Kampala Research Articles

The Stakeholders’ Attitudes on the Transition from Knowledge-Based Curriculum (KBC) to a Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Selected Secondary Schools in Kampala District

The study investigated the Stakeholders’ attitudes on the transition from knowledge-Based Curriculum (KBC) to Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) in selected Secondary schools A and B found in Kampala District. The implementation of CBC was driven by the need for Uganda to move away from rote memorisation and focus on practical skills and knowledge that will be useful in the workforce. The study was guided by curriculum implementation theory by Gross et al (1971). The study adopted a qualitative research approach that analysed the case of CBC from the subjective point of view while involving the study participants’ opinions. The study followed the Interpretivist paradigm which enabled participants to create and construct their social reality in line with the study. The study also adopted a single case study research design in order to get an in- depth understanding of the stakeholders’ attitudes on the transition from KBC to CBC. A sample of 23 participants including a UNEB official (U), Headteachers (H), Teachers (T) and Students (S) were selected purposively and used for the study. This enabled the researcher to gather qualitative responses, from the best- fit participants whose responses were relevant to the study. The study employed the use of the interviews to one UNEB Official, two headteachers and eight teachers and focus group discussions to twelve students while using a group of six students from each school to collect data. Through triangulation the methods enabled the researcher to collect in-depth subjective reality which was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study indicated that; to a greater extent stakeholders had a positive attitude towards the transition from KBC to CBC. This is because CBC had led to development of skills and it is more practical compared to KBC. However, the findings of the study also revealed a negative attitude of stakeholders on a transition from KBC to CBC while stressing that, CBC is expensive and time for preparation was not enough. The study recommended the government of Uganda through the MoES to; train teachers so as to equip them with the necessary skills of teaching and assessment methods, facilitate schools with enough educational facilities and materials to use and continuously monitor, supervise and evaluate CBC practices in schools.

Rate of Exclusive Breastfeeding Among Postpartum Mothers at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital's Postnatal Clinic

Despite active promotion, Uganda reports that 36% of children under 6 months are not exclusively breastfed, impacting infant health. This study focuses on 428 interviews within the Kampala district's informal sector, aiming to understand exclusive breastfeeding practices among mothers with infants aged 0–5 months. Results indicated a 41.1% prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding. Factors linked to this practice included attending antenatal care at least four times, intending to breastfeed exclusively for six months or more, adopting proper breastfeeding techniques, and the age of the infant. Notably, working in lower positions was associated with a lower likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. Recommendations emphasize the importance of antenatal care in educating mothers about exclusive breastfeeding's advantages, enabling informed decisions. Additionally, enforcing maternity leave benefits outlined in Uganda's Employment Act within the informal sector can support women in practicing exclusive breastfeeding. Keywords: Exclusive breastfeeding, Children below 6 months, Antenatal care, Maternity leave

Impact of Leadership Styles on Government Construction Project Success: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Government construction projects play an important role in both developed and developing countries. They contribute about 80% of total capital assets, 10 % of GDP, and more than 50% of the wealth invested in fixed assets and employment opportunities. As such, several countries like Sweden in Europe, Indonesia in Asia, South Africa and Kenya in East Africa have invested heavily and succeeded in construction projects. Similarly, Uganda has also invested heavily in construction projects; however, most of these projects have been unsuccessful, yet projects contribute to economic development. This study aimed to determine the contribution of leadership styles to the success of government construction projects in Uganda. The study was cross-sectional with a quantitative research design. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 100 Kampala Capital City Authority construction projects from a population of 120 projects that were stratified according to the five divisions of Kampala district. Four respondents were selected from each of the 100 projects selected, resulting in a total of 400 respondents for the study. Structural Equation Modelling was conducted using SPSS. Results show that leadership styles, especially communication and participation are positively and significantly associated with government construction project success. Therefore, government project managers should communicate effectively and involve stakeholders at every stage of the project cycle to realise project success. It is recommended that the path-goal theory be adopted for replicating the study. Also, government ministries must adopt the proposed model as it is a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, especially those involved in government construction projects. Similarly, the government, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, should constantly remind government project managers to ensure adequate internal and external communication and allow the participation of stakeholders during the implementation of government projects. Keywords Communication, Government Construction Projects, Leadership styles, Participation, Project Success, Structural Equation Modeling, Uganda

