PhD Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12504/97
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Effect of selected soil water conservation practices on water budgeting in Robusta coffee (coffea canephora) in Uganda(Kyambogo University (Unpublised work), 2025-09) Kobusinge, JudithCoffee is a vital crop globally, employing over 125 million people. In Uganda, more than 12 million depend on coffee-related activities, yet yields remain below the potential of 2.2 tons/ha due to pests, diseases, poor management, and climate change. Climate change, marked by erratic rainfall and rising temperatures, increases evapotranspiration and crop water stress. While studies on Arabica dominate, there is limited information on how soil moisture and conservation practices affect Robusta coffee production in Uganda. This study addressed three objectives. First, the effect of climate change on soil moisture was assessed using historical data (1990-2022) and projections (2025-2050) from eight Global Climate Models under SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios. Soil moisture suitability maps were generated using MATLAB climatology tools, Mann-Kendall trend analysis, and a Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System. Findings revealed that historically, soil moisture was highest around Lake Victoria (115-143 mm) and lowest in Northern and Southwestern Uganda (<30 mm). SSP245 projections indicate a slight moisture decrease near Lake Victoria but an increase in other regions, with Rwenzori and Kitgum seeing the highest rise (0.08 mm). Under SSP585, soil moisture remains high in Kigezi and Rwenzori with varying yearly patterns. Historically, 71% of Uganda was highly suitable for coffee, but future predictions suggest suitability will rise to 74% under SSP245 and 81% under SSP585, potentially boosting coffee suitability by 10%. Second, water use efficiency (WUE) of Robusta coffee under Albizia coriaria shade (ACS) and open sun (COSS) systems was evaluated at the National Coffee Research Institute (NaCORI) using a randomized block design. Sap flow meters measured water use, while growth, yield, and phenological data were collected. Coffee in the open sun significantly (p<0.001) used more water per day (1.43 l/day) compared to coffee under shade (0.62 l/day). There was a significant difference (p<0.001) in water use per unit leaf area per system. ACS used more water (0.12 mm/day) compared to COSS (0.10 mm/day). WUE varied by system and phenological stage, with ACS being more efficient during fruit development stages. Third, the effect of soil moisture conservation practices (SMCPs) on soil-water relations was assessed at NaCORI and Kaweri Coffee Plantation Limited (KCPL). Four systems were tested: COSS, coffee cover crop (CCS), coffee mulch (CMS), and ACS. CMS significantly (p<0.05) increased soil moisture by 45.32% at NaCORI, followed by CCS at 13.68%, while ACS decreased soil moisture by 29.32% within the coffee root zone. At KCPL, there was no significant difference in the efficiency of SMCPs in conserving soil moisture, though, CCS increased soil moisture by 21.29%, followed by ACS (20.17%), with the least increase observed under CMS (16.17%). In conclusion, Climate change will result in higher soil moisture, which will increase the suitability of coffee by 10%. Some areas that are currently suitable like, Northern Uganda will not be suitable in the future. CMS, CCS and ACS improved the soil water relations better compared to COSS. Therefore, near future unstable areas should adopt soil moisture conservation practices to reduce on water stress likely to come due to climate change. Albizia coriaria should be optimally used as a way of improving water use efficiency for better fruit development without compromising on bean weight and yield.Item Human factors and accidents of aviation operations in eastern Africa(Kyambogo University [unpublished work], 2023-10) Nassimbwa, FlorenceSafety performance is much poorer in developing countries when one compares to other countries worldwide, despite the fact that the aviation crews in these countries are trained with the aim of minimizing aviation accidents. The accidents are due to errors caused by failure in the human biological functionality which is totally related to our anthropometric limitations, physiology and anatomy, among others. These include; oxygen carrying capabilities/ hypoxia, hyperventilation, blind spots in the eye, disorientation in relation to the human's position in space, motion sickness, illusions, barotrauma, decompression sickness, circadian dysrhythmias, drugs/medication, sleep disorders, weight, fatigue, stress and many others. Therefor this study set out to investigate the human factor risks and accidents in Eastern Africa region aviation operations. A cross sectional research design was applied and quantitative data collected using a survey. The sampling procedure included both purposive and random sampling techniques used to draw a representative sample of aviation stake holders. Data from 42 Ugandan and Kenyan accident and incident final investigation reports from 2000- 2017 was analyzed. Results indicated that skill based errors in Kenya were 44% and in Uganda 50%, whereas decision errors in Kenya were 45% , Uganda 25% and perceptual errors and violation in Uganda were 25% and in Kenya 11% while exceptional violations were Kenya 77% and Uganda 81%. MLogit model showed significance at P<0.001, in the manner with which one flies, exceptional violation, supervisory violations and organizational processes. Examining of the current human factor risks in the region’s aviation operations showed that there are risks in quality control analysis (P= 0.023) and troubleshooting abilities (P= 0.02). Quality control analysis and troubleshooting abilities had a significant effect on the ability to predict skills required for the job (P < 0.05). The significant aeromedical factors included sleep (P=0.005), high levels of anxiety (P= 0.021), shortness of breath (P=0.011) and cigarette smoking (P<0.001). The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) tool captured latent human