MAKERERE UNIVERSITY THE 62nd CONGREGATION OF THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE CONFERMENT OF DEGREES AND Award of DIPLOMAS TO BE HELD AT THE FREEDOM SQUARE from Monday 16th January to Friday 20th January 2012 starting at 9.00am nd Monday, January 16, 2012 62 CONGREGATION The Principal, College of Conferment of the Degree of weevils which are the major Agricultural and Environmental Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture- sweetpotato pests in Africa. Through Sciences to present the following Crop Science) extensive field and laboratory for the studies, she demonstrated the effect Conferment of the Degree of MBANZIBWA Deusdedith Rugaiukamu of these compounds on Cylas weevil Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture) Mr. Mbanzibwa’s research focused on biology. Her pioneering research assessment of the “genetic variability links for the first time sweetpotato BEYENE Dereje Degefie and population structure of Cassava root chemical composition and brown streak disease (CBSD) resistance. This research funded Mr. Beyene’s research focused on associated viruses in East Africa”. by the McKnight Foundation in “characterization and expression CBSD continues to be a serious collaboration with NARO, has analysis of Isoamylase1 (Meisa1) starch cause of cassava yield losses in East provided basis on which breeding gene in cassava and its wild relatives”. Africa. The causal agent of CBSD was for weevil resistant sweetpotato In this study a cDNA clone of a previously thought to be Cassava varieties is to be done. Manihot esculenta Isoamylase1 gene, brown streak virus (CBSV) alone. a member of starch-debranching This study has clearly demonstrated enzyme family in cassava storage Conferment of the Degree of that there are two distinct CBSD- Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture) root was characterized. The gene associated viruses, namely CBSV and was observed to exist in two copies Uganda CDSV (UCBSV) following full TUMWEGAMIRE Silver in the cassava genome. The gene genome sequencing of each of the expression level varies according viruses. The two viruses are spread Conferment of the Degree of to developmental stages of tissues all over in East Africa but there is Doctor of Philosophy (Agricultural (leave, petiole, stem, fibrous roots predominance of CBSV in coastal Extension Education) and storage roots) and storage roots. and lowland areas while UCBSV is The gene is dominantly expressed in predominant around Lake Victoria. Okiror John James fibrous root other than other parts of The UCBSV isolates were less Mr. Okiror’s research focused on the plant. Meisa1 expression reaches virulent on Benthamina tabacum as the Primary School Agriculture the peak during the early stages of compared to the isolates of CBSV. The (PSA) curriculum since primary storage root thickening after which virulence of these viruses observed in schooling is the terminal level of it declines to undetectable levels high altitude areas is most likely due education for majority of pupils. as the storage root thickens. The to availability of susceptible cassava Vocational agricultural education in overall expression pattern study genotypes introduced through Uganda lacks a supervised practical showed that Meisa1 is involved in breeding programmes. Atypical of component for transfer of learning. regulation of granule initiation and the family Potyviridae, CBSV and The study compared performance root differentiation into storage UCBSV genomes contained a HAM1- of pupils with school-based gardens roots. The SNPs analysis of Meisa1 like protein located between the and home gardens. Findings showed and G3pdh another gene involved replicase and coat protein at the Supervised Agricultural Experience in sugar metabolism show greater C-proximal region. The finding of the Projects (SAEPs) improve transfer of genetic diversity in cultivated than HAM1h in the genomes of CBSV and learning and that pupils effectively wild germplasm. The abundance UCBSV was novel and unexpected passed gardening information to of Meisa1 in fibrous root and early that could play a role in colonization parents despite English language stage of fibrous roots differentiation of plants in the family Euphorbiacea constraints, timidity and parents to storage roots might be associated by viruses. The knowledge on to discounting school messages. with storage root enlargement. distribution and nature of infection The study showed that schools can Meisa1 was observed as more diverse is expected to be of practical contribute to farming at village in cultivated cassava than that in significance to cassava breeders in level through SAEPs and outreach subsp. flabellifolia whereas G3pdh was the region as it will make it possible programs targeting parents. It more diverse in wild than cultivated. to monitor