Asset specificity, relational governance, firm adaptability and supply chain integration

PurposeThis study investigates how asset specificity, relational governance and firm adaptability relate with supply chain integration (SCI), considering selected food processing firms (FPFs) in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies a quantitative research methodology. This research draws on a sample of 103 FPFs that have been selected from a population of 345 FPFs located in Kampala district. Hypothesis testing was done using Smart PLS version 3.FindingsAsset specificity has a significant positive relationship with SCI, and firm adaptability partially mediates this relationship. Also, there is a full mediation impact of firm adaptability on the relationship between relational governance and SCI.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focused on perceptual measures to get responses from managers on the level of integration with key suppliers and customers, yet firms deal with a number of suppliers and customers.Originality/valueThis study contributes to existing literature on SCI by applying the transaction cost theory. The study focuses on the influence of asset specificity, relational governance and firm adaptability on SCI in the food processing sector. Literature on relational governance in supply chain using the transaction cost theory remains scanty. Few studies have also focused on firm adaptability as a mediator in the FPS with specific focus on Uganda, yet the sector is highly faced with uncertain events. The uncertain events in the sector and in developing countries call for adaptive strategies. Additionally, this study is the first to use firm adaptability to mediate the influence of asset specificity and relational governance on SCI more so in a developing country like Uganda where the FPS is one of the most important in the economy.

VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION IN URBAN REGIONS OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH FROM AERIAL IMAGERY

Abstract. Land transport is a major contributor to the human-caused climate change; knowing the total number and composition of the vehicle fleet is key for estimating its emissions. Especially for countries of the Global South, emission inventories are associated with high uncertainties because fleet data are often unknown or outdated – classifying vehicles on remote sensing has the potential to change this. We present the XWHEEL dataset based on annotated vehicles in aerial images with six classes depending on the number of wheels, size and motorization. The dataset consists of 73 annotated aerial images of the city of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) with 15,973 vehicles. To analyze the performance of the dataset, a convolutional neural network, ReDet, and a transformer-based neural network, DINOOBB, are trained with different configurations and validated on the validation and test split, but also on aerial images from other regions. The transformer-based DINO architecture has been adapted to the remote sensing domain and modified to predict Oriented Bounding Boxes. Results show a good performance on the test split from Dar es Salaam, when the two-wheeled classes are merged and the non-motorized three-wheeled vehicles are excluded due to their rare occurrence. The best performing algorithm configurations with four classes were then tested on aerial images of Kathmandu (Nepal) and Kampala (Uganda). The performance drops for cycles and three-wheeled vehicles, as their appearance varies between countries. A main finding is that we can reliably detect the different vehicle classes in Dar es Salaam. When algorithms trained on XWHEEL are generalized to other regions of the Global South, performance decreases for the more difficult classes (bicycles and tricycles). To obtain results that are comparable across the board, we therefore recommend expanding the dataset with additional annotations from other regions of the Global South.

Potential contribution of urban roadside plant nurseries to forest plant conservation and human well-being in the face of climate change, Uganda

ABSTRACT Plant diversity is one of the fundamental cornerstones for human well-being and sustainable development in countries where household livelihoods are highly dependent on land resources. Given their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and increasing threat to plant diversity sustainability efforts to conserve plant diversity through ex-situ strategies like plant nurseries management are crucial for those countries. We surveyed 70 roadside plant nurseries across Kampala District, to understand their contribution to plant conservation and human livelihoods in the face of global change. One hundred and nine species representing 55 families including exotics and indigenous were recorded. The most frequent indigenous species were Musanga cecropioides, Elaeis guinensis, Maesopsis eminii, and the endangered Encephalartos hildebrandtii. Over 94% of the respondents depended on plant nursery business for their economic needs. Over 92% of the respondents lacked the technical capacity to manage plant nurseries for conservation and as a business. Yet with proper management, the plant nurseries can enhance plant conservation, urban forestry development, and act as green businesses. Hence, contributing to livelihood improvement of the low-income urban households; and achieving assisted plant migration as an adaptation strategy for plant conservation in the face of global change.

