Invitation: Mr. Collins Anguzu’s PhD Defense – 21st July 2023 pr Tue, 07/04/2023 - 13:17

The Dean, School of Physical Sciences, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) invites you all to Mr. Collins Anguzu’s PhD defense scheduled for 21st July 2023 at 10:00am in the Chemistry Boardroom.

Thesis title: Mathematical Methods for Computing Centrality Measures Based on Powers of the Adjacency Matrix for Changing Networks

Supervisors;

1.         Dr. Christopher Engstrom,

            Division of Mathematics and Physics,

            Malardalen University

 2.         Prof. Sergei Silvestrov,

            Division of Mathematics and Physics,

            Malardalen University     

3.         Prof. John Magero Mango,

            Department of Mathematics,

            Makerere University

4.         Dr. Henry Kasumba,

            Department of Mathematics,

            Makerere University

The PhD was funded under the SIDA Bilateral Programme with Makerere University, 2015-2022, project 316 'Capacity Building in Mathematics and its Applications. Principal Investigator: Prof John Mango.

Please follow the link below to access the abstract;

Collins Anguzu Abstract.doc

 NutriFish wins Fisheries Innovations Award 2023 pr Tue, 07/04/2023 - 11:42 The NutriFish Project team led by Dr Jackson Efitre (3rd Left) after receiving the Award

The NutriFish Project under the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University was announced winner of the Fisheries Innovations Award 2023 at the Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Awards (SFA) ceremony held on 30th June 2023 at Fairway Hotel, Kampala.

Organized by the Sustainable Fisheries Initiative (SFI), the Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Awards (SFA) seek to celebrate East Africans (individuals, projects, institutions, and organizations) who devote their time, expertise and passion to a sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sector. Across 15 categories, this annual event celebrates and acknowledges regional champions working in fisheries as well as nature protection, climate action and care for communities while supporting food security and nutrition, sustainable economies, sustainable societies, sustainable environment, gender equity and equality. The SFA Awards look at major categories which include; Best Fisher of the Year, Best Landing Site of the Year, Innovations Award, Blue Heroes Award, Life time Achievers award, Young Fisheries Entrepreneur Award, Sustainable Fisheries Community Award, Green Cities of the future Award, and Women Achievers award.

The Fisheries Innovations Award won by NutriFish

The SFA awards seek to take forward the recommendations from the celebrations of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 that arose from the International Conference on Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (ICAFA) held in September 2022 in Jinja.

The award criteria consisted of three stages: 1) nominations by independent parties; 2) voting for the nominees by the fisheries fraternity which took one month ending on June 20th 2023; and 3) Rigorous evaluation of contributions of the nominees by a committee consisting of Sustainable Fisheries Initiative, the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and its agencies. 

 About the NutriFish Project

 Limited access to micronutrient-rich foods and animal protein is a key factor behind nutritional deficiencies in Uganda. It is recommended individuals consume around 25 kg of fish per year; yet, in Uganda, currently only half this amount is consumed – and intake is anticipated to further decline as the population grows.

Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) through their joint programme, Cultivate Africa's Future Fund (CultiAF), NutriFish aims to address the nutritional needs of vulnerable groups that cannot afford expensive commercial fish but are in critical need of high quality nutritious diets. The Project is coordinated by Dr Jackson Efitre, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, CoNAS, Makerere University.

Through the Project, researchers from Makerere University together with their partners from the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) - National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), NUTREAL Limited and McGill University, Canada in 2019 set out to increase the availability, accessibility and consumption of Small Pelagic Fishes (SPFs) for sustainable food and nutrition security and better livelihoods of vulnerable groups in Uganda. The project has over the years registered significant achievements.

The Awards ceremony was presided over by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa (5th R)

NutriFish Project Achievements

Innovations

1. Formulation of fish-enriched foods for vulnerable consumer groups using small silver fish (called ‘Mukene’) and fish by-products.
2. Reduction of post-harvest losses by using cost-effective solar tent driers and fish containers with drainage.
3. Training ‘champions’ to spread awareness about good handling and processing practices and nutritional value of small fish.
4. Development of an app – electronic Catch Assessment Survey (eCAS) – to provide real-time monitoring of fish catches with smartphones.

Key results

1. Five high-value nutritious products (baby food, sauce, maize meal, snacks, and seasoning) were developed by NutriFish using Mukene.  Containing high levels of key micronutrients (calcium, zinc, iron), Mukene has been used to increase available fish-enriched products to the nutritionally vulnerable and improve diet diversity. A 50g portion of the baby food flour provides more than one-third of a child’s daily protein, iron, zinc, and folic acid requirements.
2. Evaluated by 300 street vendors and 60 retailers in Kampala, the sauce garnered positive feedback for being quick to cook, which helps low-income families save time and energy resources. A Mukene recipe book, containing 16 recipes rich in protein, calcium, zinc, and iron, was also developed and endorsed by the Minister of State for Fisheries.
3. Fishers have been helped to access loans to purchase boats and fish containers which improve hygiene and quality by improving drainage and reducing compaction of fish. Two enterprise fishing groups with over 70 boats have been established and are working together – an approach which ensures more consistent supply and standards, and results in over 3.7 tons of fish caught each month.
4. By September 2022, 8,960 records of catch data had been collected and transmitted through the eCAS system by trained local enumerators. Over 200 stakeholders are using the application, including the Directorate of Fisheries Resources and the Fisheries Protection Unit, which uses the data to help prevent overfishing.
5. Solar tent driers – greenhouse-like structures that reduce the risk of contamination – provide clean and efficient storage and drying, especially during the wet season, were also introduced. As well as reduced drudgery for women, the increased fish quality has doubled their incomes, from US$1 to US$2/kg, and tripled the shelf-life of dried small fish to almost five months. The driers have also attracted the attention of policymakers, with the Sectoral Committee of Parliament on Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries specifically recommending their use in April 2022 for improving fish processing.
6. To encourage consumption of Mukene products, NutriFish developed a radio-based awareness campaign. More than 12 million listeners were reached by 29 different ‘spot’ messages in local languages and four 15-minute in-studio conversations – a significant step in tackling long-standing social beliefs that Mukene is a food only eaten by poor families or animals.
7. The project also conducted awareness training with 326 people (200 women) to reduce gender inequalities. As a result, domestic violence dropped by 30%, the number of women in the fish value chain increased, more couples began to make joint household decisions, and more men carried out household tasks, increasing from 15% to 20%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICT-4MRPQ Project Team holds Stakeholders’ Engagement pr Fri, 06/30/2023 - 15:05

*****The Project led by Assoc. Prof. David Katamba from Makerere University Business School (MUBS) aims to address quality assurance problems/gaps encountered by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) during masters’ research processes. The project team has developed an E-Supervision Web Portal (https://mastersresearch.ug/) to track Masters Research supervision processes. It is funded by the EU under Erasmus projects for the period 2023-2026.  

Dr John Mary Kiberu presenting an overview of the project during the stakeholders' engagement. He is the Coordinator of the project at Makerere University

Why the project

The outbreak of COVID19 and the subsequent measures taken to curb the spread of the pandemic, including prolonged lockdowns and limitations to physical contact, aggravated the already existing problems faced by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Uganda, specifically, the deteriorating quality of the masters’ research processes. Over 20,000 masters’ students who must undertake a supervised research project could not access their supervisors, a factor that greatly compromised the quality of their work.