factors risks through ranking 40 randomly selected airports in the region, while the distress thermometer captured active risks which included health, stress (domestic and work related), fitness, deadlines and time pressure, sleep disorders, fatigue and pain. It can be concluded that both Kenya and Uganda had high levels of unsafe acts, although Kenya had a higher percentage. Four significant aeromedical factors were captured in the existing aeromedical factors in the region. Consequently, training and its evaluation plus the use of a regional adaptive curriculum that increases individual’s skills and reduces the emerging unsafe acts, and Uganda publicizing final accident and incident investigation reports on the responsible ministry (Works and Transport) website are recommended. Using the GIS tool and the distress thermometer to detect latent and active human factor risks pre-flight and on ground to assess the state of the crew members and environment before one embarks on a task is also recommended. Map of airports and aerodromes with high human factors risks in Kenya Map of airports and aerodromes with high human factors risks in Kenya Map of airports and aerodromes with high human factors risks in Kenya.Item Evaluation of the effectiveness of protected areas in conserving ecological integrity in Kibale and queen Elizabeth conservation areas, Uganda(Kyambogo University [unpublished work], 2023-08) Katswera, JosephThe effectiveness of wildlife protected areas in conserving ecological integrity in Kibale and Queen Elizabeth Conservation Areas, Uganda was explored. The study was conducted from August 2017 to October 2019 in response to the inadequate data and information that existed on how effective wildlife protected areas conserve ecological integrity with a view to suggest management strategies to enhance the conservation of biological diversity and ecosystem processes. An evaluation of how the long-term wildlife monitoring, wildlife corridors, community-based conservation, and threats affects biodiversity and ecological integrity was conducted through a survey. Document review, semi-structured questionnaires, Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, the Nature Conservancy’s Conservation Action Planning methodology, Threat Reduction Assessment technique, and Geographical Information System/remote sensing were used to collect data. A sample size of 416 respondents was used during this study. Data was analysed using inferential statistics, and results presented in tables and figures. The study established that Wildlife Monitoring was done primarily in-house by the protected area staff; and rarely through co-operation with other agencies, academic institutions, co-operative projects with NGOs, and contracting out to consultants and/or freelance researchers, (χ2 (4, N = 81) = 15.523, p = .000, α = .05, V=.526). The long-term wildlife monitoring program used on-the-ground monitoring, and rarely used traditional knowledge and remote sensing which would improve wildlife monitoring. Wildlife monitoring guided the wildlife agency to formulate conservation-related policies (χ2 (1, N = 81) = 297.1, p = .000, α = .05, V = .342), identify new conservation initiatives (χ2 (1, N = 81) = 7.247, p = .000, α = .05, V = .370), and propose innovative conservation policy areas (χ2 (1, N = 81) = 9.351, p = .001, α = .05, V = .416) to conserve biodiversity and protect ecological integrity. The landscape had 20 key wildlife corridors which facilitate the movement of migratory animal species mainly Elephants, Chimpanzees and Lions. However, the corridors experienced changes in vegetation cover, corridor connectivity, migratory animal populations, and stepping stone habitats. Community Based Conservation contributed to overall conservation through participation of local communities (χ2 (1, N = 268) = 46.013, p = .000, α = .05, V = .588), local authorities (χ2 (4, N = 268) = 17.021, p = .000, α = .05, V = .261) and private sector (χ2 (1, N = 268) = 20.822, p = .000, α = .05, V = .326) in conservation programs which improved community-park relations (χ2 (3, N = 268) = 24.815, p = .000, α = .05, V = .229). Further, the wildlife protected areas were primarily threatened by anthropogenic and natural threats, and administrative constraints which threatened habitat quality, diversity, and continuity. The average threat reduction indices for both Conservation Areas were less than 50% implying that management only mitigates less than 50% of the PAs threats, hence a significant “dissatisfactory” on the overall performance of the conservation areas to protect ecological integrity. In conclusion, long-term wildlife monitoring guides development of conservation-related policies, innovative conservation initiatives, and proposes policy areas to conserve the ecological integrity. The wildlife corridors provide ecological linkages for migratory animal species contributing to the overall conservation of biodiversity. Community-based conservation is fundamental to conservation of biodiversity since it improves community knowledge and collaboration, creates trust, belonging and acceptance, reduces pressure on the park resources, and improves community-park relations. Threats in the conservation areas were reducing. Therefore, wildlife agency should provide incentives to meet community needs, strengthen the benefit sharing scheme, and create and strengthen community conservation institutions to participate in conserving biodiversity. The wildlife agency should formulate more conservation-related policies; integrate ecosystem health in the wildlife monitoring program; and also put more effort to address the threats affecting biodiversity to move from “dissatisfactory” to “satisfactory” level of ecological integrity. Finally, further research should investigate ecosystem health; the magnitude (area) and intensity of habitats affected by invasive and alien plant species; restoration options of the wildlife corridors; and the impact of tourism-related infrastructural development on ecological integrity of the wildlife protected areas. Key words: Biodiversity, Conservation, National Parks, Wildlife