas emissions. Over the last three decades there have been efforts to improve the design of traditional stoves. These stoves are expensive to manufacture because the design requires extensive experimentation under controlled conditions which are expensive, time consuming and difficult to control. Ugastove is one of improved cook stoves which is commonly used for cooking and heating in Uganda. It has a thermal efficiency of up to 35 %. Though there are numerous aspects that can be utilized to improve the efficiency of these stoves, this thesis develops the effect of the stove geometry on its heat transfer efficiency using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The CFD modeling of locally manufactured improved stoves in Uganda is not extensive for charcoal stoves and there is still little scientific knowledge used to improve consequent designs. In this study, Solid Edge V16 was used to model different geometries of Ugastoves and CFD analysis was carried out for the dissimilar geometries of the stove to evaluate the behavior of heat transfer and flow during cooking using ANSYS FLUENT 2019R1 while utilizing Fluid Flow codes. The efficiency of the Ugastove, predicted from the CFD simulations was 33.8 %, closely approximating experimental data. The original geometry of the stove was altered to determine the effect on the stove efficiency. Efficiency of 42.7 % was achieved when the size of the holes in the combustion chamber reduced from 30 mm to 2.5 mm, and their number increased from nine (9) to twelve (12) and with the thickness of the clay lining increased from 35 mm to 45 mm, the thermal efficiency increased up to 46.7 %. The Ugastove’s efficiency can therefore be increased by these design changes that can be easily adapted in the current design on the market. However, in order to achieve efficience more than 50 %; different parameters and radiation models can be used to simulate the stove, a different fuel for example briquettes can be used to check if the efficiency is affected by type of fuel. The Stoves are sometimes used in closed kitchen environment, therefore study using close-kitchen environments can be studied.

Excise duties are indirect taxes on the sale or use of specific products (Varjan et al., 2019), such as alcohol, tobacco and energy. Government imposes and collects tax through Uganda revenue authority. There has been concern on the impositions of excise duty tax amongst foods and beverages companies in Kampala, which provoke this study on excise duty and financial performance of foods and beverages companies in Kawempe division. The main objectives of the study were to; establish the influence of excise duty tax on financial performance of manufacturing firms in Uganda focusing on firms in Kawempe Division. Specifically, the study investigated, the effects of excise regulation, excise rate and pricing models of excisable goods on financial performance of foods and beverages manufacturing companies in Kawempe division. The design adopted was descriptive research design and took quantitative approach. Foods and beverages manufacturing companies in Kawempe were chosen and 37 respondents participated in the study. Document review guide and semi-structured questionnaires were the research tools used to extract data. Ethical considerations and quality controls were considered. The result of the study showed that there was positive significant relationship between excise tax regulation and financial performance. The findings found out that coefficient of determination showed that the changes of financial performance of manufacturing firms is caused by excise tax rates, excise tax regulation, and pricing models of excisable goods. The study found out that by holding excise tax regulation and pricing models constant a unit change in excise tax rates will lead to a significant increase in profitability.

The study examined the impact of real effective exchange rate volatility on economic growth in Uganda. Since the adoption of the floating exchange rate system, where market forces determine the value of the shilling in relation to other foreign currencies. The Uganda shilling has fluctuated against major currencies especially the dollar and this has had implications on the country's economic growth. Thus, real exchange rate volatility has become a concern of many developing countries Uganda inclusive since it affects economic growth but evidence available is not conclusive hence Uganda as an open small economy presents a suitable case for studying the impact exchange rate volatilities on economic growth. The study used secondary quarterly time series data for the period of 1993Q1 to 2015Q4 from World Development Indicator. The Johansen co integration and vector error correction model was used to determine the impact real exchange rate volatility on economic growth in Uganda. The explanatory variables in this study were real exchange rate volatility, government expenditure, labor, exports and imports. Results from the study revealed that real effective exchange rate volatility, labor, government expenditure and exports were found to be statistically significant in explaining economic growth of Uganda in the long run with all having positive relationship. However imports were found to have a negative relationship with economic growth in the long run. In the short run real effective exchange rate volatility and imports had negative relationship with economic growth. From the regression results study recommends that in order to spur economic growth the government should introduce import substitution both in the short run and long run. The government should also intervene in foreign exchange market only in the short run. The government should take significant steps to increase the standard of exported goods to make smooth balance of trade. There should be an increase in government expenditure in human capital because this will spur economic growth in the long run.

This dissertation analyses the effectiveness of the laws on the protection on the rights of children taking part in armed conflicts in Uganda, putting in mind child soldiers whether they are the victims or perpetrators of armed conflicts. The research focuses on the case of Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen, which is the case study of this research. Through this analysis, this study seeks to clarify whether or not the implementation of the International Humanitarian Laws in place on the protection of children in armed conflicts especially in Northern Uganda and worldwide has been met. It has been argued that to properly implement an effective system of repression of violation of rights of children during armed conflicts, IHL confers upon States, as signatories a duty to protect its civilians which they are legally obliged to do, and whether that was the case in Northern Uganda remains an issue of debate. Theresearch explores the analysis of the efficacy of the application of the laws on protection of children during armed conflicts in Uganda. The research alleviates the general introduction of the notionof international humanitarian law and perception of protection of children under international humanitarian law. The study gives a deeper analysis of the legal and administrative frame work on international humanitarian law in Uganda and probes the various mechanisms of the application of international humanitarian law as regards protection of children during armed conflicts and fostering their access to justice. The study analyses International law on child protection in armed conflict paying attention to International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law provisions on the protection of children (UN CRC, Additional Protocols on protection children in armed conflict) and International criminal law provisions on protection of children (Rome statute of the ICC, statutes on the establishment of ICTR, ICTY, International Court of Sierra Leone and looking at cases like, Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and the Charles Taylor before the SCSL). The study provides a case study on victim or perpetrator; A critique of the Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen case. Dealing mainly with protection of children during armed conflicts, and drawing a nexus between a child soldier as victim and perpetrator of armed conflicts, among others. The study then makes recommendations and conclusions by the researcher and how these can be undertaken to enhance application of IHL in Uganda in relation to protection of children rights during armed conflicts.