Prof. Edward Bbaale, Director, DRGT at Makerere University commended the project as a great initiative that will strengthen research and graduate training at the University

Issues the project intends to address

Through a project titled, “Strengthening Capacity for ICT Usage and Policy Reforms for Relevant and Quality Masters Research Process Management in Uganda’s HEIs (ICT-4MRPQ)”, Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in partnership with Makerere University and other HEIs intends to address quality assurance problems/gaps encountered by HEIs during masters’ research processes. These include; absence of student-supervisor interaction records management, increased redundancies in supervisor-student skills transfer, research turn-around time redundancy, decreased transparency in conducting viva-voce, and duplication of research outputs/plagiarism. This will specifically be achieved through several objectives including; 1) Updating the Research Process Quality Management Policies and Guidelines (at national level - NCHE; and at university level) in the context of master’s students’ research, 2) Increasing the capacity of Uganda’s NCHE and HEIs to participate in the definition, implementation and monitoring of master’s research policy reforms necessary for setting up a national common master’s student research agenda, 3) Documenting critical aspects of the master’s student research journey, and 4) Building capacity in the use of ICT as a digital skill inclusion mechanism which can reduce various forms of discrimination against women/girls.

Prof. Edward Bbaale addressing participants

The Project is led by Assoc. Prof. David Katamba from MUBS. At Makerere University, the project is coordinated by Dr John Mary Kiberu from the Department of Geology & Petroleum studies. Other project members at Makerere University are; Dr Karidewa Nyeinga from the Department of Physics; Dr Denis Okello, Head, Department of Physics; Dr Godfrey Mayende from the Institute of Open and Distance Learning; Dr Caroline Asiimwe, formerly at the Department of Languages, CHUSS; and Ms. Joan Nakajigo from the Department of Geology & Petroleum studies. Other partner institutions include; Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Stichting Vu, Kyazze, Kankaka & Co Advocates, Uganda Chapter for Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives (UCCSRI), Universidade De Lisboa, and Uganda National Council for Higher Education.

The Deputy Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Juma Kasozi made several recommendations for improving the E-supervision Web Portal

Achievements

The project has registered several milestones including the development of an E-Supervision Web Portal (https://mastersresearch.ug/) to track Masters Research supervision processes in Higher Education Institutions in Uganda.  

Makerere University staff from CoNAS, Dr Michael Owor (R), Dean School of Physical Sciences and Dr Denis Okello (L), Head, Department of Physics during the workshop

Stakeholders’ Engagement

On 27th June 2023, the Project team held a Stakeholders' engagement at Senate Building, Makerere University to introduce and receive feedback on the E-supervision platform. The Web Portal was developed by ICT specialists led by Dr Shakirah Nagujja, Head, E-Learning Centre at MUBS.

Staff from the Directorate of ICT Support (DICTS), Makerere University participated in the workshop

Remarks by the Director DRGT, Makerere University

In his remarks, the Director, Directorate of Research and Graduate Training (DRGT) at Makerere University, Prof. Edward Bbaale commended the project team for the initiative, explaining that it will contribute to strengthening graduate training at Makerere University as one of the cornerstones for achieving the research-led agenda. “As Makerere works towards becoming a research-led University, with over 30% graduate students by 2030, we need to ensure our research and training processes are made efficient, and this is one of the factors the project is trying to address. The project rhymes well with the mandate of DRGT and will greatly improve research administration at Makerere,” he noted, calling for interconnectedness of online systems and the involvement of DRGT in the different processes of the project.

 The Deputy Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Juma Kasozi equally appreciated the project team for the initiative and made a number of recommendations for improvement of the E-supervision platform. Similarly, participants including representatives from the Directorate of ICT at Makerere made several recommendations for improving the platform.

The Project team with participants during the workshop The Project Leader, Assoc. Prof. David Katamba participated virtually

 

 

 

 

 

Call for Applications: Internship Placement for Year 2 BSc. Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme pr Fri, 06/30/2023 - 12:32

The Department of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, was awarded a contract under the European Union-funded project: Promoting Environmentally Sustainable Commercial Aquaculture (PESCA) for the provision of training services. The overall objective of the assignment is to support training that will improve knowledge, skills, and practices that enhance aquaculture production and productivity in Uganda. This will be achieved through the following specific objectives: i) Support the placement of undergraduate students to work (internships) with fish farmers or other suitable aquaculture value chain actors; ii) Conduct inclusive customized short-term training with gender considerations (women, men, youth, people with disabilities) including farmers, Producer Organizations (POs), feed & seed producers, service providers, and other aquaculture stakeholders; and iii) Support MSc research and training. The main outcomes of the training and research will include: a) enhanced capacity of Fisheries and aquaculture graduates with competency skills relevant to aquaculture and fisheries sector needs of the country; b) fit-for-purpose proactive graduates to support aquaculture; and c) strengthened partnerships among the industry, research, and academia in the production of quality graduates in the aquaculture value chain, relevant for economic development.

Call for Applications

Applications are invited for seven (07) internship positions for year two undergraduate students taking the BSc. Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme under Result Area i) Support the placement of undergraduate students to work (internships) with fish farmers or other suitable aquaculture value chain actors. Each successful applicant is expected to be supported for a period not exceeding 10 weeks. This is an internal advert, open to second year students pursuing BSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture programme at Makerere University.

Deadline for submission of applications

Applications should be compiled into a single PDF file and submitted electronically to the Head of Department, Dr. Eric Sande (eric.sande@mak.ac.ug), with a copy to the Team Leader Dr. Jackson Efitre (jackson.efitre@mak.ac.ug), and the Field Attachment (Internships) Coordinator Dr. Robinson Odong (robinson.odong@mak.ac.ug). The deadline for submitting applications is 14 July 2023, 5:00pm.

Click on the link below to access the advert; 

MaK_PESCA draft Undergraduate. advert 29.6.2023.pdf

Invitation to Mr. Olokotum Mark's PhD defense - 25th July 2023 pr Fri, 06/30/2023 - 12:04

The Dean, School of Biosciences invites you to Mr. Olokotum Mark's PhD defense scheduled to take place on 25th July 2023 at 9:30am in the Chemistry Boardroom, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University.

Title of thesis:  The dynamics of cyanobacteria and potential threats of cyanotoxins in Uganda: A case of Murchison Bay and Napoleon Gulf, Northern Lake Victoria

Supervisors;

1.  Dr Ronald Semyalo, Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences
2. Dr. William Okello  - National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI)
3. Prof. Cecile Bernard  

Link for online attendance                     

 https://tinyurl.com/yc7jsaxh

Meeting ID: 960 5140 1203

Passcode: 015411

Click on the link below to access the abstract;

Mr. Olokotum Mark's Abstract.docx

Invitation to Mr. Walusansa Abdul’s PhD defense -18th July 2023 pr Fri, 06/30/2023 - 11:26

The Dean, School of Biosciences invites you to Mr. Walusansa Abdul’s PhD defense scheduled to take place on 18th July 2023 at 9:30am in the Chemistry Boardroom, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University.

Title of thesis:  Drug-resistant bacterial contamination and efficacy of selected herbal medicines sold in Kampala City, Uganda

Supervisors;

1. Prof. Esezah Kakudidi - Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology,  CoNAS, Makerere University
2. Assoc. Prof. Jesca Lukanga Nakavuma - Department of Biomolecular and Biolaboratory Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University
3. Dr. Savina Asiimwe - Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, CoNAS, Makerere University

Link for online attendance

 https://tinyurl.com/y4vxb9ac

Meeting ID: 928 5713 9580

Passcode: 276123

Click on the link below to access the abstract;

ABDUL WALUSANSA ABSTRACT.docx

New Publication - Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential of the isolated compounds from Spermacoce princeae pr Tue, 06/20/2023 - 10:19

Spermacoce princeae (K. Schum) has been used in the treatment of bacterial skin infections in Uganda. Pharmacological studies revealed that extracts of S. princeae exhibited antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential. This study aimed at isolating and identifying pure compounds from the extracts based on comprehensive analytical characterization by multiple analytical techniques.

