Sustainable rangeland management requires understanding the nature of human-ecosystem interactions and local communities’ perspectives regarding evolving changes. This study integrated perceptions from the local community and remote sensing to characterize the extent and drivers of land use and land cover (LULC) changes in the rangelands of Nakasongola district in Central Uganda. The aim of the study was to determine the perceived drivers of land use and land cover change in of Nakasongola district in the Central Uganda district to support decision making for present and future rangeland management. Satellite imagery for 1985, 1995, 2005, 2015 and 2021 were obtained from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and analyzed to determine the LULC dynamics. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to obtain perceived drivers of LULC. Results showed that by 1985 grassland covered 31.7%, wetlands 26.4%, woodland 11.5% and farmland 7.2% of the total land area. However, by 2021, farmland covered 35.8% of the total land area, wetland 21.6% and had reduced to grassland 18.5 percent. Future LULC projections using a Markov chain model showed that farmland cover will increase by 13.85% while grassland cover will further decline by 9.89% in 2040. Wood fuel extraction, subsistence farming, population growth and overgrazing were perceived as key drivers of LULC change. Both remote sensing techniques and local perceptions were in agreement with the identification of patterns and perceived drivers revealing the inherent value of tacit knowledge resident within the community. This knowledge in addition to remotely sensed information can thus be tapped by the decision leaders to better guide interventions aimed at securing better rangeland health and management.

Over 70% of Uganda is infested by the tsetse fly, which has negative effects on human and livestock health. From colonial to post-independent Uganda, the Government of Uganda has worked to eradicate the tsetse menace. Despite these efforts, recent veterinary reports from the Karamoja sub-region have indicated widespread tsetse invasion. This study investigated the potential impact of tsetse invasion on the socioecological resilience of pastoral communities in the Karamoja sub-region. Results indicated that tsetse invasion is spreading from north to south of Karamoja. The tsetse transmission route emerging from southern Karamoja is perceived to be a continuation of the tsetse belt from West Pokot, Kenya. Cases of livestock deaths, livestock abortions, decreased milk yields, restricted access to prime grazing lands, heightened human-wildlife conflicts and disruption on crop cultivation have been reported. A computed socioecological resilience index in the study area was positive but low. Owing to the transboundary characteristics of tsetse invasions and sources and the associated documented effects, an urgent, strategic and system-wide intervention should be undertaken to control the tsetse invasion in this sub-region.

Desert locust invasions are still a danger to the well-being of natural and man-made ecosystems in the tropics. This study examined desert locust invasion duration, survival probability, and control as well as their effects on household food item consumption in the drylands of Uganda. Primary socioeconomic data were collected using various methods (household survey, focus group discussion, and key informant interviews) in May/June 2020 to document the perceptions of households regarding locusts. Our findings reveal that the most significant drivers of desert locust invasions were rainfall, surface temperature, strong winds, soil moisture, soil type, and vegetation type (p ≤ 0.05). The locusts lasted between 3 and 4 weeks. The survival probability of locusts beyond 1 week was 90%. There were significant differences in the day’s food items consumed before and after the locust invasion, except for ground nuts and cashew nuts (p ≤ 0.05). The number of days per month the food items were consumed decreased after the locust invasion. The most effective locust control measure undertaken was the use of ground and aerial pesticide spraying. The major sources of desert locust control information were radio and television. This information is a prerequisite in desert locust invasion preparedness, response, and recovery but can also strengthen sustainable green economy efforts, especially in fragile semi-arid ecosystems.

