School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences (SFEGS) Collections
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ItemGrafting success of elite clonal Hass avocado rootstocks.(Makerere University, 2025-11-24)Avocado production is constrained by a shortage of improved cultivars, reliance on local cultivars that have led to low yields and low quality. In addition, smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of the country’s agricultural production, usually encounter several challenges while participating in the avocado value chains. The continued use of conventional avocado varieties that are low yielding and susceptible to pests and diseases by smallholder farmers has been due to limited access to clean planting material of high-value Hass avocado varieties. Thus, this study aimed to develop elite clonal rootstocks for enhancing the production of grafted Hass avocado in Uganda. The experiment was conducted at NAFFORI from September 2023 to February 2024. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with factorial concept and three replications. Data were collected on the number of days to shoot emergence, the number of young and green leaves, shoot length, and graft survival percentages. Data were entered in Microsoft Excel 2011, and further analyses were conducted in Minitab software. Significant tests were carried out using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and all statistical tests were performed at 5 % level of significance. The results revealed significant differences (P≤0.05) in mean graft percentage, height, and leaf production among the 12 avocado varieties. Reed exhibited the highest mean graft success percentage (94.1± 0.781%), followed by Esther (88.77±0.79%), while the local variety had the lowest mean graft success percentage (18.87± 0.38%). The analysis of the number of young leaves also indicated significant differences among the varieties (P≤0.05). Semile 43 had the highest mean number of leaves (9.23±2.62) while Fuerte and Esther exhibited the lowest mean number of young leaves of (4.933 ± 0.445) and (4.833 ± 0.536), respectively. Land races were found to be more compatible when grafted onto Hass avocado. Significant differences were observed in days to shoot emergence, success and survival percentages at (P ≤ 0.05). Maximum and significant shoot length and plant height were attained at 10-11 am grafting with 60 cm grafting height (T3H3). Based on the findings, it is recommended that Reed and Rincon, with vigorous growth and high survival rates (40%), can be used as rootstock varieties for grafting Hass avocado. Grafting should be conducted in the mid-morning hours (10–11 am) when environmental conditions are optimal, as this time resulted in the highest graft success rate (76.63% ± 2.93). A grafting height of 60 cm is recommended to maximize shoot length and plant vigor, as it demonstrated significantly better growth performance than lower grafting heights.
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ItemAssessing the socioeconomic benefits of landscape restoration measures in refugee settlements: a case of Palabek Refugee Settlement in Northern Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)The global growing refugee population is a threat to natural resource conservation in the host countries, mostly in developing countries (Maystadt et al., 2020). Uganda alone hosts over 1.5million refugees, making it one of the largest refugee hosting nations in Africa (UNHCR, 2022). While the country’s progressive open-door refugee policy provides land and socioeconomic opportunities (Betts et al., 2019), it has also intensified land degradation in and around refugee settlements (Bernard et al., 2022). Refugee households often depend on fuelwood, agriculture and construction materials derived from local ecosystems, resulting in deforestation, wetland reclamation, and soil exhaustion (Mohamed et al., 2020). These pressures create urgent demand for ecological restoration strategies that are both sustainable and socially inclusive. Landscape restoration is increasingly recognized as acritical approach to reserve degradation and restore ecosystem services in fragile environments. It encompasses both active interventions such as afforestation, reforestation and controlled fire management and passive strategies such as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) which encourages natural regrowth of trees and shrubs (Weidlich et al., 2020). Restoration is widely debated for its dual role: on one hand, it is seen as essential for sustaining biodiversity, ecosystem functions and livelihood (Gann et al., 2019). On the other, it faces challenges linked to tenure insecurity, conflicting land uses, short donor cycles and limited community capacity (Gichuki et al., 2019). In refugee settlements, these debates are more pronounced because interventions must balance urgent humanitarian needs with long-term ecological stability. Studies highlight the variety of restoration practices like afforestation, agroforestry, FMNR, fire management and regenerative farming that have been applied in refugee and host community context (Hoque, 2022; Jalal et al., 2023). However, debates exist on whether these practices are truly integrated across humanitarian and environmental priorities and weather they are adaptive to local ecological and social realities. Critics note that projects often emphasize tree planting without ensuring long-term survival or integration into broader landscape functions. Keyword: Landscape restoration, Refugee settlements
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ItemClimate change impacts on food availability and coping responses in Pallisa district.(Makerere University, 2025-11-25)Climate change has been reported to undermine agricultural productivity, especially in climate-sensitive regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda inclusive, affecting food availability especially and more especially the semi-arid areas of Uganda. This study was conducted to investigate how climate change affects food availability and overall household resilience and food security in Pallisa District, Uganda. The specific objectives were to: i) examine the trends in climate change (rainfall and temperature) from 1990 to 2021 in Pallisa District, ii) examine the perceived impacts from climate change on food availability, and iii) assess the coping responses to climate change impacts on food availability. A cross-sectional survey research design was used to collect data on changes in temperature and rainfall, and the related impacts on food availability and coping strategies. Quantitative data was collected from a sample of 375 household respondents using a survey semi-structured questionnaire. Qualitative data was obtained through Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews. The study found that rainfall and temperature varied significantly over the study period of thirty-one years from 1990 to 2020. The most common impacts of climate change on food availability were increased temperature (59.8%), pests and diseases (37.8%), shift in rainfall season (36.6%) and delayed onset of rains (31.7%), among other impacts which results into low crop yields. The notable responses included; early planting (80%), crop diversification (60.4%), adoption of early maturing crop varieties (49.1%) and planting resistant crop varieties (38.6%). The food chain is highly vulnerable to climate change which threatens food security especially in the low-income communities and it is therefore recommended that government and development partners help in building equitable food systems to sustain livelihoods and ensuring food security for future generations.
