Browsing by Author "Mulabbi, Andrew"

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The energy potential of harvested wood fuel by refugees in Northern Uganda
(The Scientific World Journal : Hindawi, 2022-02-22) Barasa, Bernard; Turyabanawe, Loy; Akello, Gertrude; Gudoyi, Paul Makoba; Nabatta, Claire; Mulabbi, Andrew
For the last three decades, Uganda has lost considerable natural vegetation cover in the refugee settlements and buffer zones due to the high demand for wood fuel and timber. It is worthy to note that the supplies of wood fuel are more likely to dwindle in the near future. This study explored the determinants of harvested wood-fuel choices and their energy potential. It also examined the implemented energy conservation measures and constraints faced by the refugees both in Palorinya and Imvepi refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. The data were collected by conducting household interviews and collection of wood species samples for energy potential laboratory analysis. Findings indicate that the major sources of wood fuel were firewood, charcoal, briquettes, and biomass fuels. The major refugee choices that determined wood-fuel collection included the family size of the house hold, culture, method of cooking, type of food cooked, high poverty levels, and availability of family labour (). The sampled wood tree species had the highest energy potential were Celtis durandii (5,837 kcal/kg), Parkinsonia aculeata (5,771 kcal/kg), Delonix regia (5,153 kcal/kg), and Bligihia unijugata (5,034 kcal/kg). Access to wood fuel by the households was mainly constrained by limited household income levels, long distances trekked, and inadequate awareness about wood fuel sources and availability. To conserve wood fuel, the refugees deploy several measures including the use of mobile solar gadgets for cooking and lighting, taking up agroforestry, use of briquettes, adoption of energy-saving cooking stoves, and establishment of new woodlots. Therefore, to reverse this trend, the Ugandan government and development partners should prioritise energy investments by supporting cheaper energy alternatives such as mobile solar gadgets and energy-saving cooking technologies, and establishment of woodlots.
Factors affecting the adoption of soil and water conservation practices by small-holder farmers in Muyembe Sub-County, Eastern Uganda
(Ghana Journal of Geography, 2022-08) Turyahabwe, Remigio; Nabalegwa, Muhamud Wambede; Asaba, Joyfred; Mulabbi, Andrew; Gumisiriza, Loy Turyabanawe
Farmers in tropical rural areas are confronted with several challenges but outstanding among these challenges is soil degradation arising from soil erosion. This study involved identifying the dominant soil and water conservation practices and assessing the factors affecting their adoption in the Muyembe sub-county, Eastern Uganda. A total of 500 respondents were used to obtain primary data. As the study adopted a cross- sectional design, we used questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and field observations to collect the required data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the non-parametric (Chi-square) test. The results indicated that the dominant soil and water conservation practices adopted in the study area were, contour cropping (77%), mixed cropping (59% and crop rotation (51%). The remaining five practices had less than a 50% adoption rate. The chi-square test revealed that the age and gender of the farmers had a significant association with the levels of the adoption of soil and water conservation practices among farmers at P<0.001. We concluded that the adoption of soil and water conservation practices was low, which left the majority of farmers vulnerable to soil erosion effects such as low yields and crop failure. We recommend that stakeholders who work on soil and water conservation programs use model farmers in the area to educate and demonstrate the importance of soil and water conservation practices to other farmers.
Flood inundation and damage assessment of the degraded Semliki River plains using SAR data, Google Earth Engine, and GIS techniques
(Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management, 2025-06-21) Mulabbi, Andrew; Esagu, John Calvin; Akello, Gertrude; Turyahabwe, Remigio
The Semliki River valley in Ntoroko district has experienced devastating annual floods since 2019. Recurrent floods in Ntoroko District have displaced thousands and devastated pasturelands, disrupting livelihoods. Therefore, rapid assessment of flooded areas is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies, disaster preparedness plans, and proactive policies to enhance resilience and mitigate the impact of future flood events. This study introduced a combined approach using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery and a digital elevation model (DEM) to map flood extent, depth, and building exposure in the Semliki Valley. Using Sentinel-1 SAR images taken both before and during the flood, combined with the ALOS PALSAR DEM, inundated areas and flood depths were determined, based on thresholding the SAR backscatter of the VH polarisation images. The flood extent maps were generated using Google Earth Engine and GIS techniques to create depth maps by subtracting the surface elevation from the height/surface of the flood waters. Building exposure and impact analysis for two flood events was ascertained through spatial join and overlay. The results showed that the 2023 flood event inundated approximately 1,968 hectares, including 1,553 hectares of pastureland and 74 buildings, while the 2024 event covered 1,139 hectares, equally inundating 1,050 hectares of pastureland and 54 buildings. Further analysis revealed that despite the smaller extent, the 2024 flood event caused a severe impact on the buildings compared to the 2023 flood disaster.