The study aimed at investigating the effect of exchange rates on the value of motor vehicle imports in Uganda using quarterly data for the period 2000 to 2015. To confirm that variables were stationary, unit root test was carried out using the Augmented Dickey Fuller test (ADF). The test showed that all variables, that is, value of motor vehicle imports, exchange rates, money supply, lending rates, government expenditure on transport & equipment and household loans were non stationary at level but became stationary after first difference. Ordinary least squares estimation method was used to fit both the short and long run models. To determine the direction of relationship, Engle and Granger causality test was applied to the variables indicating that exchange rates granger cause motor vehicle imports with a p-value of 0.04, significant at 5 percent. The results from the long run model showed that an increase in exchange rate negatively affects the value of motor vehicle imports in Uganda with a p-value of 0.014 significant at 5 percent. Money supply and household loans positively affect the value of motor vehicle imports with pvalues of 0.000 and 0.013 respectively, significant at 5 percent. Results from the short-run model indicated that the Error Correction Term was negatively signed indicating that in each quarter, motor vehicle imports adjust by 73.1 percent between the current and long run equilibrium level with a p-value of 0.000, significant at 5 percent. It is recommended that motor vehicle importers embrace an increase in the stock of money with an increase in motor vehicle imports in Uganda. Furthermore, a depreciation in the value of the Uganda shilling should be an alarm to the car importers to reduce on motor vehicle imports into Uganda because an increase in exchange rate negatively effects the car business. Lastly, to have a more stable business environment in Uganda, there is need for Bank of Uganda to further stabilise the value of the Uganda shilling against the US dollar because a depreciation makes imports more expensive resulting into reduced imports and ultimately a reduction in import duties collected by Uganda Revenue Authority.

Background: Mortality due to trauma is a major public health issue. It is among leading causes of death in persons aged between 25-44yrs. Within the first 48hrs of admission, uncontrolled haemorrhage and coagulopathy is responsible for 50% of all trauma related deaths. This early development is known as Acute Traumatic coagulopathy (ATC). It is associated with increased transfusion requirement, organs failure and high mortality rate. In Kenya, mechanisms of injuries include road traffic accidents (36.8%), falls (26.4%) and been assaulted by a person or object (20.1%). Orthopaedic related injuries were the most commonly encountered in a multisite surveillance study in four referral hospitals in Kenya . In musculoskeletal trauma patients, presence of coagulopathy at admission can be used as a predictor of complications such as sepsis, acute renal failure, multiple organs failure, need for blood transfusion and even death. In musculoskeletal trauma patients, a high Injury severity score (ISS) correlates with hypocoagulability. Previous studies have observed that ISS in musculoskeletal trauma patients can be used as a predictor of hypocoagulability complications. In many resources limited settings, coagulation profiles are not routinely done among patients with major trauma. Early identification of ATC in musculoskeletal injuries guides resuscitation protocol and prevent of ATC progression. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of acute coagulopathy among musculoskeletal trauma patients, and the predictive value of ISS in diagnosis of ATC. This study was also to determine the utility of injury scoring systems in predicting ATC associated outcomes among musculoskeletal trauma patients. Broad Objective: To determine the incidence of acute coagulopathy among musculoskeletal trauma patients Setting: The A & E department and orthopaedic wards at KNH Study design: Prospective analytical study of convenient patient sampling Patients and Methods: Convenient sample of 102 patients in three months. Ethical approval was obtained from KNH/ERC. Consent was obtained from each patient conveniently sampled according to the set criteria. Data collected included the patient’s demographics, mechanism of injury, duration before presenting to the hospital, type and amount of fluids received, injury severity score, coagulation profile parameters (PT,PTT, INR), full blood count and renal function test. The coagulation profile was determined at first contact with the patient during admission. In this study each patient was followed up for a duration of 14 days and monitored for occurrence of any ATC related outcome/complication.

Background. As a key component of existing public healthcare programs, vaccination is considered a very important medical intervention due to its cost effectiveness. Despite their effectiveness in lowering risk of diseases that in the past caused significant mortality and morbidity, vaccines carry with them some risk. In most cases the side effects are minor and self-limiting, but there have been reports of rare but serious adverse effects associated with vaccines. In Kenya, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) together with the National Vaccines and Immunization Programme (NVIP) maintain surveillance to monitor vaccine safety. This is mostly passive surveillance through spontaneous reporting of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs).Evaluation of the data reported is important to come up with more precise and accurate methods of assessing and minimizing the risks associated with vaccines to ensure public trust in the immunization program. Objective. The main objective of this study was to analyze AEFI reported data at the PPB and two hospitals in Nairobi between January 2015 and December 2018. Methods. The study was descriptive and divided into two parts. The first part involved retrospective collection of AEFI reports at the Pharmacovigilance Department of the PPB, NVIP and selected hospitals in Nairobi. Data was extracted from AEFI reports, suspected adverse drug reaction reporting forms and electronic records. The second part involved interviews of key informants at each study site. Results: Of the 187 AEFIs reports analyzed, 93 (49.7%) were from females and 94 (50.3%) were from males. About 65 (35%) of the AEFIs occurred in persons aged between 10 to 15 years.