varieties that are resistant contributes to the debate on This may indicate the importance of to either or both viruses. vocational agriculture as a solution Isoamylase1 in starch quality traits in to youth unemployment than a cassava, a trait which is likely to have Conferment of the Degree of dead end competing with priorities been the target for artificial selection of basic Education for All. by farmers and breeders, in addition Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture) to natural selection. Key findings of his MUYINZA Harriet studies are envisaged to be resourceful in exploitation of cassava’s full potential Ms. Muyinza identified the phenolic for various food and non-food starch root compounds responsible for applications. conferring resistance to Cylas puncticollis and Cylas brunneus 1 nd 62 CONGREGATION Monday, January 16, 2012 Conferment of the Degree problem through channel coding. The Principal, College of Natural of Doctor of Philosophy The fundamental characteristic of Sciences to present the following (Environment and Natural wireless communications is that the for the Resources) communication path or channel is Conferment of the Degree time-varying due to mobility of the of Doctor of Philosophy KISAKYE John Mbago Joseph user or of objects in the propagation (Biochemistry,) NALWANGA Dianah (Ms) path, and due to multipath signal fading, interference, and noise BalyeidHUSA Apollo Simon Peter Conferment of the Degree of effects which degrade the received Mr. Balyeidhusa’s research was in the Doctor of Philosophy (Food signal. The solution to the problem is field of African Trypanosomiasis. The Science and Technology) to ensure that the intended message research investigated the presence is obtainable from whatever is of human infective trypanosomes TUMUHIMBISE Gaston Ampek actually received, which is often a (Trypanosoma brucei gambiense) Mr. Tumuhimbise’s research focused corrupted version. Channel coding, in domestic animals in northwest on the potential of orange fleshed adds extra data bits to information Uganda that cause Gambian type sweetpotatoes (OFSP) as a source bits to make the transmission of data of sleeping sickness. No domestic of provitamin A carotenoids more robust to disturbances present animal examined in northwest which are useful in alleviating on the transmission channel. Eng. Uganda was detected to have human vitamin deficiency. The study Kaluuba was able to establish the infective trypanosomes. Probably investigated changes in b-carotene critical design parameters for robust domestic animals do not pose a bioaccessibility associated with codes and how to optimize these potential risk to humans as reservoirs processing and storage of OFSP and for best results, through simulation of T. b. gambiense parasites. However, its relationship with the changes of their mathematical models control interventions should still in tissue microstructure. In vitro using MATLAB. Prof. Livingstone consider treating domestic animals, models and in vivo models were Luboobi and Associate Prof. Tabani- since in West Africa, they have used to investigate the amount Wani Gyavira supervised this work. been implicated as reservoirs of of b-carotene released from the Makerere University – CARNEGIE T.b.gambiense. Also, the study sweetpotato matrix and the amount Project provided financial support. revealed that tsetse flies feed on both finally absorbed in the body. The domestic and wild animals. Tsetse results showed that processing alters The Principal, College Health control interventions should involve OFSP microstructure and improves Sciences to present the following domestic animals. The research was b-carotene bioaccessibility. The for the supervised by Prof. John Enyaru and findings further show that that Conferment of the Degree of Assoc Prof. Fred Kironde. The study consumption of OFSP is effective in Doctor of Philosophy (Public received funding from Makerere combating vitamin A deficiency. The Health) University Directorate of Research & support of the supervisors; Prof J. Graduate Training, DAAD, and WHO/ Muyonga and Dr. Agnes Namutabi BAKEERA Solome Kiribakka (Ms) TDR. of Makerere University and Prof. LUBEGA Muhammed Sherry Tanumihardjo of University Conferment of the Degree of Wisconsin, Madson, USA is The Principal, College Health of Doctor of Philosophy hereby acknowledged. Financial Sciences to present the following (Mathematics) support from NORAD and Carnegie for the Corporation of New York enabled Conferment of the Degree of NANNYONGA Betty (Ms) this study. Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine) The Principal, College of The Principal, College of BANGIRANA Paul (Psychiatry) Veterinary Medicine, Animal Engineering, Design, Art and BEYEZA Keshesya Jolly (Ms) (Obs/ Resources and Biosecurity to Technology to present the Gyn) present