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ItemOccupational Health and Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Automobile Garages in Kampala Capital City(Makerere University, 2026)Globally, the protection of workers against occupation-associated hazards and morbidities has been a significant public health concern. Particularly, Uganda’s informal automotive sector is still facing fundamental challenges in OSH compliance. Workers in automobile repair garages are continuously exposed to high-risk environments during repair activities with minimal occupational health and safety regulations. This study therefore assessed the occupational health and safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices of workers in automobile garages across Kampala Capital City. Exploratory and descriptive survey tools were utilized involving structured interviews, direct job process observations, and compliance checklists across 20 selected automotive garages in Kampala capital city. The 20 automobile garages were then stratified into four main classes, A, B, C, and D, based on OSH performance level compared with the Process Policy Compliance Index (PPCI) and risk assessment matrix applied to quantitatively evaluate compliance levels and hazard severity. Process Policy Compliance Index measurement, SWOT analysis, comparative analysis, and risk assessment methods were jointly used to evaluate OSH in automobile garages. The results revealed significant disparities in compliance levels in OSH across all the automobile garage classes in Kampala capital city. However, class A garages had the highest level of compliance, with an average PPCI scores of 95%. This was mostly attributed to strong management commitment, employee involvement, high OSH knowledge, very strong enforcement and available resources fostered towards occupational health and safety. Class B garages had a moderate compliance score of 75%. In contrast, class C and D garages representing average score of 33% and 12% of the total sample of automobile garages recorded very weak compliance in occupational health and safety, with low PPCI scores ranging from 0.12 to 0.7. These critical gaps were directly attributed to inadequate safety training, with over 70% not attending OSH training; low PPE usage; lack of emergency preparedness; low enforcement of safety protocols; and over 75% of class C and D garages lacked structured safety control strategies. To address these gaps, a contextualized OSH framework was developed to standardize risk assessment, training, compliance monitoring, and policy implementation across all automobile garage classes. Furthermore, strengthening regulatory enforcement, institutionalizing periodic OSH training, establishing mentorship programs between compliant and non-compliant garages, and improving infrastructure and signage will be vital in reducing occupational risks.
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ItemAssessing insecurities of water, sanitation, hygiene and solid waste services in healthcare facilities.(Makerere University, 2026)Persistent water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and solid waste management (SWM) insecurities heighten healthcare-associated infections and environmental contamination and broader public health risks, compounded by the absence of comprehensive institutional metrics. The study therefore sought to identify and analyze gaps in WASH-SWM practices in healthcare facilities by assessing existing infrastructure against user experiences to identify insecurities, evaluating water quality alongside user perceptions of accessibility and safety and determining the impact of seasonality and multiple water source use on service reliability. Between August 2024 and February 2025, a mixed methods approach was used to study ten purposively selected private and government healthcare facilities (levels III–IV, as classified in the Uganda healthcare system), serving a catchment population of 20,000 to 100,000 people. Data collection comprised structured Institutional WASH Insecurity Experiences (INWISE) surveys administered to 383 participants (130 staff–medical and non-medical, 253 recently discharged patients), direct observations of Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) WASH service ladders and water quality testing (pH, turbidity, residual chlorine, E. coli and total coliforms). Cognitive interviews refined survey data collection instruments and statistical analyses such as univariate, bivariate comparison (e.g. Spearman's correlation) and multivariate modelling (e.g. ordinal regression). Partial correlation analysis was employed to isolate the direct relationships between WASH infrastructure components and insecurity measures while controlling for facility level. All the analyses were conducted using Stata 15.0 and Excel 2016. The JMP classification for water supply showed that 40% of the healthcare facilities met basic levels, while sanitation, hygiene, solid waste management and environmental cleaning remained severely inadequate. No , facility met basic sanitation criteria and only 30% attained basic hygiene, environmental cleaning services and solid waste management at 20%. Water satisfaction showed moderate negative correlations with the JMP water ladder (ρ = –0.399 to –0.169, p < 0.01). E. coli in supplied water during the dry season fully complied with WHO guidelines, while rainy season samples ranged from safe to medium risk. There were significant, negative, correlations between measured water quality and perceived water insecurity among patients and staff, with stronger associations observed among patients. The impact of source type, seasonality and location on WASH insecurity was more than moderate in the rural and urban healthcare facilities with peri-urban showing only moderate impacts. Critical gaps in WASH-SWM infrastructure and service reliability compromise healthcare quality and safety. The results of this study show the importance of including user experience measures in WASH-SWM evaluations to complement existing infrastructure-based indicators is highlighted.