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ItemAssessment of the composition and characteristics of legacy waste of Kiteezi landfill as a potential for landfill mining.(Makerere University, 2025-11-25)The growing challenges of sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management in rapidly urbanizing cities, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, demand innovative solutions such as landfill mining (LFM). This study assessed the composition and characteristics of legacy waste at Kiteezi Landfill in Kampala, Uganda, to evaluate its potential for LFM and resource recovery. A total of 40 excavated waste samples were collected from 20 systematically selected pits at different depths and strata. Waste was analyzed for fractional composition, physical properties and chemical characteristics. Results indicated that soil-like material was the dominant fraction (55.3%), followed by plastics (17.4%) and textiles (9.4%), with fine particles (<10 mm) dominating the particle size categories and accounting for 41% of the total. The waste exhibited a mean bulk density of 316 kg/m³, pH of 8.9, and high organic content (organic matter 73.9%, organic carbon 43%). Proximate analysis revealed a mean moisture content of 55.85%, ash content of 26.07%, Volatile matter of 6.63%, Fixed Carbon of 11.44% and calorific value averaging 14.34 MJ/kg. Elemental analysis showed Elemental concentrations largely falling below UNBS and FAO limits, except for lead and selenium, which exceeded FAO recommended thresholds, indicating environmental risks if reused without treatment. Statistical analysis confirmed significant variations in waste composition and properties across depths, indicating the influence of depth and stratification on waste properties. The findings underscore the presence of recoverable materials and energy-rich fractions, supporting the feasibility of LFM as a sustainable waste management strategy and a potential for a circular economy. In Uganda and other developing nations, this study offers vital baseline data for planning environmental remediation, resource recovery, and urban land reclamation. The results can serve as a baseline for developing suitable technologies for mining, reclamation or decommissioning projects at landfills or dumpsites and highlight opportunities for using fine waste particles as composite and building materials. Overall, the study confirms that Kiteezi’s legacy waste holds significant resource recovery potential and it is recommended that future LFM initiatives incorporate appropriate pre-treatment technologies and environmental safeguards to enable safe utilization and support sustainable land reclamation.
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ItemPrimate species diversity, abundance and threats in privately owned forest fragments in Kamwenge District Uganda(Makerere University, 2025)Gazetted areas play an important role in preserving species, genetic, and ecosystems diversity particularly threatened species. However, their small size and uneven distribution make them insufficient to conserve all biodiversity. Therefore, there is need to promote modified habitats that have the potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation. This study was conducted in forest fragments outside Kibale national Park in Kamwenge district between November 2023 and April 2024. The goal of this study was to assess the role of non-gazetted areas in primate conservation. The study sought to assess: (i) the diversity of primates in the forest fragments on non-gazetted areas, (ii) the threats to primate conservation in non-gazetted area forest fragments, and (iii) the factors that influence primate diversity in the non-gazetted area fragments. Diversity of primates, and threats to primate conservation were assessed through presence absence transect walks and social surveys. Transect surveys were conducted in three-communally owned and three privately owned forest fragments and social surveys in four villages in Busiriba sub county. From the transect survey, a total of eight (8) diurnal primate species were recorded; chimpanzees, Pennant’s red colobus, Abyssinian black and white colobus, red-tailed guenons and Gray-cheeked Mangabeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, and L’hoest. In addition, a blue monkey was reported by communities in the forest fragments. Communally owned fragments had a higher average primate diversity compared to individually owned fragments at Shannon (H’=1.52) and (H’=1.06) respectively. Primate species diversity was significantly higher in communally owned fragments than privately owned forest fragments. Deforestation and logging were the most frequently observed threat for primate conservation across all forest fragments categories followed by subsistence agriculture. Other threats included invasive plant species, human wildlife conflicts, infrastructure development and resource use. Human induced threats to primates were significantly higher in privately owned fragments than communally fragments. Fragment size and distance to the nearest fragment significantly influenced primate diversity. The study findings show the important role local governance and non-gazetted areas play in primate conservation thus need for more targeted interventions and conservation strategies. These insights inform policy, stakeholder engagement, research, and integration into national plans across Uganda.