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Mutagenic potential of selected industrial effluents and their effects on germination, growth and yield parameters of cowpeas (Vigna Unguiculata L)
(Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2024-11) Aliobe, Caku Semi
Increasing industrialization in the developing world especially Uganda has been inevitable leading to build up of industrial effluents. The Industrial effluent composition varies depending on activity in the manufacturing process at a specific time. These industrial effluents possess temporal toxicity of unknown magnitude due to the chemical reactions that take place and this has possible mutagenic risk to the ecosystem. The study assessed the mutagenic potential of selected industrial effluents in Kinawataka Area, Kampala Uganda and their effects on germination, growth and yield parameters of Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L). The selected industrial effluents were assessed for mutagenicity using Ame’s test, the effluents were then used to intoxicate the seeds of cowpeas and thereafter, the germination, growth and yield parameters were determined on the plants in randomised experimental design. The industrial effluent from the plastic and mattress industry had the highest mutagenic potential with undiluted effluent having 32.0 (1.41) and 27.0 (1.14) revartants respectively. Aluminium products industry had the lowest mutagenicity with 12 (1.41) revartants. Regarding the germination and seedling parameters, the undiluted effluent from mattress industry caused the highest reduction in germination rate by 50 %, shoot length by 75 %, root length by 55 % and wet weight by 47 % of the seedling. The dry weight of the seedling was reduced by 22 % by effluent from pharmaceutical industry. The 25 % dilution plastic industry effluent increased shoot significantly by 38 %. The undiluted mattress effluent registered a significant reduction effect on growth and yield parameters as follows; root nodules by 26 %, number of seeds per pod by 28 % and dry weight of seeds by 18 %. The paint effluent also significantly reduced number of root nodule per plant and dry weight of seeds at dilutions of 75 % and above. Aluminium waste also registered significant effect on number of root nodules per plant and number of seeds per plant. The other effluents had no significant effect on growth and yield parameters of cowpeas at p ≤ 5 %. It was therefore established that all the industrial effluent assessed were mutagenic with varying potential. These observations were due to the fact that industrial effluents contain toxicants with varying chemicals that interact to cause such mutagenic effects, such as propylene oxide in mattress effluent which interfere with the DNA bases in order of Guanine > Adenine > Cytosine > Thymine. The government should therefore, increase surveillance of industrial effluents so as to enhance compliance and protect the environment.
Effects of waste dumping on water quality, soil and plant diversity around Cyuve dump site in Musanze city, Rwanda
(Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2024-10) Tuyizere, Naphtar
The rapid urban population growth and increasing demand for resources have led to a global surge in waste generation, a trend also evident in Musanze City. At the Cyuve dumpsite, waste accumulation poses potential threats to soil quality, surface water, and plant biodiversity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Cyuve waste dumpsite on the surrounding ecosystem, particularly focusing on soil and water quality and plant diversity. A quantitative research design was employed, with soil samples collected from three distances downstream (0–40 m, 40–80 m, and 80–120 m) and at three depths (0–5 cm, 5–15 cm, and 15–30 cm), whereas the control site was located at 100 meters upstream the dumpsite. Surface water samples were taken from three stream locations nearby to the dumpsite. Samples were analyzed during both wet and dry seasons, and statistical analysis was performed using RStudio version 4.3.1. Results from ANOA and LSD test (p ≤ 0.05), showed that soil closer to the dumpsite (0–40 m) had higher mean values for pH, organic matter (OM), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and cation exchange capacity (CEC), which decreased with distance. The study revealed that heavy metal concentrations, including lead, chromium, and cadmium, were highest in the soil samples collected closest to the Cyuve dumpsite. Lead levels ranged from 0.19 to 0.88 mg/kg during the wet season, with slightly elevated concentrations of 0.37 to 1.49 mg/kg in the dry season. Similarly, chromium levels varied between 2.62 and 5.44 mg/kg in the wet season, increasing to 3.38 to 6.13 mg/kg in the dry season. Cadmium concentrations followed the same pattern, ranging from 0.353 to 0.54 mg/kg in the wet season and rising slightly to 0.193 to 0.79 mg/kg during the dry season. Surface water analysis revealed increased bacterial contamination (Total Viable Count, Total Coliforms, Escherichia coli), and heavy metal concentrations downstream and middle stream, exceeding safe limits set by the Rwanda Standards Board and WHO. Despite these findings, plant diversity remained high across all distances, indicating a heterogeneous plant community. The study concluded that the Cyuve dumpsite is negatively influencing soil and water quality, posing potential health risks. The study highlights the urgent need for Musanze City to promote public awareness and education on waste reduction, recycling, and reusing materials. Community engagement is essential for fostering responsible waste management. Additionally, proper waste management solutions, such as engineered landfill sites, are crucial to prevent environmental degradation and protect natural resources.