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ItemDesign, simulation, and financial analysis of a Hybrid Solar PV - Biogas system for Dairy farms in Uganda - case study : Mutanoga Dairy Farm(Makerere University, 2026)Lack of reliable electricity, rising energy costs, insufficient waste management and over dependence on firewood for milk pasteurization and cooking has led to environmental issues such as pollution, health issues and deforestation. Therefore, this study aimed to design, simulate and conduct the financial analysis of a hybrid solar PV-biogas energy system for Mutanoga diary farm as an alternative source of energy to meet the demands of the farm. The objectives were to determine the energy profile and energy resources of the dairy farm, to determine the appropriate size of the hybrid solar-biogas energy system components to meet the energy demand of the dairy farm and to conduct the financial analysis of the solar-biogas hybrid system to evaluate its feasibility. The solar GIS software and the solar radiation meter were used to determine the solar resource data. Cow dung used in the biodigester to produce energy is collected by a group of workers and transported from the farm using donkeys. HOMER software was used to perform technical and financial analysis. The energy demand of the farm was 278.404kWh/day with a peak load of 14.55 kW, yearly average global horizontal irradiation of 5.145 kWh/m2 per day. The designed hybrid energy system comprised of 53.374 kW PV modules, a 10 kW biogas generator, battery storage with capacity of 5,043.78 Ah, and a 11.2 kW sized Inverter. The hybrid energy system generated annual electricity of 117,352kWh/year producing excess electricity of 15,735kWh/yr equivalent to 15.5%. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 403 Ushs/kWh and a total net present cost (NPC) of Ushs 488,002,900. The LCOE is about 1.62 and 1.196 times lower than the average electricity end-user tariffs for households and commercial consumers in Uganda. With a lifespan of 25 years, the return on investment (ROI), internal rate of return (IRR), simple and discounted payback period (PBP) of this renewable energy project is estimated at 62.8%, 29.7%, 7.09 years, and 7.09 years, respectively. This research has provided an insight that the hybrid solar PV-biogas system is a valuable investment for dairy farms aiming to reduce their operating costs while ensuring a stable energy supply. Its adoption could play a vital role in advancing sustainable agriculture for dairy farms and fostering renewable energy transitions in rural communities. However, there is a need for further studies to be done on the comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the hybrid energy system to evaluate its full environmental impact.
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ItemKey factors for the current state of occupational safety, health, and environment management in the cement manufacturing industry(Springer Nature, 2025-12-09)Despite the inherently high-risk nature of cement manufacturing, the performance of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) remains suboptimal, particularly in developing countries. This study investigated the key determinants influencing safety management in two Ugandan cement production facilities using a quantitative research design. Perception-based survey data were collected from 223 participants in Plant A and 186 participants in Plants B and analyzed at univariate, bivariate, and multivariate levels using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 2020). The results revealed that in Plant A, the presence of a dedicated OSHE budget significantly influenced safety performance (p < 0.005), while in Plant B, the existence of a formal safety policy and specialized worker training were critical determinants (p < 0.05). Across both plants, active worker participation in OSHE programs and heightened hazard awareness consistently emerged as pivotal factors shaping the current state of safety management in the cement industry. These findings highlight the importance of targeted investment in reward systems, recognition mechanisms, continuous education, training, and accountability frameworks to enhance safety outcomes. The study recommends that stakeholders in Sub-Saharan Africa’s cement industry adopt proactive and performance-driven OSHE strategies. These should include embedding OSHE metrics into labor contracts and appraisal systems to improve compliance, accountability, and overall industrial competitiveness. The findings contribute directly to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 8, and 9, supporting health and well-being, decent work, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable industrial innovation.
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ItemAdvancing safety and sustainability through occupational safety, health, and environment integration in Uganda’s cement manufacturing industry(Makerere University, 2026)Cement manufacturing poses significant risks due to inadequate Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) performance, a challenge that remains insufficiently examined despite the industry’s rapid expansion. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate OSHE management practices, assess workplace risks, analyze the integration of safety management, and the mediating effect of production pressure on safety performance across two major cement plants. A mixed methods approach was employed. For objective (i), perception surveys involving 233 participants in Plant A and 186 in Plant B were analyzed using SPSS 2020, while hazard checklists and site inspections engaged over 400 respondents. Risk assessment tools, including a 6×6 risk assessment matrix and risk modeling algorithms such as Artificial Neural Fuzzy Interface Systems (ANFIS), and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS, were applied to strengthen analysis and prediction. The results revealed that an OSHE budget was critical in Plant A, whereas OSHE policy and specialized training were essential in Plant B (p < 0.05). In both plants, worker involvement and hazard awareness were key drivers of safety management, highlighting the need for rewards, recognition, education, training, and accountability programs. Hazard assessments identified confined spaces, unsafe behaviors, and mechanical and electrical hazards as major threats, with baseline risk ratings exceeding 30/36. ANFIS models predicted escalation under production pressure and during irregular shifts, underscoring the need for dynamic risk assessment, predictive tools, and advanced Personal Protective Equipment. Further analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between safety integration and safety performance, with Labor Safety Accountability (LSA) and Management Safety Accountability (MSA) exerting the most significant influence (p < 0.001). Contractor Safety Management (CSM) and Safety-Based Labor Management (SBLM) also made substantial contributions. However, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) revealed that production pressure manifested through Production Pressure Intensity, Disruptions in Safety Protocols, and Normalization of Unsafe Practices, negatively mediated the safety integration-performance relationship, with Production Pressure Intensity (p = 0.014) and Disruptions in Safety Protocols (p = 0.026) significantly reducing safety outcomes. Overall, the study confirms that safety integration enhances safety performance, but its benefits are undermined by production pressure. These findings underscore the need for proactive, data-driven OSHE strategies to improve worker safety in Uganda’s cement industry.