Please follow the link below to access the publication;

Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential of the isolated compounds from Spermacoce princeae (K. Schum).pdf

Xanthomonas Wilt Disease That Nearly Wiped Out East and Central Africa’s Banana Industry is Now Controllable – Ugandan Scientists Reveal pr Tue, 06/20/2023 - 09:30

A new study shows how attempting to control banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) in Uganda, initially in the early 2000’s without requisite basic scientific information only escalated its spread to regional epidemic levels. Consequently, the negative impact of the disease eliminated the banana industry of East and Central Africa (ECA) worth US$4.3Bn, which is about 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of ECA, enough to destabilize livelihoods of about 100 million people. BXW is known only in Africa, and today after more than two decades of pain, scientists show that it can be controlled effectively.

A healthy plantation of east African highland cooking bananas in Uganda

The study, titled “Changing Dynamics in the Spread and Management of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt Disease in Uganda Over Two Decades” by a team of scientists at the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology at Makerere University and National Banana Research program of the NARO (Uganda) demonstrates the central significance of empirical scientific evidence prior to plant disease control.

How BXW begun in Uganda and caught us off-guard

In the year 2001 when a strange disease (later identified as BXW) was for the first time observed on Ugandan local banana in Kayunga district, none of us knew what the disease was at the time. The new disease had symptoms that were somewhat similar to another disease of bananas in central America, named “Moko disease”. The Ugandan scientists working on banana, thought that the disease control methods effective against Moko disease could also be effective in controlling the new disease in bananas in Uganda.

Banana plantation showing leaf symptoms of BXW

Unfortunately, this was not the case and methods for controlling Moko disease were completely ineffective against BXW in Uganda. Consequently, disease quickly spread to all major banana-growing regions in Uganda between 2001 and 2006. Within only nine (9) years from 2001-2009, the disease had spread to six (6) countries of the East and Central Africa and threatened to eliminate entire banana industry.

According to Prof. Arthur Tugume of the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Makerere University, “The initial methods in controlling BXW were quite brave and necessary at the time; however, they were random, in a fire-fighting mode, not based on evidence, and themselves enhanced further spread of the disease.” He adds that, “Also, many of the methods were extremely cumbersome and simply became unsustainable that many abandoned banana farming.”

For example, farmers were required to cut down entire plantation(s) and further dig huge ditches where to burry colossal masses of banana stems, even when only a few plants were observed with BXW symptoms on the farm. The alternative was to burn the banana stems; however, high water-content of banana “pseudostem” made this practically unattainable.

A large pit that was used to burry banana tissues after uprooting in bid to control BXW

How the picture changed with new scientific evidence

According to Dr. Jerome Kubiriba, the head of Banana research program at Kawanda then, and co-author to the current study, a sigh of relief came when new scientific information started trickling in – thanks to the efforts of scientist in Uganda who worked fast under the leadership of Prof. Wilberforce K. Tushemereirwe.

Dr. Kubiriba says, “First, we soon discovered that the disease was BXW, and was caused by a bacterium called Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm). Recently this bacterium has been renamed Xanthomonas vascicola pv. musacearum (Xvm). We soon realized that Xcm and BXW had been endemic to Ethiopia on bananas and a cultivated relative of bananas called esent since 1968 and sudden appearance in Uganda was itself a surprise.”

Some of the Ugandan banana farmers in the early 2000s after cutting down all banana plants on the farm as an initial strategy to control BXW

Dr. Kubiriba adds: “Additional scientific work provided evidence that the bacterium has extremely poor survival in soil and rotting banana plant debris; but the bacteria are easily transmitted through contaminated tools used in husbandry. Bees and other pollinating agents that visit the male flowers in search for nectar and use of infected suckers as planting materials all transmit the disease. Our local banana varieties and clones grown in Uganda and elsewhere in the ECA region are all highly susceptible and easily succumb to BXW. Only a wild inedible ancestor of banana, named Musa balbisiana was resistant to BXW”

According to Dr. Kubiriba, “These sets of information and many others were essential because they became the basis of carefully designing specific control strategies against BXW in our local/regional context, quite different from that of Moko disease in central America. For example, there was no longer necessary to burn or burry colossal masses of banana tissues into the ground because it was now known that the bacterium does not survive beyond 35 days in the soil or plant debris.”

Banana farmers in Uganda sterilizing their hands against Xcm bacterium after cutting down plantations as a means of deterring further spread of BXW in the early 2000s

Also, transmission of the Xcm bacterium could be easily reduced by sterilizing farm tools with fire or jik or avoiding husbandry practices that involve cutting fresh tissues (except for harvesting) and ensuring disease free suckers for planting. Furthermore, male flowers (which attract pollinating agents) could be removed early using a forked stick to give no chance of insect-mediated transmission of bacteria within and between farms. “Although these did not completely eradicate the disease to zero, they were far more practical, relatively easier and effective than the earlier approaches”, Dr. Kubiriba said.

Bad “Top-down” approaches and weak extension systems 

Earlier, an action plan of 2001 aiming at eradicating BXW around the initial outbreak areas was “top-down” in style. In this plan, a hierarchical system of government or management in which actions and policies are initiated at the higher level of government was used. Communities received “orders from above” and were given information via mass media, and threatened with sanctions if they did not act; however, but this was not helpful because Uganda was nearing food crisis. The situation was worsened by extremely weak and disjointed agricultural extension system.

A farmer practicing single diseased stem removal (SDSR) after observing symptions of BXW on the plant

Dr. Kubiriba says “Even though information from government reached more than 85% of the banana farming communities in Uganda, this did not mobilize the communities into action; hence, the impact was too small that by 2005, BXW was still ravaging the crop. Clearly, the disease persisted, not because there was no information but deliberate community actionable tasks were lacking.”

At this point, we realized that instead of the top-down approach, a carefully crafted community-based participatory approach was needed. This involved different stakeholders with banana farmers in the center together with NARO, local government leaders, religious leaders, etc with the aim of developing and implementing an action plan to solve the problem. Somehow, localized judicial systems named “community by-laws” were initiated, designed and administered farming communities themselves to enforce effective BXW control that saw reduction of a disease in Uganda to less than 10% by 2012.

New scientific information provide further control options against BXW

While it became possible to manage the disease, it was still burdensome that in 2010, a farmer has to cut-down all the plants on banana stool, even when only one (1) plant on that single family had BXW. Consequently, scientists discovered that this again is not needed, instead, farmers were encouraged to adopt an approach called “single diseased stem removal” (SDSR) in which only the plant with symptoms is cut with a clean tool at the soil level while leaving all the rest that are disease-free. This method became “gold-standard” in Uganda and other parts of ECA in controlling BXW; however, the famer must police own plantation to ensure timely observation of symptoms immediately they appear.

A banana farm after being ravaged by BXW with only a few sparsely populated plants left in the farm. Many of the banana plants were uprooted while new ones have just been re-planted

Prof. Tugume states, “SDSR was based on the possibility that Xcm bacteria could be slow in colonizing many tissues, and given the anatomical differences between aerial and underground banana organs. SDSR could allow farmers to continue harvesting banana bunches from survivor plants as opposed to uprooting everything unnecessarily. By 2013, it was discovered that the Xcm bacterium often faces difficulties infecting the entire plant easily. Consequently, by 2022, it was known that the banana's large plant body size an advantage to BXW disease control.

What can be done to effectively manage BXW?

To effectively manage and control BXW on a banana farm, one must regularly inspect own farm at least twice per week seeking possible disease symptoms but also ensure to remove male flowers that attract pollinators whether the symptoms have been observed or not. Use of contaminated tools must be avoided completely on the farm. If you must cut anything at all, it is advisable to cut only dry tissues or only the plant with harvested bunch. Immediately symptoms are observed, practice SDSR in less than two-days after this observation. No uprooting of partial or whole corms or application of ash or urine are needed whatsoever.

