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Lived experiences of violence in homes of children aged three to eight years old. a case of nabuyonga slum, mbale city
(East African Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 2025-09-17) Apolot, Josephine Matha; Nandera Miria; Walusimbi Sarah; Katungi Juma; Nanseko Faridah; Ejuu Godfrey
Violence against children is a prevalent phenomenon in the world. Most studies have always focused on documenting violence against largely adolescent children, leaving out those in early childhood. The phenomenology research design focused on establishing the lived experiences of three to eight-year-old children experiencing violence at home. The study collected data using interviews with the children, focus group discussion guides with the parents and participants’ observation guides with the children. The techniques, such as body mapping and photo voice, were also used to get more detailed information from the children. The findings indicated that the children were exposed to different categories of violence, including verbal, physical, child labour, child neglect, psychological and sexual abuse. Regarding the meaning children attributed to violence against children at home, it was discovered that whenever children are abused, they feel isolated, not loved and confused and based on the strategies they used for coping with violence at home, they said they applied practical thoughts, emotions, and actions to different situations in order to face the pressures. The children need education and training from an early age about their rights and how they can protect themselves. The communities need initiatives to empower children to report cases of violence at home to local authorities, such as Local Council One, and children need education and training from an early age about their rights and how they can protect themselves.
Feasibility of combined solar cookers and dryers for dual cooking and drying: A systematic review
(Solar Compass, 2026-02-12) Rukaaya, Musa; Abedigamba, Oyirwoth P.; Mawire, Ashmore; Okullo, Willy
Dual-purpose cooking and drying systems offer a promising solution for sustainable food preparation and preservation, particularly in regions with abundant solar radiation. This systematic review assesses the current state of technology and knowledge gaps in solar cooker cum dryers, focusing on design configuration, thermal performance, and sustainability relevance. A comprehensive search of the databases yielded 13 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The review highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the design configurations. The findings revealed that these systems can achieve temperatures up to 150 °C, making them suitable for cooking and drying applications, which reduces fuel costs and lowers carbon emissions. Limited work has been done on combined solar cookers and dryers, and most studies use the same unit for both cooking and drying, and very few have separate units. All reviewed studies on solar cookers combined with dryers have employed flat plate collectors with no work on concentrating systems, and most studies are experimental with limited numerical work. Most studies employed the natural convection mode of air circulation, with only a few focusing on forced convection. Additionally, most solar cookers combined with dryers lack energy storage systems, and there is limited work that has been reported on the economic analysis of the combined systems. These findings inform future research and development for sustainable energy solutions, providing insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. This review aims to contribute to the development of efficient and effective combined solar cookers and dryers, ultimately enhancing food security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Inclusive sustainability: an introduction to sustainability and inclusive development reviews
(Sustainability and Inclusive Development Reviews, 2026-02-20) Bwambale, Bosco
The topic of sustainability alongside sustainable development continues to attract attention, promoting ecological, social, and economic coexistence. Implicit in this is the idea of leaving no one behind (LNOB), fostering inclusivity. However, a key question is how to ensure inclusive sustainable development. There is also uncertainty about who or what determines what or who is actually included. Additionally, the focus on inclusivity often advances socio-economic agency while neglecting ecological agency. These issues create a gap that this publication, titled “Sustainability and Inclusive Development Reviews (SIDS),” aims to address. The main focus of SIDS is on the interdisciplinary link between inclusivity and sustainability, translating into what can be termed “inclusive sustainability.” This first volume features papers from the inaugural Conference of the Forum for Action-Research on Inclusive-Sustainable Development Agenda (FAIDA), i.e., the FAIDA 1 Conference (08 Dec. 2023). The volume highlights the importance of the relationship between culture, agricultural livelihoods, and sustainable development. A common finding among all chapters is the use of multiple methods and mainstreaming endogenous development to address context-specific factors, which are essential for inclusive sustainability. Assessed altogether, the findings still leave gaps. More especially gaps exist in the context of fostering transdisciplinarity and transformatively innovative actions—particularly in integrating academic practice with real-world applications and in including ecological agency, which seems to be overlooked, including in the context of LNOB. Building on this, the volume emphasizes areas for further research, especially on transformative transdisciplinary approaches that are ecologically sensitive, incorporate culture, and promote inclusivity in sustainable and resilient development.