Credit Risk Management and Financial Performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Organizations: A Case of Selected SACCOs in Makindye Division, Kampala Uganda

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of credit risk management on the financial performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Organizations (SACCOs) in Makindye division, Kampala. Specifically, the paper looked at how credit risk identification, credit risk assessment and credit risk control affect the way that SACCOs perform financially. A cross-sectional field survey design that adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collecting and analyzing data was adopted. Twenty (20) registered active SACCOs were purposively selected from Makindye Division for data collection using both questionnaires and interview guides. Data was collected from managers, treasurers or accountants, and secretaries of the registered SACCOs. Descriptive and inferential statistics were generated and interpreted to meet the study objectives. Findings showed that credit risk management has a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of SACCOs. This implies that the way a SACCO performs financially is influenced by the way credit risk is identified, assessed and controlled within that SACCO. SACCOs should train their members on strategies of identifying, assessing as well as controlling risks if they are to register and sustain good financial performance. This paper contributes to literature in regard to credit risk management strategies within SACCOs in Uganda.

'When I receive ARVs through my group, my heart settles': Participants' perceptions and experiences of Friends for Life Circles for Option B+ in Kampala and Mityana Districts, Uganda.

The Friends for Life Circles (FLC) was a parallel randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of a group peer support intervention to support long-term adherence to Option B+ in Kampala and Mityana districts in Uganda. We explored FLC participants' experiences and perceptions of the intervention on adherence to Option B+ for PMTCT and potential implications for strengthening the PMTCT program. We collected data from six focus group discussions with lactating women enrolled in the FLC intervention, and from 14 key informant interviews with health workers, district and national level stakeholders, as well as male partners of FLC participants. Data were analysed using a content thematic approach in a continuous and iterative process. Women described the FLC intervention as acceptable and beneficial in enhancing their understanding of HIV and the need for ART. The FLC helped women, especially those newly diagnosed with HIV infection to come to terms with their diagnosis and overcome the fear of death linked to testing HIV positive, and provided opportunities to enhance ART initiation, resumption and adherence. The FLC provided safe spaces for women, to learn about ART, and to receive support from peers including adherence reminders through home visits and 'coded' reminder messages. Receiving ART from support groups protected members from stigma and long lines at health facilities. Fear of stigma, health system challenges, the high cost of caring for animals and lack of money to save in groups were key challenges noted. The FLC support groups were crucial in providing needed support for women to initiate, resume and adhere to lifelong ART for Option B+. It is important that women who test HIV positive and start ART for life receive psychosocial support from peers and health workers to improve chances of preventing HIV transmission from mothers to children.

Co-Designing a Mobile-Based Game to Improve Misinformation Resistance and Vaccine Knowledge in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda

Misinformation can decrease public confidence in vaccines, and reduce vaccination intent and uptake. One strategy for countering these negative impacts comes from inoculation theory. Similar to biological vaccination, inoculation theory posits that exposure to a weakened form of misinformation can develop cognitive immunity, reducing the likelihood of being misled. Online games offer an interactive, technology-driven, and scalable solution using an active form of inoculation that engages and incentivizes players to build resilience against misinformation. We document the development of the critical thinking game Cranky Uncle Vaccine. The game applies research findings from inoculation theory, critical thinking, humor in science communication, and serious games. The game content was iterated through a series of co-design workshops in Kampala (Uganda), Kitale (Kenya), and Kigali (Rwanda). Workshop participants offered feedback on cartoon character design, gameplay experience, and the game’s content, helping to make the game more culturally relevant and avoid unintended consequences in East African countries. Our co-design methodology offers an approach for further adaptation of the Cranky Uncle Vaccine game to other regions, as well as a template for developing locally relevant interventions to counter future infodemics.