The investigation on, “Effect of combined naphthalene acetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid on the initial root formation on cuttings of selected ornamental plants” was carried out at Wankoko KCCA plant nursery located in Bugolobi village. The objectives of the study were to find out the main goal of this study is to contribute to the successful propagation of quality ornamental nursery stock; to determine the effect of varying NAA and IBA rooting hormones on initial rooting of selected ornamental cuttings of Ixora spp, Brunfelsia spp and Bougainvillea spp and to determine the effect of explant fungicide treatment on rooting of selected ornamental cuttings. The experimental design was a Completely Randomized Design involving three ornamentals and five levels of hormone combination. Data were collected on number of cuttings alive (callused, rooted and shooted), number of budded shoots on the cuttings, number and length of roots developed per rooted cutting for each plant species. The results from the study showed a positive response of Bougainvillea spp, Ixora spp and Brunfelsia spp cuttings in the use of polythene dome. Polythene dome showed the highest quality and quantity of leaves and very long sprouts compared to open space. The application of IBA 1000 ppm + NAA 2000 ppm together with polythene dome interactively proved significantly superior in enhancing the rooting of Bougainvillea spp and Ixora spp cuttings. Although there are various materials that can be used for rooting stem cuttings, the use of polythene dome treated with IBA 1000 ppm + NAA 2000 ppm should be promoted for mass propagation of Brunfelsia spp, Bougainvillea spp and Ixora spp cuttings

Agriculture remains the mainstay for the majority of Ugandans and over the past decade, government expenditure to the agricultural sector has been increasing though it is still below the 10% target recommended by the Maputo declaration (2003) which emphasised the need for all African countries to increase their budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector. On the contrary, growth in agricultural value added has exhibited a constant trend. This study was conducted to examine the factors influencing agricultural value added including: total government expenditure to the agricultural sector, development expenditure to the agricultural sector, recurrent expenditure to the agricultural sector, capital stock, labour force, real effective exchange rate, trade openness and lending rate. Annual time series data (1988-2018) and the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model augmented by the bounds test were used for estimation. The study revealed that in the long-run total government expenditure allocated to the agriculture sector and agricultural development expenditure had a significant positive impact on growth in agricultural value added with elasticities of 0.19 and 016 respectively while recurrent expenditure had an insignificant negative relationship. Other variables found to have a significant impact on growth in agricultural value added in the long run included: capital stock, labour force, trade openness, and lending rates with capital stock having a positive relationship while lending rate and labour force had a negative impact. In the short run, trade openness, labour force and development expenditure had a significant positive relationship with growth in agricultural value added while lending rate and real effective exchange rate had a significant negative relationship with growth in agricultural vale added. Based on the findings, the study recommends the government to increase the amount allocated to the agricultural sector and to ensure that the largest portion is assigned to agricultural development expenditure. The study further recommends an increase in agricultural capital stock and trade openness.

Introduction: Drowning is a serious and neglected public health threat, annually claiming the lives of 360.000 people worldwide, making it the world’s third leading cause of unintentional injury mortality with the African region contributing 20% of the global drowning mortality burden. In Burundi, the Global Burden of Diseases showed 0.9% of prevalence of drowning raising it on the rank of 17th cause of mortality in 2010. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess factors influencing drowning at Lake Tanganyika: a case study of Rumonge Province, Burundi so as to develop prevention strategies which are applicable based on the actual situation. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted following records from the police and all the registered cases of drowning from January 2014 to December 2019 was reviewed in Rumonge Province. Both quantitative (checklists) and qualitative (key informant interview guide) data collection methods were used. Checklist uploaded in Epi-collect 5 software was used to collect quantitative data on demographic characteristics, activity prior to drowning while reviewing the records from police. The collected quantitative data was entered and cleaned using Epi-data version 3.0, after which it was exported to Stata/SE 15.0 software for analysis. The key informant interviews was recorded during the interview. The recordings were transcribed and analyzed manually to generate themes and sub-themes following multiple reading of interview. Results: Out the 102 cases identified, 92.16% were male and the mean age was 24.17 (SD±10.19). 66.67% of the drowning cases were fishing and for 48.04%, the incident happened during morning (12 AM to12 PM). Also 80.39% incidents happened in the lake while 19.61% happened in the river. It was found that alcohol use and lack of swimming skills among fishermen increased their chances to drown in water whereas for children it was lack of supervision. Then use of lifejackets and children supervision were suggested as prevention strategies. Conclusion: Drowning is a problem on Lake Tanganyika. More effort and strategies are needed in order to reduce drowning events. These includes use of lifejackets and avoid contact with water.