Bacterial diversity in relation to anthropogenic activities: a case study of Kibale national park wetlands, Uganda
(Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2024-11) Munguleni, Vincent
Bacterial diversity refers to the vast variety of bacteria in an ecosystem which function in maintaining wetland ecosystem health through nutrient recycling for the trophic status and building symbiotic relationships with other organisms. This system is being threatened in many wetlands of Uganda as a result of an increase in anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and urbanization. The study aimed to examine bacterial diversity in relation to the anthropogenic activities in Kibale National Park (KNP) wetlands. A cross-sectional design was used in data collection. Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes were determined in ArcMap 10.8 through unsupervised classification of high-resolution images of twenty years for 2003, 2013 and 2023. The level of wetland degradation was determined using the Anthropogenic Activity Index (AAI) score. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and pH were measured with an electrical meter. Meanwhile, composition of bacteria from 50 water samples was determined using Environmental Deoxyribonucleic Acid (eDNA) technologies and metabarcoding. The forest cover of KNP reduced from 78% to 42% in the 20 years while farmland, grassland and built-up all significantly increased. Generally, there was a significant difference in physicochemical properties and AAI between inforest and outforest wetlands of similar types. Outforest wetland were more degraded then inforest wetlands. The dominant bacterial phyla in all wetlands were Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota where the former dominated inforest wetlands and the later dominated outforest wetlands. Bacterial diversity significantly varied between inforest and outforest wetlands of the same type except for swamps where they were similar. As a result of differences in environmental conditions, bacteria composition was richer in intact wetlands than in degraded wetlands of similar types. Conditions in degraded wetlands abundantly harboured harmful species such as Arcobacter cryaerophilus and those known to thrive in polluted waters like Thiothrix nivea. Reduction in forest cover led to increased anthropogenic activities around the wetlands which altered their physicochemical properties that then negatively influenced their bacterial diversity. The wetlands of KNP should therefore be restored and protected through science backed interventions and policies for improved ecosystem health. This would benefit both the community by providing clean-safe water and improved sanitation as well as saving the biodiversity in these wetlands from damage.