Determinants of Gross Margin of Watermelon Traders in Kampala, Uganda

Watermelon is one of the most important tropical fruits, very nutritious and traded globally. Despite of its importance worldwide, watermelon trade faces challenges accrued from its transportation, poor storage facilities and lack of organized marketing system. This study on market performance of watermelon was conducted in the six selected markets of Kampala district. The study objectives were to; establish socioeconomic characteristics of watermelon traders, compute gross margin and marketing margin of watermelon trade along selected value chain and determine factors influencing watermelon gross margin. Simple random sampling was used to select 90 retailers stratified by the selected markets and retail trade levels and 30 wholesalers. Data was collected using a structured survey questionnaire, analyzed using descriptive statistics marketing margin, multiple linear regression and gross margin analysis. The finding reveals that they were more men than females and zebra F1 was the most traded variety. Generally, the determinants of retailers’ Gross margin were gender of the traders, age in years, education, membership of trade association, watermelon variety, financial source, record keeping and storage facilities access significantly influenced the retailer’s gross margin at p>0.01, p>0.05 and p>0.10, levels of probability in the selected Kampala markets, Uganda. The study established that average prices charged at the farm gate, wholesale, retail stall, retail wheelbarrow and retail small truck level were UGX 1,054, UGX 1,952, UGX 3136, UGX 5,899 and UGX 3,164 respectively. Overall, the retail prices are higher than the farm gate prices. The marketing margins of the stall traders, wheelbarrow traders, small truck traders and wholesalers of watermelon was UGX1183, UGX3947 and UGX1212 and UGX898 with percentage share of 39%,68%,39% and 15% respectively. The study concluded that socioeconomic characteristics of watermelon traders do affect gross margins of traders, watermelon trade is profitable with gross margins above 55% for the selected value chain actors thus great market performance and watermelon retail price is greater than farm gate price. The study suggested that watermelon traders should pursue membership to associations and seek financial assistance to expand operational scale. The government should adopt watermelon export promotion strategies that aim at improving storage facilities, promote mostly production, trading Zebra F1 variety in Kampala district and traders should embark on accurate record keeping since it is a parameter in finance access. There is a need to conduct further research on the effects of government policies on gross margin and export volumes of watermelon.

Identification and virulence screening of fungal and bacterial entomophathogens of the edible long-horned grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Uganda

Natural enemies are major challenges in laboratory rearing of grasshoppers, but the identity and virulence of these towards the edible long-horned grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville) is scarcely known. In this study, fungi and bacteria were isolated from R. differens collected from Mbarara, Masaka, Hoima, Kampala and Kabale districts in Uganda in 2018, cultured on standard microbial media, identified using molecular techniques and screened for virulence against the insect in laboratory bioassays. Fourteen and nine species of fungi and bacteria were isolated from R. differens, respectively, with the number of isolates varying based on collection site. The most prevalent entomopathogenic fungal species were Aspergillus flavus Link (27.3%), Fusarium equiseti (Corda) (24.2%), Mucor fragilis Fresen (12.1%), Clonostachys rosea (Link) (6.0%) and Aspergillus tamarii Kita (6.0%); whereas the most prevalent bacterial isolates were Serratia marcescens Bizio (38.1%), Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) (14.3%) and Enterobacter cloacae (Jordan) (14.3%). Nine of the fungal species namely Clavispora lusitaniae Rodrigues de Miranda, Lichtheimia corymbifera (Cohn), Trichoderma koningii Oudem, F. equiseti, M. fragilis, Aspergillus niger van Tieghem, Epicoccum sorghinum (Saccardo), C. rosea, Penicillium commune Charles Thom; and five bacterial species (Proteus penneri Hickman, S. marcescens, B. thuringiensis, Staphylococcus sciuri Kloos and Enterococcus faecalis (Andrewes and Horder)) were ~5–7-fold and ~4–5-fold, more lethal to third instars of R. differens than untreated controls, respectively. This study is the first to report C. lusitaniae, Exserohilum mcginnis Padhye and Ajello, E. sorghinum, P. penneri and E. cloacae as insect pathogens. The results suggest a need to quarantine field collected R. differens before introducing them into the insectary, as well as performing antimicrobial practices during rearing of the insect to prevent entomopathogen-based mortality.

