Muni Repository (MR)
This repository contains open access publications of Muni University Library.
Objectives:
- To digitally collect, preserve and provide electronic access to scholarly works and research output of Muni University.
- Increase the visibility and impact of our research, making it easy for researchers, students, policymakers and journalists to reference, replicate, and re-use the work.
- Issue permanent, unique and trustworthy identifiers when creating URLs to access the resource without concern that the location of the resource may change.
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Recent Submissions
Antimycobacterial activities of the zanthoxylum leprieurii metabolite adubangoamide and non-natural fagaramide analogues
(American Chemical Society, 2025-02-11) Oloya, Benson; Namukobe, Jane; Krüger, Mandy; Ssengooba, Willy; Sperlich, Eric; Kwesiga, George; Komakech, Kevin; Heydenreich, Matthias; Byamukama, Robert; Schmidt, Bernd
trans-Fagaramide (1) and adubangoamide (2) are natural products with a cinnamic acid amide skeleton that have recently been isolated from Zanthoxylum leprieurii, a medicinal plant used locally in Uganda for the treatment of tuberculosis. Insufficient quantities of material from the natural source originally prevented the antimycobacterial evaluation of the new natural product 2. Herein, a synthesis of 2 is reported, and its antimycobacterial activity was determined using the synthetic material. Adubangoamide (2) is three times more active against the drug-susceptible M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv than trans-fagaramide (1), with an MIC value of 10.0 μM. In addition, we synthesized eight non-natural analogues of trans-fagaramide (1, MIC = 32.0 μM against H37Rv strain), in which benzylamide groups mimic the isobutylamide part of the trans-fagaramide structure. Five out of eight synthetic analogues are more active than the parent natural product: 11b (MIC = 6.0 μM), 11d (21.0 μM), 11e (6.1 μM), 11g (17.0 μM), and 11h (4.5 μM).
Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18-24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey
(Child Protection and Practice, 2025-02-18) Ndibalekera, Maria; Bangirana, Clare Ahabwe; Amollo, Mathew; Olido, Kenneth; Kafuko, Agatha; Opobo, Timothy; Ssenyonga, Ronald
Background: Researchers have identified various factors that contribute to low levels of educational attainment. However, studies examining the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and educational attainment remain scarce. Understanding this relationship is vital since experiencing violence during childhood is associated with poor educational outcomes and a higher likelihood of financial difficulties and employment issues later in life.
Objective: This study sought to understand the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment for male and female young adults.
Participants and setting: The study uses data from the Uganda Violence Against Children Survey (2018), focusing on participants aged 18-24.
Methods: Secondary analysis was done using STATA 14 among participants aged 18-24 years from whom responses on childhood sexual violence (CSV) victimization were solicited. CSV was measured in its different forms i.e., unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex, pressured sex and sexual exploitation, while low educational attainment was defined as being out of school and having primary or less as the highest level of education. Bivariable analysis and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted.
Results: The majority (67.2%) of the sample of 2312 young adults had low educational attainment. Basing on the different forms of childhood sexual violence victimization (sexual exploitation, unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex and pressured sex), low education attainment ranged between 59.2% and 72.3% for males and 50.9% and 72.4% for females. The different forms of CSV were not significantly associated with low educational attainment except attempted forced sex among females (P=0.011) in the bivariate analysis and child marriage in the multivariate model (P=0.022).
Conclusion: Low levels of educational attainment in Uganda are prevalent and could be influenced by various factors that warrant further investigation. There is a need for additional research to clarify the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment. Considering the well -established advantages of education for individuals and communities, it is essential to strengthen initiatives aimed at increasing both access to and the quality of educational services.
One‑year follow‑up effects of the informed health choices secondary school intervention on students’ ability to think critically about health in Uganda: a cluster randomized trial
(Springer Nature, 2025-02-26) Ssenyonga, Ronald; Oxman, Andrew D.; Nakyejwe, Esther; Chesire, Faith; Mugisha, Michael; Nsangi, Allen; Oxman, Matt; Rose, Christopher James; Rosenbaum, Sarah E.; Moberg, Jenny; Kaseje, Margaret; Nyirazinyoye, Laetitia; Dahlgren, Astrid; Lewin, Simon; Sewankambo, Nelson K.
Introduction: We assessed the effects of the Informed Health Choices (IHC) secondary school intervention on students’ ability to think critically about choices 1 year after the intervention.
Methods: We randomized eighty secondary schools to the intervention or control (usual curriculum). The schools were randomly selected from the central region of Uganda and included rural and urban, government, and privately-owned schools. One randomly selected class of year-2 students (ages 14–17) from each school participated in the trial. The intervention included a 2-day teacher training workshop, 10 lessons accessed online by teachers and delivered in classrooms during one school term (May–August 2022). The lessons addressed nine prioritized IHC concepts. We used two multiple-choice questions for each concept to evaluate the students’ ability to think critically about choices at both the end of the school term and again after 1 year. The primary outcome was the proportion of students with a passing score (≥ 9 of 18 questions answered correctly) on the “Critical Thinking about Health” (CTH) test.