Assessing production and nutrient composition of vermicompost of biodegradable domestic waste in Kasokoso slum in Kira municipality, Wakiso district
(Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2024-10) Atuhaire, Mavis Gift
The study assessed the production of compost from organic domestic waste through vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is not well studied as a method of waste management in urban slums. This study uses Kasokoso slums as s case study to assess production and nutrient composition of biodegradable domestic waste through vermicomposting in slum amidst challenges of the densely populated urban slums. A total of 356 households were interviewed about waste handling methods used in the area and the challenges faced in waste handling using random sampling technique. An experiment aimed at investigating the effect of worms on soil nutrient levels over a period of four months was also carried out from November 2022 to February 2023. Five boxes containing organic waste and worms constituted the experimental sample, while the control sample comprised of five boxes of waste without worms. Samples from the experiment were collected on day one, and subsequently, monthly for the next three months. The results on waste handling practices in Kasokoso Village revealed that kitchen refuse (96.3%), plastic (31.3%), glass (22.5%), and animal waste (13.6%) were the main components of household waste. Disposal methods such as burning (32.4%), dumping in designated place (13.6%), waste pit (13.5%), open space (8.1%) and Burying (2.7%) were used by the community to manage domestically produced waste. Open dumping poses environmental and health risks. Whereas Informal waste management networks involving local individuals and collectors play a vital role, formal waste management services exist but face limitations due to cost and accessibility issues. Encouraging sustainable practices like recycling and composting is essential to tackle waste management challenges. The analysis of vermicompost quality showed an increase nutrient composition; of 5.8% nitrogen in the treatment as compared to 0.9% in the control, moisture content of 8.9% in the treatment compared to a 2.5% change in the control, and pH of 2.8% and 6.4% change in the treatment and control samples respectively. Although statistically insignificant, these nutrients were slightly higher in the experimental sample (P value of 0.161> 0.05). Challenges in waste disposal are accelerated by poor sanitation, leading to waste accumulation in public and residential areas. This results in health risks and diseases like cholera and bilharzia. The lack of a proper waste management system and limited resources make waste collection and transportation expensive and irregular. Improper waste disposal obstructs water channels, leading to damaged roads, causing stagnant water, increased flood risk, and environmental degradation. This research contributes valuable insights to the pool of knowledge regarding environmentally sustainable waste management techniques within densely populated slums of urban areas using vermicomposting. However, there is need to further research on vermicomposting using a different species of earth worms besides the red earth used in this study.
Bachwezi Bashomi in western Uganda: origins, beliefs and practices
(Kyambogo University (Unpublished work), 2024-10) Tinkamanyire, Joy
The study explored the origins, beliefs and practices of the Bachwezi Bashomi religious movement in Western Uganda. It also examined the theological contributions of Bachwezi Bashomi in the study of religions in Africa. The phenomenon of Bachwezi Bashomi has since the introduction of foreign religions in Africa presented a theological challenge as the study of African traditional religions came into perspective. This theological challenge is exhibited in the double lives of Bachwezi Bashomi practitioners - they fully embrace and practice Christianity while having very strong belief in their ancestral spirits of the Bachwezi (mystical people who are believed to have lived in the interlacustrine region, and eventually morphed into ancestral spirits) as angels or messengers sent by the supreme God. In this sense, Bachwezi Bashomi are truly Christian and truly African traditionalists. Its adjectival name as Bachwezi Bashomi (literally means Bachwezi who are Christians, who read or enlightened) is a theological problem. Does Bachwezi Bashomi represent theological transactions between African ancestral religious ideas with the foreign religions, especially missionary Christianity, which was associated with the art of literacy? To understand this problem, the study examined their origins, beliefs and practices by targeting both practitioners. This study was based on the following objectives: To explain the meaning of Bachwezi Bashomi; To trace the origins of Bachwezi Bashomi; To explain the beliefs and practices of Bachwezi Bashomi; To examine the theological contributions of Bachwezi Bashomi. The study is qualitative in outlook employing descriptive and analytical approaches. The methods used for data collection are semi structured interviews and observation photography and document analysis. The study established the following key findings: The name as Bachwezi Bashomi denotes the idea of an African religious system which has been Christianized; Bachwezi Bashomi is a blend of African traditional spirituality with other foreign religious ideas especially Christianity; The African spiritual realities like ancestors are central and given prominence as angels or messengers of God; Bachwezi Bashomi stands for the ongoing quest for Africans to express their spirituality and culture in the face of the changing world, by blending modernity with their cultures. Through the encounter with the participants, the researcher recommends that: Bachwezi Bashomi deserve respect, mutual understanding for harmonious co-existence; other religions like Christianity should recognize Bachwezi Bashomi in its right without bias or prejudice; The Bachwezi Bashomi continued growth needs more scholarly work for it holds the Africanism that we cannot deny.