Prevalence and factors associated with pre-hospital delay among acute stroke patients at Mulago and Kiruddu national referral hospitals, Kampala: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDespite advancements in acute stroke care, acute stroke patients present late for care resulting in high mortality and poor functional outcomes. This study determined the prevalence of pre-hospital delay and associated factors among adult acute stroke patients in Uganda.MethodsIn a hospital based, cross-sectional study, one hundred and forty-three study participants with confirmed acute stroke presenting to the emergency units of Mulago and Kiruddu national referral hospitals were enrolled. Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, details on sociodemographics, onset of stroke, arrival at the tertiary facility, health system and clinical factors were collected. Descriptive statistics and modified Poisson regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with prehospital delay.ResultsAmong the 143 study participants, nearly two-thirds (79/146) had ischemic stroke while a third (59/143) had haemorrhagic stroke. The mean age was 59 years (SD 16) and 51.7% of acute stroke patients were males. Ninety one percent (130/143) presented to the emergency unit after 3 hours. The majority (124/143) reported visiting lower-level facilities prior to referral to the tertiary facility. Staying outside Kampala district (PR: 1.28 (1.22–1.34), p < 0.001), and using hired or government ambulance for transport to tertiary facility (PR: 1.17 (1.13–1.20), p < 0.001) were associated with pre-hospital delay.ConclusionsPrevalence of pre-hospital delay among acute stroke patients presenting to public tertiary hospitals in Uganda is very high. The causes of pre hospital delay should be further explored qualitatively. Efforts to reduce prehospital delay should include improving pre-hospital transport systems for stroke patients.

A cross-country qualitative analysis of teachers’ perceptions of asthma care in sub-Saharan Africa

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease among school-going adolescents worldwide. However, the burden of severe asthma is highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to explore teachers’ perceptions of asthma care across six African countries. We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. FGDs were conducted in Kumasi(Ghana), Blantyre (Malawi), Lagos (Nigeria), Durban (South Africa), Kampala (Uganda), and Harare (Zimbabwe) between 01 November 2020 and 30 June 2021. We identified two key themes related to asthma care; barriers to asthma care and suggestions to improve the care of adolescents with asthma. Barriers reported by teachers included a lack of knowledge and skills among themselves, adolescents, and caregivers. In addition, some traditional beliefs of teachers on asthma exacerbated challenges with asthma care in schools. Regarding suggestions, most teachers identified a need for all-inclusive asthma training programmes for teachers, adolescents and caregivers, focusing on acute episodes and mitigating triggers. Utilising teachers with personal experiences with asthma to advocate and support these initiatives was suggested. Further suggestions included the need for annual screening to enable early identification of adolescents with asthma and clarify restrictions on teachers administering asthma medications. Teachers across African schools identify multiple barriers to asthma care. Structured school education programs and annual asthma screening are key to addressing some barriers to care.