Dr. Kubiriba says, “While the aforementioned approaches are effective against BXW, it is clear that there must be deliberate efforts by the community and institutions to sustain these gains in BXW control. Sustaining these interventions is not automatic, but is only possible in light of deliberate active systems of continuous monitoring and appraisal by functional agricultural extension systems, outside of which BXW re-emergences cannot be ruled out completely.”

There are more scientific research gaps going forward

According to Prof. Tugume, “The hypothesis that an unknown disease [BXW] could be controlled using methods used against another known disease [Moko disease] was both a technical and scientific error, seasoned by unpreparedness on our side because as a country, we do not invest resources in basic scientific research in advance.”

Therefore, he highlights some of the existing gaps that may help further sustaining the gains made in BXW control. They are as follows:

1. Xcm bacterial isolates in Uganda and ECA where BXW is need to be extensively analyzed for their demographic and population biology because this will allow us tell whether they are homogeneous or heterogeneous, and if a threat of re-emergence is an issue needing serious considerations.

2. The mechanism by which the plants slow down movement of bacteria to allow us practice SDSR is unknown.

3. The link between the stage of plant growth and rate of BXW disease development is not well unknown although the assumption is that disease progresses faster in younger than old plants.

4. Is it possible to consider biocontrol methods using antagonistic microbes to control BXW? For example, some soil-borne viruses called “bacteriophages” have been shown to control bacteria that are related to Xcm. One wonders if there might be some bacteriophages in our soils that destroy Xcm. If this was the case, it wouldn’t surprise us because Xcm is already unable to survive beyond 35 days in soil or plant debris. This possibility is worth a scientific study.

5. Healthy plants as well as those infected with diseases are a home of a diverse array of microbial communities, known as the “microbiome”. Usually, these communities are too diverse and studying them would help in discovering appropriate members of those communities that promote plant growth and/or resistance or some antagonism to plant disease. However, these communities for the banana-BXW pathosystem are not studied.  

6. Finally, only the wild inedible Musa balbisiana has resistance against BXW, and due to complex sexual reproductive biology of bananas, this resistance is not easily transferrable to commercial banana varieties. However, using transgenic technologies, we have developed bananas that are resistant to BXW but these are still restricted in confined-field trails in various parts of Uganda. These can be released to farmers only after after appropriate legislative frameworks are in force: this is the part for government of Uganda on whether or not these should be added onto the existing tools against BXW.

This study has been published by the American Phytopathological Society (APS) in an open access “Phytobiomes Journal”, and is freely accessible on:

https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PBIOMES-06-22-0038-RVW

For more details, contact;

1. Prof. Arthur Tugume

College of Natural Sciences

Makerere University

Email: arthur.tugume@mak.ac.ug

Tel: +256772514841

2. Dr. Jerome Kubiriba

National Banana Research Program

Email: jkubiriba2012@gmail.com

Tel: +256773155760

3. Ms. Hasifa Kabejja

Principal Communication Officer

College of Natural Sciences

Makerere University

Email: pr.cns@mak.ac.ug

Tel: +256774904211

Invitation to Mr. Ssebunjo Wycliff’s PhD Defense - PhD in Mathematics pr Thu, 06/08/2023 - 09:31

The Dean, School of Physical Sciences, College of Natural Sciences invites you all to Mr Ssebunjo Wycliff’s PhD defense scheduled to take place on Friday, 16th June 2023 starting at 10:00am in the Chemistry Boardroom.

Title of thesis: Brain Tumor Origin Localization via Iterative Methods

Supervisors

1. Prof. George Baravdish - Linköping University, Sweden

2. Prof. Olof Svennson  - Linköping University, Sweden

3. Prof. John Mango Magero – Department of Mathematics, Makerere University

The PhD was funded under the SIDA Bilateral Programme with Makerere University, 2015-2022, project 316 'Capacity Building in Mathematics and its Applications. Principal Investigator: Prof John Mango

Click on the link below for the abstract;

Mr Ssebunjo Wycliff's Abstract.pdf

Emergence of a Viral Disease Epidemic of Sweetpotato in Eastern Africa is Imminent – Plant virologists warn pr Tue, 06/06/2023 - 15:33

When COVID-19 emerged in 2019, it first remained temporarily localized as an epidemic in Huan China until it broke Chinese national and Asian continental borders attaining a global pandemic status. With COVID-19 and other epidemics and/or pandemics of humans and livestock, it is easier to explain the obvious impact on humans and/or livestock.

Sweetpotato is one of the many crops in a locality with a mixture of crop husbandry and agro-forestry in Kanungu, southwestern Uganda, creating a heterogeneous community of crop stands of a diversity of alternative hosts of viruses and vectors

What about virus epidemics and pandemics that affect plants?

Virus epidemics and pandemics that affect plants cause significant disruptions in food production. In fact, the emergence and re-emergence of extremely dangerous plant viruses is the major pain to the 21st century agriculture and sustainable food production.

Viral diseases of plants lead to complex outcomes of food shortages, economic meltdown and loss of lives especially when the affected crop plants are central to the economics and livelihoods of the people. Think of what would happen if an epidemic caused significant effect or eliminated crops like maize, banana, cassava or sweetpotato from sub-Saharan Africa.

Symptoms of sweetpotato virus disease on a plant that emerged as a sprout from an abandoned storage tuber from a previous garden of sweetpotato in Mbale, eastern Uganda

Most viruses affecting livestock and humans are spread and transmitted by means of physical contact between hosts. Furthermore, human and livestock hosts are mobile. On the other hand, plants do not move and must thus depend on other agents (vectors) for the spread of viruses between hosts. Consequently, over 98% of plant viruses are transmitted by vectors. These vectors may include arthropods (especially insects), nematodes, fungi, and parasitic plants. In plants, a virus disease epidemic becomes optimized by the ability of vectors facilitating fast spread of the virus in an agro-ecosystem.

Sweetpotato gardens in Nakaseke district, central Uganda at different stages of growth and adjacent to each other: vines from an old garden on the right were used to initiate the garden on the left allowing simultaneous transmission and perpetuation of viruses in the crop

New study predicts emergence of disease epidemic in sweetpotato

A new study led by Prof. Arthur Tugume at the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology in the College of Natural Sciences at Makerere University predicts potential of emergence of a new disease epidemic in sweetpotato.

The study recognizes that by default, viruses are not constrained to perpetually occupy a single ecological niche. This is because viruses have inherent genetic and evolutionary abilities that enable their acquisition of better fitness to always expand their host and geographical ranges.

While viruses enjoy such fitness advantages in nature, the current study points out unique examples where some viruses in eastern Africa behave awkwardly. These viruses first hid under the guise of being less important and seemingly of no impact in cropping systems, and all of a sudden hell broke loose and the entire farming system was caught unaware.

Freshly harvested sweetpoto tuberous roots, with vines still attached onto them

The study titled; “Endemism and reemergence potential of the ipomovirus Sweetpotato mild mottle virus (family Potyviridae) in Eastern Africa: half a century of mystery” shows that a virus, named Sweetpotato mild mottle virus (SPMMV) was first detected in eastern Africa in the 1970’s. SPMMV is currently the third most prevalent virus of sweepotato in the region and is most destructive in mixed infections with other viruses. Very strangely, SPMMV is geographically restricted to eastern Africa (confirmed only in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania). This sharply contradicts other known sweetpotato viruses that occur globally wherever sweetpotato is grown.