Results: After 1-year, 71% (1749/2477) of the students in the intervention schools and 71% (1684/2376) of the students in the control schools completed the CTH test. In the intervention schools, 53% (934/1749) of students who completed the test had a passing score compared to 33% (557/1684) of students in the control schools (adjusted difference 22%, 95% CI 16–28).
Conclusions: The effect of the IHC secondary school intervention on students’ ability to assess health-related claims was largely sustained for at least 1 year.
Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry PACTR202204861458660. Registered on 4 April 2022.
Pioneering the use of embedded research translation methodology for potential increased income and livelihoods of smallholder farmers
(2025-02-26) Kajobe, Robert; Kabuga, Experito Muyanja; Dricile, Ratib; Wadri, Victor; Malingumu, Richard; Yumbya, Peninah
Whereas participatory research and development is widely acclaimed, an effective explicit procedure for ensuring end-user participation remains a holy grail. Our study proposes a simple participatory approach by operationalizing the Embedded Research Translation (ERT), developed by LASER PULSE, and demonstrates its application among smallholder vegetable farming communities in the West Nile sub-region of Uganda. The ERT involves integrating research findings directly into practical applications or solutions within specific contexts. It emphasizes collaboration between researchers and stakeholders, ensuring that findings are relevant, actionable, and effectively applied in real-world scenarios. It is built on four pillars: (i) partnerships between researchers and stakeholders (ii) engaging in a process of generating a relevant research (iii) product and (iv) dissemination of findings. Based on these pillars and their underlying principles, an implementation process is recommended, beginning with a start-up stage where researchers actively involve a diverse range of partners and stakeholders. This is followed by a design stage, characterized by participatory discussions, collaborative decision-making, and planning. These steps guide the implementation phase, during which partners remain actively engaged in research. Finally, the partnership collectively disseminates the findings to maximize impact and uptake. In our study, we adapted the method to Ugandan context using a five-stage procedure: In the first stage (understanding the context), researchers rapidly obtain as much information as possible about the relevant aspects of the target cropping system and the broad areas of intervention through literature review, and quantitative baseline surveys. This is followed by the second stage (co validation) in which the information is validated by stakeholders through FGDs and feedback meetings. At the third stage (co-selection of priority areas of interventions), researchers and stakeholders co-select target crops and specific constraints to be addressed. The fourth stage is co-development which involves co-ideation and co-testing of potential technologies. The final stage (dissemination) consists of scaling the co-developed technologies through the partnership and other dissemination channels.
Securing the internet of wetland things (IoWT) using machine and deep learning methods: a survey
(Mesopotamian journal of Computer Science, 2025-02-03) Ali, Guma; Wamusi, Robert; Mijwil, Maad M.; Sallam, Malik; Ayad, Jenan; Adamopoulos, Ioannis
Wetlands are essential ecosystems that provide ecological, hydrological, and economic benefits. However, human activities and climate change are degrading their health and jeopardizing their long-term sustainability. To address these challenges, the Internet of Wetland Things (IoWT) has emerged as an innovative framework integrating advanced sensing, data collection, and communication technologies to monitor and manage wetland ecosystems. Despite its potential, the IoWT faces substantial security and privacy risks, compromising its effectiveness and hindering adoption. This survey explores integrating machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques as solutions to address the security threats, vulnerabilities, and challenges inherent in IoWT ecosystems. The survey examines findings from 231 sources, encompassing peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, books, book chapters, and websites published between 2020 and 2025. It consolidates insights from prominent platforms such as the Springer Nature, Emerald Insight, ACM Digital Library, Frontiers, Wiley Online Library, SAGE, Taylor & Francis, IGI Global, Springer, ScienceDirect, MDPI, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and Google Scholar. Machine learning and DL methods have proven highly effective in detecting adversarial attacks, identifying anomalies, recognizing intrusions, and uncovering man-in-the-middle attacks, which are crucial in securing systems. These techniques also focus on detecting phishing, malware, and DoS/DDoS attacks and identifying insider and advanced persistent threats. They help detect botnet attacks and counteract jamming and spoofing efforts, ensuring comprehensive protection against a wide range of cyber threats. The survey examines case studies and the unique requirements and constraints of IoWT systems, such as limited energy resources, diverse sensor networks, and the need for real-time data processing. It also proposes future directions, such as developing lightweight, energy-efficient algorithms that operate effectively within the constrained environments typical of IoWT applications. Integrating ML and DL methods strengthens IoWT security while protecting and preserving wetlands through intelligent and resilient systems. These findings offer researchers and practitioners valuable insights into the current state of IoWT security, helping them drive and shape future advancements in the field.