Distribution of Hepatitis B prevention services in Wakiso District, Central Uganda.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global public health challenge especially in low-and-middle income countries. Although there are significant global and national efforts to control Hepatitis B, equitable distribution and access to prevention services such as testing and vaccination remains a challenge. Efforts to increase access are hindered by inadequate evidence on the availability and distribution of HBV services. This cross-sectional study aimed at generating evidence of the distribution of HBV prevention services in Wakiso District, Uganda. A total of 55 healthcare facilities (HCFs) including 4 hospitals, and 51 primary care facilities were surveyed. Data were collected using an electronic structured questionnaire and analysed using STATA 14.0. A chi-square test was performed to establish the relationship between HCF characteristics and the availability of hepatitis B services. ArcGIS (version 10.1) was used to generate maps to illustrate the distribution of hepatitis B prevention services. We found out that the hepatitis B vaccine was available in only 27.3% (15) of the HCF, and 60% (33) had testing services. Receipt of the hepatitis B vaccine doses in the last 12 months was associated with the level (p = ≤0.001) and location (p = 0.030) of HCF. Availability of the hepatitis B vaccine at the time of the survey was associated with the level (p = 0.002) and location (p = 0.010) of HCF. The availability of hepatitis B testing services was associated with the level (p = 0.031), ownership (p≤0.001) and location (p = 0.010) of HCF. HCFs offering vaccination and testing services were mostly in urban areas, and close to Kampala, Uganda's capital. Based on this study, hepatitis B prevention services were sub-optimal across all HCF levels, locations, and ownership. There is a need to extend hepatitis B prevention services to rural, public and private-not-for-profit HCFs.

Scripting Identities: Reading Language Dynamics and Ideologies on Shop Signs in Kampala

This article examines the linguistic landscape of Kampala (Uganda) by analysing the language dynamics that play out through shop signs. Engaging with data collected through photographs and interviews, this article draws on three interrelated theoretical perspectives: the markedness of languages, the symbolic power of languages, and good reasons for language use. The main findings suggest that the languages used on shop signs in Uganda are informed largely by attitudes towards English being a practical commercial language. Moreover, English is considered by shop owners to be the language of “class,” power, and a marker of the “educated” and therefore occupies the largest space on the shop signs. As such, the use of English on shop signs does not imply literacy or proficiency in the language, but rather forms a prestigious-symbolic identity.

Barriers to childhood asthma care in sub-Saharan Africa: a multicountry qualitative study with children and their caregivers

ObjectivesThis study identifies barriers and provides recommendations to improve asthma care in children across sub-Saharan Africa, where qualitative data is lacking despite high rates.DesignOne of the aims of our National...

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of processors of deep-fried fish and potato chips with regard to cooking oil quality – A case of Kampala District, Uganda

It is a common practice amongst processors of deep-fried foods to recycle cooking oil to save costs. However, the quality of the oil deteriorates with every frying cycle yielding by-products that have harmful effects on human health. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of processors of deep-fried potato chips and fish in the five divisions of Kampala with regard to recycled cooking oil quality. A face-to-face interview with 301 processors was conducted. The majority (84.4 %) were females and more than half (52.7 %) were aged 19–28 years. Most processors (70.8 %) deep-fried potato chips and up to 78.9 % had less than 5 years’ experience in the business. The processors had sufficient knowledge (average score = 65.6 %) and attitudes (67.7 %) with regard to oil quality. The self-reported practices were just above the average score (54.8 %). Most (71.8 %) were not aware of the good quality characteristics of cooking oil. Most of the processors (87 %) kept cooking oil on heat for longer than is recommended. There was no significant relationship between knowledge and attitudes (p > 0.05). However, significant relationships (p˂0.05) between knowledge and practices and between attitudes and practices were observed. Therefore, this study showed that sufficient knowledge and attitudes on cooking oil quality amongst the processors in Kampala did not necessarily translate into good practices. Behavioral change communication and training on food safety practices may be essential in promoting the adoption of appropriate practices by processors.

