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Universal Primary Education in East Africa: Globalisation and Local Enactment
(The Oxford Handbook of Education in Africa, 2026-07-23) Ogwang, Tom Henry; Okumu, John Bismarck; Opio, George; Oriange, George
Universal Primary Education (UPE) was launched in Uganda in 1997, Tanzania in 2001, and Kenya in 2003, marking their actualisation of Education for All’s (EfA) globalisation of primary education. This chapter
investigates EfA’s reform of UPE in partnership with the three East African countries, premised on the following question: What underlined EfA’s globalisation of UPE in East Africa? What entailed UPE’s local enactment, and why did the reforms succeed or fail? It combines an in-depth literature review, secondary document analysis, and a case study of two UPE schools in Uganda. The ndings reveal that in globalising
UPE, EfA advocated four policy technologies: top-down performance management, competition and contestability, choice and voice, and capability and capacity to standardise primary education. In alignment with EfA, the East African countries enacted performativity, liberalisation, universalisation, and reprofessionalisation of teachers. Owing to contextual imperatives, they prudently recontextualised the policy technologies. Uganda chose gradual universalisation with four children per household, Kenya opted for deconcentration instead of decentralisation, while Tanzania opted for gradual liberalisation leading to hybridity. Contrary to their intended goals, the reforms have culminated mainly in rst-order changes, such as high gross rather than net enrolment. This study argues that reform implementers should respond to contextual conditions to offset their confounding effects.
A qualitative exploration of fermented milk processing traditionally practiced by the pokot ethnic group of Karamoja in Uganda
(Elsevier, 2026-07-10) Owiny, Emmanuel; Oyet, Sunday Mark; Chemutai, Doreen; Kitambo, Enos; Muggaga, Christopher; Okello, Uma-Ipolto
Traditional food processing methods have the potential to combat malnutrition while providing sustainable livelihoods in communities such as the Karamojong devasted by a high burden of malnutrition and associated health consequences. The purpose of the current study was to document the traditional milk processing among the Pokot community in Karamoja subregion of Uganda, specifically focusing on the sour milk.
A qualitative study involving five key informants and 46 Focus Group Discussion (FGD) participants was employed. We found that traditional knowledge of fermenting milk is passed by the older women to younger generations while in their childhood. We also observed that the Pokot ethnic community used burnt plant parts for treating fermentation vessels. Calabash or gourds were the most common fermentation vessels though some households used plastic jerricans as fermentation vessels.
A traditionally fermented milk locally known as lolon, follows seven key steps: cleaning of the gourds, milking, sieving, boiling, defatting, fermentation, and draining. Our study demonstrates that milk processing by traditional methods by the Pokot ethnic community is culturally entrenched, initiated when the women are at a young age. Cultural identity associated with the milk processing among the Pokot reinforces food systems, therefore, we recommend the need for further empirical research beyond the current exploration such as innovations for improving and optimizing the process steps to improve food security and nutrition among the Pokot community in Karamoja subregion.
Dietary quality, anaemia prevalence and their associated factors among rural school- going adolescents in Acholi sub -region of Uganda
(Springer Nature, 2024-12-28) Adokorach, Gloria; Oyet, Sunday Mark; Obai, Gerald; Muggaga, Christopher
Background
Globally, iron deficiency anaemia is a widespread public health problem affecting vulnerable populations including adolescents. However, over the years, the Uganda Demographic Health Surveys mostly report the status of anaemia for women of reproductive age (15–49 years) and children up to 5 years, leaving out the focus on adolescents. Moreover, high prevalence of anaemia among children below five years could suggest that anaemia still persists at adolescence. Therefore, the study aimed at determining dietary quality, prevalence of anaemia and their associated factors among school-going adolescents.
Methods
A cross-sectional study involving 341 adolescent boys and girls aged 10–19 years was carried out in two rural schools in Gulu district. Prevalence of anaemia was determined by obtaining blood specimens from a finger prick into a microcuvette and analysed for haemoglobin (Hb) level using Haemoglobin analyser, whereas dietary quality was assessed using the Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS). Socio-economic and demographic data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire.
