Kabale University Digital Repository (KAB-DR)
KAB-DR preserves research output from the Kabale University community
Communities in KAB-DR
Select a community to browse its collections.
- The collections in this Community are comprised of Indigenous Knowledge emanating from communities in the neighborhoods of Kabale University. These are communities in the great Kigezi Region.
- This community holds students (Graduates) dissertation and Thesis, Staff field reports, Students (undergraduate) study reports
- The community includes research article publications in journals both local and international, conference papers in proceedings and reports, abstracts and reviews by Kabale University Staff and Students
Recent Submissions
Socioeconomic sustainability of bioenergy exploitation in Uganda: A GBEP-indicator narrative review
(Elsevier, 2025) Sekajja, Robert Kakebe; Nabuuma, Betty; Lubwama, Michael; Kanyamumba, Liberty
The socioeconomic implications of bioenergy exploitation in Uganda have not been sufficiently assessed through comprehensive frameworks, such as the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) sustainability indicators. Existing studies are fragmented and primarily sector-specific, which limits the identification of cross-cutting challenges and constrains evidence-based policymaking. This study applies, for the first time in Uganda, a comprehensive set of GBEP socioeconomic indicators through a structured narrative review organized into seven thematic do-mains. The analysis focused on three dominant bioenergy pathways: firewood, charcoal, and organic residues/ waste, which define Uganda’s bioenergy landscape. Relevant publications were selected based on their alignment with the selected indicators and bioenergy pathways in Uganda. Despite the scarcity of empirical data, partic-ularly in peer-reviewed sources, the review demonstrates clear trends. Traditional bioenergy contributes significantly to employment and national energy access, while also presenting persistent gender disparities and environmental risks. Transitioning to modern bioenergy systems may exacerbate land tenure disputes and food security concerns. However, the sector holds notable untapped potential: bioenergy-based power generation has reached 112 MW, with an estimated capacity of 1.65 GW, and energy from residues and waste remains underutilized at 737.7 PJ/year. Key research priorities emerging from this assessment include cookstove per-formance metrics, the bioenergy–food nexus, human capital development, charcoal substitution strategies, and energy diversification. The findings not only underscore the novelty of applying GBEP comprehensively in Uganda but also provide actionable insights for policy aimed at balancing energy access, livelihoods, and sustainability.
Experimental and analytical study of lightweight foamed concrete reinforced with sugarcane bagasse fiber
(Scientific Reports, 2025) Sattar, Afiya Abdul; Mydin, Md Azree Othuman; Taqieddin, Ziad N.; Jagadesh, P.; Omar, Roshartini; Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri; Awoyera, Paul O.; Fadugba, Olaolu George; Vasić, Milica V.
Growing environmental concerns have intensified research into sustainable construction materials, such as natural fiber-reinforced concrete. Among these, lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) stands out for its reduced material consumption, improved thermal insulation, and lower environmental footprint. The integration of natural fibers, such as sugarcane bagasse fiber (SBF), into LFC has the potential to further enhance its performance. This study investigates the influence of varying SBF weight fractions (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) on the physical, mechanical, and durability properties of LFC with a target density of 1000 kg/m3. The primary objective was to determine the optimal SBF content for achieving superior material characteristics. Experimental results revealed that the inclusion of 4% SBF provided the best overall performance, improving compressive strength by 53%, increasing ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) by 17%, and reducing drying shrinkage by 58% compared to the control mix. Additionally, slump flow decreased progressively with higher fiber content, indicating enhanced cohesion. Water absorption and porosity were significantly reduced with increasing SBF, with the 5% mix showing up to a 19% decrease in water absorption. Thermal conductivity also declined slightly, suggesting improved insulation properties. Microstructural analysis confirmed better fiber-matrix bonding at the optimal fiber content, contributing to the observed improvements in performance. This study offers valuable insights into the mechanical, thermal, and durability characteristics of LFC-SBF composites, highlighting their potential as sustainable construction materials.