Can Domestic Food Production Provide Future Urban Populations with Food and Nutrition Security?—Insights from Bangladesh, Kenya and Uganda

Population growth and urbanization increasingly put pressure on our planet’s availability of areas needed for food production. The dependencies on domestically produced food are increasingly judged favourable, following the consequences of the Ukrainian war, with escalating fuel and grain prices and less accessibilities to low-income groups. It is, however, unclear whether land is domestically available. Applying a food system approach, the main aim of this article is to investigate spatial foodsheds and theoretical self-sufficiency for food production needed to supply increasing future populations in a selection of cities, including estimates for Dhaka in Bangladesh, Nairobi in Kenya and Kampala in Uganda. The projected foodshed scenario areas for the years 2020 and 2050 are estimated for the production of three core products currently extensively produced and consumed in the three countries. They show that it is not possible to feed an ever-increasing urban population based on domestic production alone. International trade, new technological developments and new consumer demands for less area-intensive food production systems may give solutions to the immense challenge of feeding the world’s population with nutritious food in 2050. However, to ensure fair and inclusive transition pathways for low-income groups: (1) affordability and accessibility of trade opportunities, technologies and products, (2) a common vision aiming for the SDGs, including SDG2: Zero hunger and SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities as well as (3) best practices in co-creation and cooperation with the most vulnerable urban and rural populations, are highly needed.

An assessment of the relationship between headmasters’ leadership and teachers’ performance in Makindye division, Kampala district, Uganda

Leadership style practiced by the school headmasters is a key issue in managing performance in schools. This study was to establish the assessment of the relationship between the headmasters’ leadership styles and the secondary teachers’ performance in secondary schools in Makindye division. The hypothesis of the study was tested, that; there is no significant relationship between the headmasters’ leadership style and the teachers’ performance in Makindye division secondary schools. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches with descriptive and correlation research designs. The study found that, the nature of secondary headmasters’ leadership style used in Makindye division is highly democratic with (average mean=3.149, SD=0.849) and autocratic with (average mean=2.446, SD=1.108). The study results indicated that there is a strong positive relationship between the headmasters’ leadership styles and teachers’ performance in Makindye division with (r= -.352**, p=0.000 less than 0.05 level of significance). The study hypothesis was rejected and hence accepted the alternative hypothesis which stated that there is a significant relationship between headmasters’ leadership styles and teachers’ performance in Makindye division secondary schools, since the P-Value was 0.000 less than 0.05 level of significance.

“It’s just like a blood transfusion”: perceptions on the use of donated breast milk in selected hospitals in central Uganda: a qualitative study

BackgroundBreast milk is crucial for the nutritional and developmental milestones in the first two years of life. Uganda has recognized the need for a human milk bank as an opportunity that offers reliable and healthy milk to babies who lack access to their mothers. However, there is little information on the perceptions towards donated breast milk in Uganda. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of mothers, fathers, and health workers on the use of donated breast milk at Nsambya and Naguru hospitals in Kampala district, central Uganda.MethodsA qualitative descriptive study was conducted at Nsambya and Naguru hospitals in central Uganda. The study consisted of 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) of 6 participants each and 19 key informant interviews (KIIs) among mothers, fathers, and health workers. Participants were purposively selected. Data collected were transcribed, translated from Luganda to English, and analyzed using thematic analysis. All data were organized and managed in Nvivo version 12.0.ResultsA total of 67 participants were involved in the study. Two main themes were identified: positive perceptions and negative perceptions. Participants linked donated breast milk to blood transfusion, believed it had nutrients comparable to the biological mother’s milk, and thought it was an opportunity to avoid formula or cow milk and help babies that cannot access breast milk. However, the notable negative perceptions were; the feeling that donated breast milk is disgusting, could result in acquiring non-parental genes and traits, and that it was unsafe. Participants also feared that donated breast milk could be expensive and affect the bond between mother and child.ConclusionIn summary, participants had positive perceptions about donated breast milk but were concerned about the potential side effects. Health workers should take extra precautions to ensure that donated breast milk is safe. The development of appropriate information and communication programs to sensitize the public about the benefits of donated breast milk will improve the uptake. Further research should focus on understanding the social-cultural beliefs regarding donated breast milk.