Results
The overall prevalence of anaemia was 16.0% (Girls:18.1%; Boys:13.0%), while the mean Hb level was 13.2 ± 1.4 g/dl (Girls 13.0 ± 1.3 g/dl; Boys 13.5 ± 1.6 g/dl). The mean number of food groups consumed among the adolescents was 3.5 ± 2.1 for girls and 3.0 ± 1.8 for boys (p˃0.05). Animal source foods, fruits and vitamin A-rich vegetables, other fruits and vegetables were consumed by adolescent girls more than the boys. Similarly, a higher proportion of adolescent girls than boys consumed iron-rich foods: fish and meat, organ meat and dark green leafy vegetables. Further, all the socio-demographic factors in the study did not predict dietary diversity (p ˃ 0.05). On the other hand, education attainment by parent/guardian and nature of menstruation predicted the prevalence of anaemia amongst adolescents (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The prevalence of anaemia was high among adolescents. Coupled with this, there, was low dietary diversity among the adolescents. The level of education of the parent/guardian and nature of the menstrual discharge were significant predictors of anaemia amongst girls. From this study, we recommend interventions by both health and agricultural-related practitioners to strengthen activities in rural schools such as health and nutrition education to create awareness about dietary diversity and promotion of agricultural practices such as school vegetable gardens, orchards poultry production and rearing of small ruminants to support consumption of diverse foods in schools with the view of reducing the burden from iron deficiency anaemia.
Influence of Sociocultural Practices on Food and Nutrition Security in Karamoja Subregion of Uganda
(Tylor & Francis, 2017-10-05) Muggaga, C.; Ongeng, D.; Mugonola, B.; Okello-Uma, I.; Kaaya, N. A.; Taylor, D.
The study determined the influence of sociocultural practices on food and nutrition security of children and women in Karamoja subregion, located in northeastern Uganda. Sixteen focus group discussions were conducted among 133 participants. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings indicate that cultural norms, myths, and taboos restrict consumption of animal-sourced foods and some green vegetables by women. Sociocultural practices promoted prelacteal feeding, affecting the implementation of World Health Organization’s recommendations for exclusive breast feeding. In conclusion, sociocultural practices influence food and nutrition security, exposing women and children to the risk of malnutrition and associated consequences.
FACTORS INFLUENCING REFERRAL RATE AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING POST ABORTION CARE AT ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL-LACOR AND GULU REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL, NORTHERN UGANDA
(Gulu University, 2025-01) Opee Jimmy
Background: Abortion-related deaths account for over 75% of all maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Most abortion-related deaths and complications are preventable by appropriate post-abortion care (PAC) services. Referral is a critical aspect in the chain of management of women experiencing abortion. Objective: To assess the factors influencing referral rate among women attending post-abortion care at St. Mary’s Hospital-Lacor and Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu, Uganda.
Methods: An embedded mixed-methods study was conducted at St. Mary’s Hospital-Lacor and Gulu Regional Referral Hospital from July to December 2023. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently using structured questionnaires, and one-on-one interviews were conducted with purposefully selected participants, respectively. Factors influencing referral were assessed quantitatively using logistic regression and qualitatively using thematic analysis and reported using the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation to Behavior (COM-B) framework.
Results: Quantitatively, 152 participants with a median age of 26 (interquartile range: 21-32) years were enrolled. Overall, 46 (30.3%) participants were referral cases. The proportion of referred cases were about 15.5-fold higher among women from rural residences compared to those from urban areas (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 15.5; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.44—53.83, p<0.001), compared to women between 20 and 34 years, those younger than 20 years old (aOR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.02—7.56, p=0.046). Qualitatively, four themes emerged as drivers to referral: 1) lack of expertise of healthcare professionals, 2) low capacity at low-level healthcare facilities, 3) financial constraints, and 4) transport challenges.
Conclusions: Approximately one-third of women attending post-abortion care were referred, with significantly higher rates among those from rural areas. There is a pressing need to enhance post-abortion care services at low-level healthcare facilities, especially in rural settings and among women under 20 years.