Mechanical and microscale characterization of foamed concrete with Tianqi aluminosilicate binder
(Scientific Reports, 2025) Sattar, Afiya Abdul; Mydin, Md Azree Othuman; Nadimalla, Altamashuddinkhan; Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri; Awoyera, Paul O.; Fadugba, Olaolu George
Persistent research work has aided the development of supplementary cementitious materials, contributing to both sustainable development and mitigating environmental impacts. This study utilized Tianqi aluminosilicate (TAS) as partial replacement for Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) in foamed concrete (FC) mix. The mechanical, transport, and microstructural characteristics of the concrete were explored. The formed concrete mixes were developed by varying TAS from 0 to 40%, in steps of 10% for OPC to identify optimal performance. The mechanical characteristics (compressive, flexural, splitting tensile, and elastic modulus) improved by 18–25% over control and peaked at 20% TAS. At 20% TAS substitution, the transport properties (water absorption and permeability) improved significantly, which corresponds to 35% and 28%, reduction, respectively. SEM analysis revealed that TAS refined pore structure, yielding a denser matrix with homogeneous hydration product distribution. The result revealed foam stability and uniformity in mixes containing TAS, and an improvement in mechanical and durability of the concrete. Filler effect and pozzolanic activities of TAS were identified as two key factors responsible for the observed results. There was pore refinement improved secondary hydration in the concrete matrix. The results show that 20% TAS substitution improves strength and durability while lowering OPC use and striking the ideal performance balance. From the results, TAS proved to be a sustainable supplementary cementitious material aiding the durability of the mixes. This work advances eco-friendly construction practices by demonstrating TAS’s viability in high-performance FC applications.
Green construction with sustainable foam mortar utilizing recycled polyethylene terephthalate waste for enhanced thermal insulation and durability properties.
(Scientific Reports, 2025) Mydin, Md Azree Othuman; Awoyera, Paul. O; Taqieddin, Ziad. N; Özkılıç, Yasin Onuralp; Fadugba, Olaolu George; Abdullah, Mohd Mustafa Al Bakri; Omar, Roshartini; Datta, Shuvo Dip; Olalusi, Oladimeji. B
This study explores the development of a sustainable foam mortar incorporating recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste as a partial sand replacement to enhance thermal insulation and promote circular economy practices. Foamed mortars incorporating recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste were developed in this study, with the overall goal of addressing the dual challenge of waste management and resource depletion. PET waste, commonly discarded as environmental pollutants, was processed into fine aggregate sizes and used as a partial replacement for sand. There were six mix proportions with PET replacement ratios (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%). PET improved thermal insulation by lowering thermal conductivity from 0.31 W/mK to 0.26 W/mK and reducing density by up to 15%. At 28 days, the compressive strength varied between 12.5 MPa (0% PET) and 9.8 MPa (25% PET), suggesting that it is viable for non-structural applications. Similar declines of 25–30% and 20–25%, respectively, in flexural and tensile strengths were ascribed to weakened interfacial bonding between PET and the cement matrix. At higher PET levels, durability increased, with a 20% decrease in water absorption and a substantial decrease in chloride ion penetration. The use of PET significantly improved thermal properties, and microstructural analysis confirmed more refined pore structures and homogeneous dispersion of PET particles. These results show that PET can be a sustainable alternative to foam mortar, promoting environmentally friendly construction methods and the concepts of the circular economy
Factors associated with women’s economic, personal and socio-cultural empowerment: analysis of 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey
(BMC Women's Health, 2025) Nabimanya, Boaz; Mayanja, Edison; Kyarikunda, Miria; Nkamusiima, Dianah; Kagarura, Willy Rwamparagi; Kiwuwa-Muyingo, Sylvia; Kadengye, Damazo T.
Background: The importance of women empowerment has been conceptualized not only as fundamental and core to fulfilling human rights, but also a basic requirement for enhancing women’s contributions to the development process in their national economies. The concept of women empowerment can consider several aspects of a woman including at personal, economic, social-cultural or community, and multidimensional levels. Kenya has implemented several policies and legal frameworks to support women’s empowerment. However, there is limited up-to-date research that provides an in-depth examination of the factors associated with the women’s empowerment in Kenya, for the four different dimensions of empowerment. This paper explores the determinants of women empowerment among married women in Kenya.
Methods: We analyzed secondary data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey. For the final analysis, we used a weighted sample of 18,312 currently married women. All frequencies and percentages in the results section are weighted. At the multivariate stage of analysis, the effect of explanatory variables on women empowerment was investigated using multilevel mixed effects logistic regression model. We computed adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Variables with a P-value of less than 0.05 in the multi variable binary logistic regression analysis were considered statistically significant predictors of the outcome variable.
Results: We observed a high proportion of women empowered at a personal (74%) and social-cultural levels (81%) while low proportions of 22% and 18% are empowered at the economic and multidimensional scales respectively. Out of all women who are economically empowered, larger proportions are also empowered at the personal (87%) and social-cultural (92%) scales, while 80% are empowered in all the three dimensions of empowerment. Women’s characteristics such as being older, attaining formal education, being in employment, and having an employed partner were positively associated with women’s empowerment. On the other hand, women who live in rural areas and those who justify norms associated with beating were negatively associated with women’s empowerment.
Conclusions: Finds from this study show that economic empowerment plays an important role in the formation of personal and social-cultural empowerment. There is therefore a need for policy reforms to improve the economic conditions of the households and to give special emphasis on the education of women, promote women’s employment opportunities and access to resources.