Radioactivity and toxic element concentrations in soil and food crops from a copper mining area in Uganda: environmental and public health implications
(Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 2026-02) Turyahabwa, Evarist R.S.; Kyeyune, Farooq; Eric Mucunguzi; Akisophel Kisolo; Manny Mathuthu
Mining activities can lead to the accumulation of radionuclides and metallic elements in surrounding soils, posing risks to food safety and human health. This study assessed radioactivity and contamination with toxic elements in 18 soil and food crop samples from the Kilembe copper mining area in Western Uganda to evaluate potential public health impacts. The samples were analysed for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K using high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry, while concentrations of Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, and As were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in soils were 71.16 ± 40.87, 50.85 ± 9.01, and 823.70 ± 231.58 Bq kg−1, respectively, all exceeding world averages. In food crops, 40K levels (1066.51 ± 224.71 Bq kg−1) were also elevated. The estimated annual committed effective dose exceeded the ICRP safety limit of 1 mSv y−1 for infants and children, while the excess lifetime cancer risk surpassed the 2.9 × 10−4 threshold for all age groups. Annual organ-specific dose estimates revealed increased risks to the gastrointestinal tract and bone surfaces. Metallic element analysis showed high concentrations of Cu (541.05 ± 389.83 mg kg−1) and Pb (64.99 ± 32.93 mg kg−1) in soils, with Pb levels in crops exceeding the WHO/FAO limit by 20 %. The health hazard indices for Cu, Pb, and As were above unity in both children and adults, indicating significant non-carcinogenic risks. Total cancer risks from Pb and As were (2.91 ± 1.27) × 10−3 (children) and (1.67 ± 0.73) × 10−3 (adults), which exceeded acceptable thresholds. Statistical analysis indicated shared geochemical behaviour of radionuclides and metals in soils, but distinct uptake pathways in food crops. These findings highlight the need for environmental monitoring, mining waste remediation, and regulating food sources to reduce radiological and chemical health risks in the study area.
The potential of dried chrysomya megacephala maggots on the growth performance of nile tilapia (oreochromis niloticus) in an integrated chicken-fish system
(East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology, 2026-01-23) Kabugo, Stephen; Makosa, Dan; Nteza, Steven
A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of Chrysomya megacephala (Greenish-blue faecal fly) maggots produced on chicken faecal substrate as an
alternative to processed fish concentrates in an integrated chicken-fish farming system. Maggots were solar-dried and supplemented the fish feed in four isonitrogenous diets at levels of 0% as the control diet, 25, 50, 75%. Diets were fed to Oreochromis niloticus from 17.3 ± 1.38g fingerlings up to harvesting live weight todetermine the effects of dried maggots in comparison to processed fish feed on the growth, nutrient utilization and survival of the fingerlings. The feeding trial was carried out in 12 concrete tanks of 8m2 area, with 80 pieces of Nile tilapia fish in
each tank. The feeding rate for fish was a daily ration 5% of their body weight for the 126 days. Results revealed that dried Chrysomya megacephala maggots were a nutritious fish feed comparable to mixed concentrated feed diets. At levels 0 and 25%, there was no significant differences in the fish’s performance in weight and length gain, daily growth rate, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio. In conclusion, dried maggots’ judgment of their nutritional composition, water absorption and floating ability showed a potential alternative feed for improved tilapia fish production. Nutritional profiling of dried maggot feed indicated that it can replace other conventional protein sources used in animal feeds.
Therefore, increased production and hygienic processing of Chrysomya megacephala maggots should be encouraged in livestock and aquaculture farming.