According to Dr. Deusdedith Mbanzibwa a co-author and Head of Disease Control Unit at Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute, “it is a half-century-old mystery how SPMMV remains localized in East Africa while other viruses on sweetpotato show a global incidence.” Dr. Mbanzibwa adds, “it is important we generate basic information on this virus as soon as possible such that immediately an epidemic explodes we can counter-it based on the information we have as opposed to being caught unware of the destructive effects of an epidemic.”

A vendor displaying sweetpotato for sale on a road-side in Masaka district, central Uganda

Why should we be concerned about outbreak of an epidemic on sweetpotato?

Plant disease epidemics cause a breakdown in food production and availability in communities that depend on the affected plants as food staples. If sweetpotato production breaks down, it directly translates into limited food supplies in local communities that depend on it for food.

According to Dr. Titus Alicai, a senior virologist and co-author based at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Namulonge Uganda, “between the 1980’s-1990’s, a devastating viral pandemic (cassava mosaic disease, CMD) destroyed cassava cropping systems in eastern Africa. As a result, dozens of lives were lost because many communities solely depended on cassava for food and income”. Although these viruses had been detected in the region as early as 1800’s, it was not until the 1980s that destructive effects of the disease became apparent.

Dr. Alicai adds that, “when cassava got destroyed by CMD, sweetpotato became an immediate alternative to millions of hungry people, but now sweetpotato is also burdened with diseases arising from viruses.” Despite heavy investments in disease control in cassava, the CMD pandemic is not completely controlled.

Why is eastern Africa important with respect to emergence of plant viruses?

According to this study, SPMMV is not the first unique virus to emerge or reemerge in eastern Africa. An earlier study by Prof. Tugume and colleagues published in 2010 in Molecular Ecology showed that East Africa is a hotspot for the evolutionary diversification of yet another virus in sweetpotato, named Sweetpotato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV).

Many studies show this region as the home of epidemics in rice caused by Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV). Highly lethal strains of Cassava mosaic geminiviruses (CMGs) causing CMD initiated this epidemic from eastern Africa. Unique strains of Sweetpotato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV) are incident in eastern Africa. SPCSV is unique because it almost indiscriminately enhances the viral concentrations of other co-infecting viruses in sweetpotato. The list of damaging plant viruses or their strains that have emerged from eastern African region is long and cannot not be exhausted here.

Biologists studying diversity of plants and animals have also coded eastern Africa as a home of the “hottest hotspot of biodiversity” of endemic land plants and animals located in Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya and Tanzania. The features of eastern African ecosystem that incite virus epidemics in plants are not fully known. However, it is suspected that the microclimatic changes as modulated by the Indian Ocean dipole could be one of the drivers of virus emergences and reemergence in the region.

Emergence of SPMMV in sweetpotato closely resemble that of viruses in cassava

The current study specifically compared SPMMV with two viruses infecting cassava: cassava brown streak virus, and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus, collectively called cassava brown streak ipomoviruses (CBSIs).

CBSIs first appeared in the 1930’s in coastal east Africa but went completely silent for about 70 years and then suddenly re-emerged in late 1990’s-mid 2000’s to what is today the single largest threat to cassava production in Africa. CBSIs cause a disease called “cassava brown streak disease” (CBSD). Between 1930’s-1990’s, the CBSIs were able to “amass ability” to cause untold suffering of cassava cropping from 2000’s to-date.

Similarly, since the 1970’s when SPMMV was first reported in the region, the virus has been “amassing an ability” to cause more disease in sweetpotato. This is implied directly by evidence of positive selection found in its genes. Positive selection refers to “survival for the fittest” in Charles Darwin’s terms to mean that, individual virus particles in the SPMMV population are becoming more and more highly efficient in causing disease. Today, half a century later, one can argue that it is about time that the SPMMV will incite a new disease.

Note that both SPMMV and CBSIs belong to the same taxonomic grouping of plant viruses in a genus called “Ipomovirus”, and family called “Potyviridae” which is the largest family of plant viruses with RNA genomes. Hence, similarities in the disease spread between SPMMV and CBSIs are not unexpected.

Expert guide to sweetpotato virology research for preparations against the epidemic

“If we can generate advance basic scientific information concerning how the SPMMV infects sweetpotato plants, how it is transmitted by vectors between plants, and circumstances fostering field spread of the virus, we will be better prepared to handle an epidemic that may arise from the virus,” Prof. Tugume states.

He adds: “we should be able to undertake these studies quickly because SPMMV is naturally incident on sweetpotatoes in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in levels causing less damage on its own at the moment, although this damage escalates when the virus occurs in multiple infections.”

The co-authors highlight serious research gaps for critical research investment in sweetpotato virology. Vector transmission is such an important aspect of virus disease epidemics of plants. Therefore, this study has proposed three possible explanations to account for the virus-vector and virus-host relationships of SPMMV. These are called hypothesis #1, #2, and #3, built in a fashion that allows experimentation to prove them right or wrong:

1. Hypothesis #1: “SPMMV is opportunistically aphid-transmitted with potyvirus SPFMV as a helper virus.” This hypothesis postulates that SPMMV is transmitted by “chance” by a group of insects called aphids but this happens when SPMMV co-infects sweetpotatoes with another virus, SPFMV that is transmitted efficiently by aphids.

2. Hypothesis #2: “Vector-mediated transmission of SPMMV is modulated by synergism with SPCSV.” Under this hypothesis, the concentrations of SPMMV in plant tissues increases when it co-infects with another virus, SPCSV, and this increases chances of SPMMV being picked by insects for transmission to other plants.

3. Hypothesis #3: “SPMMV tropism and histo-localization changes upon co-infection with SPCSV.” How much viral concentration is found in different plant tissues can change depending on which tissues that are preferred by the virus. Certain plant viruses prefer to stay and multiply from certain tissues than others.

Dr. Alicai said, “If we can determine vector transmission dynamics including the actual vector(s) transmitting SPMMV, which plant tissues the virus prefers for its multiplication, and generate many complete sequences of SPMMV genomes, we will be better prepared for epidemics arising from the emergence of SPMMV”.

Sweetpotato is a vegetatively propagated plant in which the top-most 15-40cm part of the plant is used for initiating the new crop, a practice that is the main route of accelerated of virus spread in the cropping system. Also, insects especially aphids and whiteflies are the major vectors transmitting viruses in sweetpotato. The research gaps highlighted with respect to SPMMV require urgent attention for advance preparation in case an epidemic breaks loose on the sweetpotato cropping system.

This study has been published by the American Phytopathological Society (APS) in an open access journal, “Phytobiomes Journal”, and is freely accessible on https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PBIOMES-05-22-0031-RVW

For more details, please contact;

1. Prof. Arthur Tugume

Lead Scientist

Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology

College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS)

Makerere University

Email: arthur.tugume@mak.ac.ug

Tel: +256772514841

2. Dr. Deusdedith Mbanzibwa

Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI),

Biosciences Centre, Dodoma, Tanzania

Email: d.mbanzibwa@yahoo.co.uk

Email: Tel: +255755881758

3. Dr. Titus Alicai

Root Crops Research Program

National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI)

National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO)

Email: talicai@hotmail.com

Tel: +256772970585

4. Hasifa Kabejja

Principal Communication Officer

College of Natural Sciences

Makerere University

Email: pr.cns@mak.ac.ug

Tel: +256774904211

 

Announcement pr Thu, 05/25/2023 - 14:00

 Announcement of an online interactive identification key to the bees of Uganda/East Africa

The Bee Diversity Informatics Project (hosted at Makerere University College of Natural Sciences) announces the presence of an online interactive identification key to the bees of Uganda/East Africa. This is the first such key for Uganda and East Africa. It does not replace existing hard copy keys to the bee genera of the region but rather complements them. Furthermore, it allows for a larger number of bee researchers in the region to have access to a taxonomic reference. Its interactive property means it may also be used as a teaching resource on bee morphology and taxonomy.