Phenological properties are critical in understanding global environmental change patterns. This study analyzed phenological dynamics in a savannah dominated semi-arid environment of Uganda. We used moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer normalized difference vegetation index (MODIS NDVI) imagery. TIMESAT program was used to analyse the imagery to determine key phenological metrics; onset of greenness (OGT), onset of greenness value, end of greenness time (EGT), end of greenness value, maximum NDVI, time of maximum NDVI, duration of greenup (DOG) and range of normalized difference vegetation index (RNDVI). Results showed that thicket and shrubs had the earliest OGT on day 85 ± 14, EGT on day 244 ± 32 and a DOG of 158 ± 25 days. Woodland had the highest NDVI value for maximum NDVI, OGT, EGT, and RNDVI. In the bushland, OGT occurs on average around day 90 ± 11, EGT on day 255 ± 33 with a DOG of 163 ± 36 days. The grassland showed that OGT occurs on day 96 ± 13, EGT on day 252 ± 36 with a total DOG of 156 ± 33 days. Early photosynthesis activity was observed in central to eastern Karamoja in the districts of Moroto and Kotido. There was a positive relationship between rainfall and NDVI across all vegetation cover types as well as between phenological parameters and season dynamics. Vegetation senescence in the sub-region occurs around August to mid-September (day 244–253). The varied phenophases observed in the sub-region reveal an inherent landscape heterogeneity that is beneficial to extensive pastoral livestock production. Continuous monitoring of savannah phenological patterns in the sub-region is required to decipher landscape ecosystem processes and functioning.

The degradation of soil, vegetation and socio-economic transformations are a huge threat to Africa’s land production. This study aimed to (i) assess the soil and land productivity of standing biomass and (ii) determine the effect of rainfall on the standing biomass in Eastern Africa. Soil productivity was determined using the Soil Productivity Index (SPI) and a simplified model was developed to estimate the Net Primary Productivity (NPP). The SPI indicators used included soil-organic matter, texture, soil moisture, base-saturation, pH, cation-exchange-capacity, soil-depth and drainage. The inputs of the simplified model are: MODIS Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), soil erosion, soil nutrient content and input, rainfall, land-use/cover and agro-ecological zones. The findings reveal that the countries with the most productive soils are Mauritius, Rwanda and South Sudan—while, for standing biomass, the countries with the highest spatial extent are Mauritius (97%), Rwanda (96%), Uganda (95%), South Sudan (89%), Ethiopia (47%) and Kenya (36%). Standing biomass is dominant in biomes such as natural forests, woodlands, croplands, grasslands, wetlands and tree-plantations. High land productivity was attributed to soil quality and management, land policy reforms, favourable climatic conditions and sustainable land husbandry activities. Rainfall was significantly correlated with standing biomass in most of the studied countries (p < 0.05) except Djibouti and Rwanda. Therefore, monitoring soil health, use and land reforms are key to sustaining vegetative biomass.

Background : Malaria remains a major tropical vector-borne disease of immense public health concern owing to its debilitating effects in sub-Saharan Africa. In the recent past, the Afromontane ecotones in Eastern Africa have been reported to experience dramatic cases of malaria. However, its epidemiology remains widely unexplored in these regions. Methods: This study analysed malaria patterns in the Afromontane ecotone of Mount Elgon, Uganda. Times series data of malaria cases from five local health centers was utilised to determine malaria incidences within attitudinally stratified ecotones. Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation regression was utilised to determine the spatio-temporal patterns of malaria. Findings: On average 66.3±69.2 suffered from malaria on a monthly basis. This was more pronounced in the months of May-August 89.3±87.6 compared to the months of November-February 39.7±33.2. Individuals of the age groups 0- 28 days and 29 days-4 years were more affected by malaria with 98.9±145 and 86.1±141 respectively compared to individuals of the age groups 5-59, 60 and above with malaria incidence of 47.7±27.2 and 9.9±4.2 respectively. Malaria incidences were more concentrated in the lower altitude 586.5±749.8 compared to mid and high altitude areas; 345.1±320.5 and 338.2±350.6 respectively. Spatial patterns reveal that malaria incidences have relatively increased in the high altitude ecotones from low in 2012 to moderately high incidence in 2017 but with the lower altitude remaining with a higher incidences 586.5±749.8. In addition, malaria incidence varied with gender groups with males having incidences of 66.5±89.4 (0-28 days), 160.1±170.6 (29 days-4 years), 55.1±30.3 (5-59 years) and 9.3±3.7 (60 years and above) while males had 131.2±180.7 (0-28 days), 86.1±141 (29 days-4 years), 40.3±21.7 (5-59 years) and 10.5±4.6 (60 years and above). Interpretation: In this regard, malaria control interventions ought to strategically respond to prepare the inhabitants to the high altitude ecotones to cope and adapt with malaria whilst supporting the lower altitude ecotones withstand the malaria burden. Funding Statement: This study was funded privately by the corresponding author (Siya Aggrey). Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (Reference number SBLS.SA.2018).