Makerere University

About: Makerere University is a education organization based out in Kampala, Uganda. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 7220 authors who have published 12405 publications receiving 366520 citations. The organization is also known as: Makerere University Kampala & MUK.

Field evaluation of selected cassava genotypes for cassava brown streak disease based on symptom expression and virus load

Abstract: Production of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), a food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa, is threatened by the spread of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) which manifests in part as a corky necrosis in the storage root. It is caused by either of two virus species, Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV), resulting in up to 100% yield loss in susceptible varieties. This study characterized the response of 11 cassava varieties according to CBSD symptom expression and relative CBSV and UCBSV load in a field trial in Uganda. Relative viral load was measured using quantitative RT-PCR using COX as an internal housekeeping gene. A complex situation was revealed with indications of different resistance mechanisms that restrict virus accumulation and symptom expression. Four response categories were defined. Symptom expression was not always positively correlated with virus load. Substantially different levels of the virus species were found in many genotypes suggesting either resistance to one virus species or the other, or some form of interaction, antagonism or competition between virus species. A substantial amount of research still needs to be undertaken to fully understand the mechanism and genetic bases of resistance. This information will be useful in informing breeding strategies and restricting virus spread.

Centers of High Biodiversity in Africa

Abstract: Species diversity is commonly used as a criterion for determining the most important sites for conservation. The simplest method is merely to use species richness, but more sophisticated methods weight species in various ways. Further refinements can be made by combining two or more methods for one or more taxonomic groups. Data for Africa are limited and of variable quality, but “hotspots” can be identified provisionally, the Albertine Rift (where Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zaire meet) coming up most consistently. But the varying resutls produced by different methods almost certainly reflect some real differences, as can be seen both regionally (endemism at the Cape is high for plants but not for other groups) and locally (the species richness of forest trees and forest birds in Uganda are only moderately correlated). Hence, overall conservation policies are likely to be improved by the use of more than one criterion. Resumen: La diversidad de especies es comunmente utilizada como un criterio para determinar los sitios mas importantes para conservacion. El metodo mas simple es utilizar riqueza de especies, pero metodos mas sofitsticados pesan las especies en formas diversas. Esto puede ser refinado aun mas combinando dos o mas metodos para uno o mas grupos taxonomicos. Los datos para Africa son limitados y de calidad variable pero se puede identificar “hotspots” provisionalmente, la Falla Albertina (donde Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda y Zaire se unen) es la que mas sobresale. Los diferentes resultados producidos por distintos metodos reflejan, casi con seguridad, algunas diferencias reales tal como puede ser visto tanto regionalmente (el endemismo en el Cabo es alto para las plantas pero no para otras grupos) como localmente (la riqueza de especies del bosque y de los pajaros del bosque en Uganda estan correlacionadas solo moderadamente). Por lo tanto las medidas de conservacion podrian ser mejoradas por medio del uso de mas de un criterio.

Risk factors in hospital deaths in severely malnourished children in Kampala Uganda.

Abstract: Although the risk factors for increased fatality among severely malnourished children have been reported, recent information from Africa, during a period of HIV pandemic and constrained health services, remains sketchy. The aim of this study has been to establish the risk factors for excess deaths among hospitalized severely malnourished children of below five years of age. In 2003, two hundred and twenty consecutively admitted, severely malnourished children were followed in the paediatric wards of Mulago, Uganda's national referral and teaching hospital. The children's baseline health conditions were established by physical examination, along with haematological, biochemical, microbiological and immunological indices. Of the 220 children, 52 (24%) died, with over 70% of the deaths occurring in the first week of admission. There was no significant difference by sex or age group. The presence of oedema increased the adjusted odds-ratio, but did not reach significance (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 0.8 – 4.7), similarly for a positive HIV status (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 0.8 – 8.6). Twenty four out of 52 children who received blood transfusion died (OR = 5.0, 95% CI = 2 – 12); while, 26 out of 62 children who received intravenous infusion died (OR = 4.8, 95% CI = 2 – 12). The outcome of children who received blood or intravenous fluids was less favourable than of children who did not receive them. Adjustment for severity of disease did not change this. The main risk factors for excess hospital deaths among severely malnourished children in Mulago hospital include blood transfusion and intravenous infusion. An intervention to reduce deaths needs to focus on guideline compliance with respect to blood transfusions/infusions.

Self-settled Refugees in Uganda: An Alternative Approach to Displacement?

Abstract: This paper investigates the complex security and economic dynamics that influence the lives and opportunities of self-settled refugees living in Uganda. It focuses on the opportunities and problems faced by self-settled refugees and questions the assumption that Ugandas current local settlement policy is best suited to the countrys social economic and political realities. It suggests that far from being passive victims self-settled refugees are taking control of their lives without any additional external assistance and are planning for the day they can return to their homeland. Consequently the paper argues that there is reason to believe that local integration is likely to succeed where other models have failed. (authors)