Development of the key was made possible with financial support from the JRS Biodiversity Foundation and additional technical support from the USDA-ARS (United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service).

Statement on Accreditation of University Academic Programmes pr Thu, 05/25/2023 - 13:50

The University Management’s attention is drawn to information circulating in the media pointing to the expiry of several academic programmes offered at Ugandan Universities, including Makerere University.

Makerere University wishes to reassure its stakeholders that all the 331 academic programmes offered at the University and its affiliated institutions including Makerere University Business School (MUBS) are accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).

Nevertheless, Makerere University periodically reviews its academic programmes as a quality assurance mechanism of the University, which confirms continuous relevance of the curriculum and complies with the NCHE requirements.

The periodic review of academic programmes is a rigorous process involving the departments, schools and colleges of the University. It also includes the University Senate, a specific University Council Committee dedicated to Quality Assurance, and the University Council. The programme review is consultative and includes stakeholders from industry, the Government, civil society, professional bodies and the NCHE.

As a result of the reviews, the curriculum for some academic programmes is adjusted, maintained or merged. Some programmes are phased out entirely.

We note that the schedule of expired programmes circulating in the media includes 89 programmes that were phased out and are no longer offered at Makerere University. The remaining programmes either completed the review or are at different stages of the review process, including at the NCHE.

The University Management wishes to reassure its alumni, current students and stakeholders that all the University’s academic progammes are accredited by the NCHE. Management is following up with the NCHE to ensure that the pending reviews are completed without further delay.

The ongoing engagements with NCHE will also provide further clarification on the inaccurate information circulating in the media.

“As we build for the Future”

 

Professor Henry Alinaitwe

AG. VICE CHANCELLOR

Statement on Programmes Accreditation at Makerere University.pdf

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: THE JOINT AFRICAN-NORDIC CONFERENCE IN MATHEMATICS pr Mon, 05/22/2023 - 10:40

 CONFERENCE THEME: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS WITH ISP/EAUMP/SIDA, 10 YEARS WITH CIMO/HEI-ICI AND COMMENCING OF THE NORHED II FUNDED MATHEMATICS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

CONFERENCE DATES: 01st -04th August 2023

VENUE: MAKERERE UNIVERSITY, YUSUF LULE CENTRAL TEACHING FACILITY (CTF2)

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS: 30TH JUNE 2023

INTRODUCTION

The Eastern Africa Universities Mathematics Programme (EAUMP) courtesy of the International Science Programme (ISP), Sweden in collaboration with SIDA Mathematics projects, NORHED-II, CIMO/HEI-ICI Mathematics initiatives in the region and the Inter University Council for East Africa through EACMaR is organizing a joint conference to be held at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda from 01st to 04th August, 2023. Among other activities planned for the conference, Prof. Leif Abrahamsson will be honored for his outstanding contribution to the development of mathematics in the Region. We shall further celebrate the achievements in mathematics in the region in the period 2002-2023. The conference will feature paper and poster presentations.

CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION

The Conference audience will be mathematicians from the Eastern Africa region and the rest of world. It is anticipated that the total number of conference participants will be over 150.

CONFERENCE AREAS

Research Paper and Poster presentations are expected in the following areas though not limited to;

1. Algebra
2. Applied Probability and Mathematical Statistics
3. Bioinformatics
4. Biomathematics
5. Biostatistics
6. Clifford and hypercomplex analysis
7. Combinatorics
8. Data Science
9. Dynamical Systems
10. Experimental Pure Mathematics
11. Financial/Insurance Mathematics
12. Fluid Dynamics
13. Graph Theory
14. Mathematics Education
15. Mathematics Olympiads
16. Number Theory
17. Numerical Analysis
18. ODES and PDES
19. Operations Research
20. Optimization
21. Real and Complex Analysis
22. Stochastics
23. Topology and Geometry

GOALS OF THE CONFERENCE

1. Stimulate regional and international collaboration in training, research and outreach.
2. To honor Prof Leif for his great contribution to the development of mathematics in the Eastern Africa region through Paper and Poster presentations of research findings by senior and junior academics in the region and beyond.
3. To celebrate the new mathematics initiative MATH4SD in the region under the NORHED-II
4. Provide a forum for interaction for African Mathematicians and others from outside Africa with a view of sharing experiences in mathematical training, research, and outreach activities.
5. Celebrate the achievements in mathematics in the region in the period 2002-2023

 REGISTRATION FOR THE CONFERENCE

Participants are expected to pay a registration fee of US$200. The deadline for registration is 30th June 2023. Registration should be done online using the link - https://tinyurl.com/mseksnm3 and Payment of the Registration fee will be done on arrival or to the EAUMP account at Makerere on request. The registration fee will cater for all lunches, teas/coffee/water, conference dinner, a bag, a certificate, and stationery.

VENUE

The Conference will be held at Makerere University, Uganda, at Yusufu Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF2).

ACCOMMODATION

Hotel charges for accommodation in Kampala range from US$40 to US$ 300 per night. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is available for assistance. Food ranges from US$ 5.00 to US$ 25.00 a meal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAIR LOC;

1. Prof. John Mango,

Department of Mathematics

Makerere University,

P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Email: mango.john@mak.ac.ug, jmango1966@gmail.com

Cellphone:  +256-772-649455

AND COPY YOUR EMAIL TO,

2. Prof Kakuba Godwin,

Head Department of Mathematics,

Makerere University,

P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Email:  godwin.a.kakuba@gmail.com, godwin.kakuba@mak.ac.ug

Cellphone:  +256-705-622288

3. Dr Alex B. Tumwesigye

EAUMP Coordinator,

Department of Mathematics,

Makerere University,

P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Email:  , ,

Cellphone:  +256-782-244932

4. Prof. Juma Kasozi,

Department of Mathematics,

Makerere University,

P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.

Email: juma.kasozi@mak.ac.ug

Cellphone:  +256-782-308010

 

 

 

Mak spearheads Formation of Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU) pr Tue, 05/09/2023 - 14:51

The Society aims to promote professional relevance and teamwork in fostering biology education and scholarship in Uganda

Prof. Arthur Tugume, Convener of the meeting addressing participants

Makerere University has mobilized resources to conduct research into the poor performance in Biology at UCE and UACE. This was revealed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs, Prof. Umar Kakumba during the inception meeting of the Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU) held on 5th May 2023 at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF2) at Makerere. BioSU will, among other things, contribute to the promotion of Biology as a subject among learners, right from primary school, with an aim of achieving increased enrolment and improvement in academic grades at O' and A' levels, and ultimately at the tertiary levels of education in Uganda. 

Some of the participants at the inception meeting

Addressing participants, Prof. Kakumba appreciated the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) for leading efforts to improve performance in Biology, a core discipline in the life sciences. “Five Colleges at Makerere namely CoNAS, the College of Health Sciences (CHS), College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB), College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), and the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) largely rely of biology as an essential subject. The entire science, technology and innovation (STI) ecosystem in Uganda is more than 60% biological in “fabric”. The formation of the BioSU is timely and will largely address the challenge of poor performance in the subject.” Prof. Kakumba appreciated the Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium (UBBC) for supporting the formation of BioSU, and rallied other stakeholders to take interest in the Society.  “This is a national formation that will build foundations for the future of biologists in this country,” he noted.

In his remarks, the Principal, CoNAS appreciated the School of Biosciences for taking lead in addressing the challenge of poor performance in Biology. He equally appreciated the University leadership for supporting the initiative. “When Biology is negatively affected at UCE, then enrolment at UACE gets affected, and this too affects the colleges at Makerere and the institutions related to medical, agricultural, veterinary and other forms of training where biological knowledge is essential. The move to address the challenge is timely, and working with BioSU, I’m hopeful that performance greatly will improve.”