Background: Heroin addiction is a universal encumbrance. Currently in Kenya, the estimate of heroin users is between 18,000 to 33,000. The use of heroin during pregnancy has been associated with high incidence of prematurity, low birth weight, higher number of neonates born experiencing Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and neonatal mortality. Globally, there has been marked improvement in the neonatal outcomes since the introduction of methadone as a gold standard treatment of heroin addiction. Objective: To determine the clinical outcomes of neonates born to mothers on Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) with methadone in Kenya. Utility: This is the first program evaluation of the newborn outcomes among babies of women on OST with methadone in Kenya and will form the basis for future program planning and improvement of the current case-management plans. Methodology: This was a retrospective cohort study. It was a countrywide multicenter study carried out at six of the largest Medication assisted treatment (MAT) clinics in Kenya. The study population was mothers on opioid substitution therapy (OST) with methadone and their neonates born in the period 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2019. Data collection: A predesigned stratified data collection tool was used in collecting relevant data in files of women who met the inclusion criteria. There was no sampling done due to the limited number of infants born in this programme. Data obtained from study population through data collection forms were checked for completeness and accuracy and entered into a password protected database. Data analysis: The data collected was entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, cleaned and transferred to STATA version 11.2 for analysis. Descriptive statistics of the study population were summarized as medians and ranges for continuous data and proportions.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the legal and institutional framework for air pollution control in Kampala. It was guided by the central research question of “how effective is the legal and institutional framework in combating air pollution in Kampala”. This study identified the sources of air pollution, its effects on human health and environment, challenges of controlling and managing air pollution. It further analysed the legal and institutional framework, mechanisms for controlling air pollution and their implementation as well as binding and non-binding international instruments on controlling air pollution.The studybasically adopted doctrinal method research approach. It reviewed available literature, national and international instruments. This was supplemented by selected interviews of officials in institutions involved in regulation of air pollution, NGOs as well as FGDs for members of the public. The studywas carried out in Kampala Capital City as a case study due to the very high prevalent rate of air pollution in this particular part of Uganda. It is the main findings of this study that there are various sources of air pollution which include motor vehicles, industrial activities, dust from unpaved roads.Air pollution has enormous effects on both human health and the environment for example respiratory diseases which greatly affect the young and the elderly. The study further found that there are fairly adequate laws and institutions in place mandated to control air pollution. However, they have not been largely effective due to a number of reasons but mainly lack of a specific legislation for air pollution control in Kampala,lack of implementation and gaps within the existing laws for example the 2019 National Environment Act maintains the framework approach from the old law, with few prescriptive provisions on environmental protection, leaving the details to be laid out in statutory instruments. The following recommendations were made; enactment of specific and comprehensive legislation on air quality (ordinance) for Kampala beyond the generic National Environment Act, 2019 and the draft National Air Quality Regulations, adequate implementation of the existing laws for example provisions on polluter pays principle, fines, fees, penalties and charges imposed for pollution as embedded in the National Environment Act, 2019. Specialized departments should be created under NEMA and KCCA as well as a specialized court for the sole purpose of addressing air pollution in Kampala City. There is need to domesticate the international instruments which Uganda has ratified.

Cerebral palsy is a common disorder among children with disabilities globally. The local burden is estimated to be 1 in every 300 children. Children with Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS) III-V are usually immobile and are at high risk of developing low Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and low vitamin D levels. This leads to reduced bone strength and an increase in fracture risk. The life expectancy of children has improved due to advancements in medical care. It is therefore expected that there will be a rise in fracture incidence. There is scarce literature on bone quality in children with cerebral palsy in Kenya. Interventions such as timely supplementation of vitamin D has been found to reduce incidence of fractures. It is therefore important to have an updated baseline data on the level of Vitamin D and BMD in children with moderate to severe cerebral palsy in Kenya. Study Objective: To determine the bone mineral density and vitamin D status of children with moderate to severe cerebral palsy in Kenyatta National Hospital and St Theresa Mission Hospital. study design: descriptive cross-sectional study Study site: Kenyatta National Hospital and St Theresa Mission Hospital, Kiirua. Methodology: 70 patients met the criteria using convenience sampling. A standard questionnaire was used to enter the demographical data, GMFCS level and drug use. A venous non- fasting sample was drawn for analysis of Vitamin D and a calcaneal quantitative ultrasound used to assess bone mineral density. The interpretation of the bone mineral density findings was done according to the International Society of Clinical Densitometry in 2013 and Vitamin D according to the American Academy of paediatricians. Data processing: The collected data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. RESULTS: Analysis of non- parametric data was done using spearman’s rank. The significant demographic variables was analysed using multiple logistic regression models. Data variables were presented in frequencies and analysed using the chi- squared test and Fischer’s exact test.

Education is a human right for all children, and those who are not in school are being denied that right. Failure to access education limits future opportunities for children. This study uses 2016/17 Uganda national household survey data to investigate the determinants of non-school attendance for children of aged 6-12 years. A logistic estimation was used for the analysis.

Under the program sustainable energy development, the National Planning Authority aims at increasing access and consumption of clean energy within five years from 2020. This is expected to lead to sustainable growth, and poverty reduction, as well as the social and cultural transformation of society. However, the country is faced with slow progress in terms of sustainable economic growth due to low access to different forms of renewable energy like electricity, low investment, and supply shocks due to COVID-19 among other factors. This study examines the asymmetric effects of renewable energy consumption on economic growth in Uganda using a Nonlinear Autoregressive Distribution Lag framework for data obtained from the World Development Indicators. The study findings reveal that an increase in renewable energy consumption in the short- and long-run is favorable for economic growth while a decrease in renewable energy consumption has a negative association with economic growth in the long run. Furthermore, the study finds that capital has a positive effect on economic growth while labor hurts economic growth in the short run. To achieve high and sustainable rates of growth, the study recommends the exploitation of renewable energy (solar power, wind power, bioenergy (organic matter burned as a fuel), and hydroelectric, among others. In addition, the government should allocate more resources towards boosting local investors, forming synergies to curb the situation of unemployment as well, and encouraging more people to join the money economy in Uganda.