The panelists - Prof. Arthur Tugume, Dean School of Biosciences, CoNAS; Dr. Barbara Mugwanya Zawedde, Director of Research at NARO; Mr. Peter Watiti, a primary school teacher; Dr. Andrew Kiggundu, a geneticist and biotechnologist; Mr. Nixon Opoya, a secondary school teacher and examiner with UCE and UACE; and Dr Godwin Anywar from the Department of Plant Sciences

Trend of poor performance in Biology

An analysis conducted by the School of Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University indicates that since the late 1970s, academic performance in Biology at UACE has never been at its best and recently deteriorated to worrying levels. “In the UACE sitting of 2018 whose results were released in February 2019, UNEB statistics show that a total of 13,061 candidates sat for Biology countrywide, and of these only 1 candidate scored an “A”. That year, only up to 38% of the candidates scored at least an “E” leaving almost 80% failed (score O or F). In the next year’s sitting of 2019, only 44 candidates countrywide scored “A” in Biology. This trend was found quite repeated several times before 2018 and has not improved to-date. According to Prof. Arthur K. Tugume, Dean, School of Biosciences at Makerere University, Biology is an essential subject because it accounts for 70-100% of the academic and research work at CoNAS, CHS, CoVAB and CAES at Makerere. “The poor performance at UACE affects the totality of life-sciences academic and research ecosystem at Makerere University, and several essential sectors, and MDAs of Uganda whose mandates are hinged on Biology,” he noted.

Prof. Umar Kakumba officiated the inception meeting 

Addressing the challenge

To address the challenge of poor performance in Biology, Makerere University through the School of Biosciences, supported by the BioSU will conduct a detailed and carefully planned analysis of; i) qualifications, competence, and availability of Biology teachers and technicians at A’ Level; (ii) the scope: breadth and depth of Biology curriculum at A’ Level; (iii) how topics are segregated or not segregated in different UNEB past papers of Biology at A’ Level in comparison to other A’ Level subjects; (iv) the state of laboratory and field infrastructure for teaching Biology at A’ Level; and (v) attitudes of learners/students towards Biology at A’ Level. The results will inform steps to be taken.  

The Principal of CoNAS, Prof. Winston Tumps Ireeta addressing participants

 

Formation of the Biology Society of Uganda

The Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU) is founded on Uganda’s aspirations for a strong bio-economy to spur national development under National Development Program III (NDPIII). Cognizant of the importance of Biology applications that account for over 60% of Uganda’s science, technology and innovations (STI) ecosystem, it is envisaged that bringing together biology professionals will augment and consolidate their contribution to national development.  

Specifically, the objectives of the Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU) are to:

1. Establish a functional and dynamic platform that will promote communication among biologists engaged in knowledge generation, testing, teaching and the end users at all levels.
2. Promote biological research and its application in the teaching and/or solving challenges of national development at all levels.
3. Host and publish a biannual Biology Newsletter (or any other publication deemed essential) on biology aspects of interest in Uganda.
4. Promote the writing of biological science articles, books, papers, and magazines.
5. Provide guidance on matters of national importance that demand expert knowledge in Biology or its applications.
6. Create a community of people interested in biology, gather and exchange ideas, learn more about biology and sustain interest in the subject.
7. To advance the quality of biology in academia, industry, education and research.
8. Increase awareness of the importance of biology in national development.
9. Foster a lively and early interest in biology in order to improve learning outcomes from primary to university level and beyond.

The BioSU inception meeting

The inception meeting brought together Biology professionals who deliberated on a number of issues in line with the formation of the BioSU, and the continued failure of the subject of Biology. The meeting featured a panel discussion in which a number of factors undermining performance in Biology were highlighted and possible solutions proposed. Panelists including Prof. Arthur Tugume, Dean School of Biosciences, CoNAS; Dr. Barbara Mugwanya Zawedde, Director of Research at NARO; Mr. Peter Watiti, a primary school teacher; Dr. Andrew Kiggundu, a geneticist and biotechnologist; Mr. Nixon Opoya, a secondary school teacher and examiner with UCE and UACE; and Dr Godwin Anywar from the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology at CoNAS emphasized the need to improve competence of teachers by conducting refresher trainings. Other issues arising from the discussion included the need to improve practical training, interest learners in the subject at an early staff and conduct career guidance.

An interim committee has been put in place to foresee the formation of the BioSU.  

 Invitation to Inception Meeting of the Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU) - Friday, 5th May 2023 pr Sat, 04/22/2023 - 18:04

The College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), through the office of the Dean, School of Biosciences, cordially invites you to an Inception meeting of *The Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU)* slated for *Friday 5th May 2023, 09:00AM-12:00Noon.*

The chief guest will be Prof. Umar Kakumba, the Deputy Vice Chancellor - Academic Affairs (DVCAA) of Makerere University.

*****Registration for online participation
To participate virtually, please register in advance by clicking on: https://bit.ly/3MEZjel . Upon registration, you will receive a link to the meeting.

Alternatively, you may participate physically at: Makerere University Main Campus, Pool Road, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility (CTF) Auditorium.

*****Formation of the Biology Society of Uganda
The Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU) is founded on Uganda’s aspirations for a strong bio-economy to spur national development under National Development Program III (NDPIII). Cognizant of the importance of Biology applications that account for over 60% of Uganda’s science, technology and innovations (STI) ecosystem, it is envisaged that bringing together biology professionals will augment and consolidate their contribution to national development. BioSU will, among other things, contribute to the promotion of Biology as a subject among learners, right from primary school, with an aim of achieving increased enrolment and improvement in academic grades at O’ and A’ levels, and ultimately at the tertiary levels of education in Uganda.

Kindly note that, we invite individuals and institutions to facilitate their participation in this meeting. Please see attached the draft program and concept note of the meeting.

For further information in relation to this inception meeting, please contact *Prof. Arthur Tugume, Dean, School of Biosciences,* email: arthur.tugume@mak.ac.ug, aktugume@gmail.com, and telephone: +256772514841.

We look forward to your participation!

See PROGRAMME attached below;

Biology Society of Uganda (BioSU) - Draft Inception Program and Concept Note (1) (2).pdf

Call pr Thu, 04/20/2023 - 17:13

Call for Applications: PhD Research Fellowship - Fisheries

A. BACKGROUND

The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) in collaboration with Makerere University, College of Natural Sciences, was awarded a research grant under the European Union-funded project intended to “Adopt multidisciplinary approaches in genetic improvements, nutritional enhancement and climate change adaptation for improved production of Nile tilapia in Uganda (ARISE-PP)”. The project is implemented in collaboration with the Department of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University. The overall objective of the assignment is to breed Nile tilapia for fast growth and temperature resilience, and formulate commercially competitive and environmentally safe fish feeds for sustainable production of Nile tilapia in Uganda. Secondly, the project is to formulate and produce commercially competitive and environmentally safe fish feeds for sustainable production of Nile tilapia in Uganda. Additionally, the project intends to innovate feeds and feeding regimes that are hinged on the circular economy concept, and conduct growth studies in the key Agricultural zones across Uganda.

The project is looking for a self-motivated, hardworking, spirited and multitasking female candidate to take on PhD training.

B. RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Applications are invited from PhD candidates to undertake research towards development of commercially competitive and environmentally safe fish feeds for sustainable production of Nile tilapia in Uganda, under the circular economy concept. The thematic area of the research is: innovating Nile tilapia feeds and feeding regimes based on the circular economy concept. This is a competitive call and is open to candidates who hold an MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture-related training from public or private universities in Uganda accredited by the UNCHE, or elsewhere. One PhD fellowship is available to support research costs and modest monthly stipend for candidates preparing to start research projects in the academic year 2022/2023.

C. ELIGIBILITY

1. The applicant must have completed an MSc degree in aquaculture and Fisheries Sciences or closely related, with outstanding grades.
2. Female students and candidates with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
3. Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of MSc in Fisheries and Aquaculture-related studies from a public university registered/chartered by the Uganda National Council for Higher Education (UNCHE)
4. Candidates should demonstrate ability to complete the PhD program within 3 years.

D. APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should send in their application package constituting:

1.  One-page motivation letter
2. Copies of certified academic documents
3. Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages).
4. 2-3-page Concept Note on the research topic of interest within the above thematic areas
5. Recommendation letters from two academic referees, with their contact emails and telephone numbers

E. SUBMISSION

Applications should be compiled into a single PDF file and submitted electronically to the project students Coordinator Dr. Godfrey Kawooya Kubiriza (Email: godfrey.kubiriza@mak.ac.ug or kubirizag@gmail.com) with a copy to the Principal Investigator of the Project Dr Margaret Aanyu (maggieaanyu@gmail.com), by Friday the 12th of May, 2023 not later than 5:00pm. Only qualifying candidates will be invited for the interviews.

Advert attached below.

Call for Applications - PhD Research Fellowship, Fisheries.pdf

Call for Applications pr Wed, 04/12/2023 - 09:43

****Call for Applications: Workshop on Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance, Biogas Production and Solar Thermal Systems, 21st-25th August 2023

The Renewable Energy Research Group (RERG) at the Department of Physics, Makerere University, invites applications for a Training Workshop in Solar Photovoltaic Installation and Maintenance, Biogas Production and Solar Thermal Systems, which will be held at the Department from 21st-25th August 2023.

SCOPE OF TRAINING

-Introduction to Basic Electronics

-Photovoltaic Systems (PV system components, Sizing, Installation, Maintenance and System Safety)

-Biogas Technology (Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance)

-Solar Heating Systems (Basic Principles, Design, Construction, Operation and Maintenance)

**The training will be hands on and will also include a visit to an installed Biogas Plant

PARTICIPATION

The training is open to researchers, students, trainers (teachers, technical institution tutors,) solar suppliers, holiday makers, electricians and any other interested persons.  

 ADVERT AND APPLICATION FORM ATTACHED BELOW;

FINAL PV ADVERT -2023.pdf APPLICATION FORM-PV 2023.doc

 

New Publication pr Thu, 03/23/2023 - 10:54

*****Diversity and Emergence of New Variants of African Swine Fever Virus Genotype Icirculating in domestic pigs in Nigeria (2016–2018)

Abstract

Background: African swine fever (ASF) is the most lethal disease of pigs caused by ASF virus (ASFV) with severe economic implications and threat to the swine industry in endemic countries. Between 2016 and 2018, several ASF outbreaks were reported throughout pig producing states in Nigeria.

Objectives: Thereafter, this study was designed to identify the ASFV genotypes responsible for these outbreaks within the study period (2016–2018).

Methods: Twenty-two ASFV-positive samples by polymerase chain reaction were selected. The samples were collected during passive surveillance in eight states of Nigeria were characterised using 3 partial genes sequences of the virus namely, p72 capsid protein of the B646L, p54 envelope protein of E183L and the central variable region (CVR) within B602L of ASFV.

Results: Phylogenetic and sequences analysis based on p72 and p54 revealed ASFV genotype I as the circulating virus. Sequence analysis of the CVR of B602L revealed genetic variations with six ASFV tandem repeat sequence (TRS) variants namely, Tet15, Tet-20a, Tet-21b, Tet-27, Tet-31 and Tet-34, thus increasing the overall genetic diversity of ASFV in Nigeria. Three of the TRS variants, Tet-21b, Tet-31 and Tet-34, were identified for the first time in Nigeria. The new TRS variants of ASFV genotype I were identified in Enugu, Imo, Plateau and Taraba states, while co-circulation ofmultiple variants of ASFV genotype I was recorded in Plateau and Benue states.

Conclusions: The high genetic diversity, emergence and increasing recovery of new variants of genotype I in Nigeria should be a concern given that ASFV is a relatively stable DNA virus. The epidemiological implications of these findings require further investigation.

Click on the link below for the article: 

Diversity and emergence of new variants of African swine fever virus Genotype-1 (1).pdf

Project Launch: “Strengthening Makerere University’s Research, Grant Writing and Publication Capacity” – 21st March 2023 pr Mon, 03/20/2023 - 16:33 The Project team in a meeting with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe on 20th March 2023

In 2022, Makerere University received a grant from the US State Department to implement a project titled: “Towards a Research-led University: Strengthening Makerere University’s Research, Grant Writing and Publication Capacity”.

Makerere University is implementing the project in collaboration with Michigan State University’s Writing Centre and Alliance for African Partnership (AAP). The project set to be launched on 21st March 2023 at the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility aims to strengthen Makerere University’s capacity in research, grant writing and publication. The project will support the training of research managers from different units of the University and the establishment of a Writing Centre. The project team at Makerere University is led by Prof. Fredrick Muyodi from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS). Other members are Prof. Ronald Bisaso (Co-PI), Deputy Principal, College of Education and External Studies; and Ms. Stella Kakeeto (Co-PI) from the College of Health Sciences. The Michigan State University team is led by Prof. Trixie G. Smith, Director, MSU Writing Centre (WC). Others are Dr Grace Pregent, Associate Director, WC; Ms. Ann Allegra, Proposal and Capacity Strengthening Administrator, Alliance for African Partnership (AAP); and Dr Jose Jackson- Malete, Co-Director, AAP.

Prof. Trixie G. Smith, Project Leader at Michigan State University with the Vice Chancellor during the meeting 

Today morning, 20th March 2023, the team paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe to brief him about the project. Interacting with the team, the Vice Chancellor noted that the project is timely and would greatly support efforts to transform Makerere into a research-led University. “Africa has a high population growth rate. 80 years from now, Africa will account for 50% of the global population. As a University, we have a responsibility to address development challenges in the region. It is through extensive research that we can come up with solutions to sustain the growing population. I convey sincere appreciation to Michigan State University for supporting this and many other projects at Makerere."

The Vice Chancellor pledged Management support towards the project.

The Vice Chancellor presents a souvenir to Prof. Trixie The Vice Chancellor presents a souvenir to Dr Grace Pregent The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (3rd L) with the project team, Prof. Trixie G. Smith (3rd R), Prof. Fredrick Muyodi (2nd L), Dr Grace Pregent (R), Prof. Ronald Bisaso (L), and Ms. Stella Kakeeto (2nd R) after the meeting

 

 Dr Godwin Anywar Appointed to the PLOS ONE Editorial Board as an Academic Editor pr Wed, 03/15/2023 - 19:19 Dr Godwin Anywar

Dr Godwin Anywar has been appointed to the PLOS ONE Editorial Board as an Academic Editor.

The PLOS ONE Editorial Board is powered by thousands of academic experts from all over the world. The board comprises working scientists who are established principal investigators/group leaders with extensive publication records. Academic Editors oversee the peer review process for the journal, including evaluating submissions, selecting reviewers and assessing their comments, and making editorial decisions. Together with fellow Editorial Board Members and internal staff, Academic Editors uphold journal policies and ethics standards and work to promote the PLOS ONE mission to provide free public access to scientific research.

Dr Godwin Anywar is a Lecturer in the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), Makerere University.

Congratulations to Dr Anywar upon this appointment.

More about PLOS ONE:  https://journals.plos.org/plosone/