School of Built Environment (SBE) Collections
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ItemAssesing the performance of community based management in the operation and maintenance of boreholes: a case study of Moyo district.(Makerere University, 2024-08-24)The core objective of this paper is to examine the performance of community based management in the operation and maintenance of boreholes in Moyo district. The above objective was achieved through the following comprehensive performance Assessment system encompassing two levels as follows: Level 1 – Functionality of the existing water points. Level 2 – Operation and Management of Water points focusing on the roles and responsibilities of the Water User Committees. This include mainly; monthly contribution fee, regular meetings, representations and women in key positions, the surrounding environment. The level of management as an indicator is used to communicate the assessment results. There are several unknowns, such as responsibility, commitment, good-will, how the intervention of water point affects relationships within a “community”, and the effect of key individuals on management.
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ItemThe feasibility of taxing urban vacant land as a way to increase on revenue for infrastructure development in urban areas(Makerere University, 2025)The research investigated the feasibility of introducing an urban vacant land tax in urban areas in Uganda specifically focusing on Kyanja Parish, Nakawa Division to raise revenue for local urban authorities and support infrastructure development. Utilising a mixed research design and GIS tools including high-resolution satellite imagery from Google Earth Pro, the study identified and digitized vacant plots within a 100-meter buffer around Kyanja Parish. The analysis revealed approximately 794.89 acres of vacant land across 491 independent urban voids with a distribution favouring the outskirts of the division. Small-scale agricultural voids were the most dominant comprising 442.72 acres (≈55.7%) while open shrub and medium-scale residential categories accounted for about 16.3% each. Residential uses collectively represented 25.0% of the total land, with educational and bare-ground uses uses being minimal. The market value of the vacant land was assessed using a value zone system with Kyanja Parish graded as a valuation zone at a flat rate of UGX 1.5 billion per acre as obtained from the valuers from the Office of the Chief Government Valuer. This valuation allowed for the calculation of total tax potential drawing comparisons to Tunisia’s unbuilt land tax which is set at 0.3% of market value. A study by Yuan, Connoll, & Bell (2009) explains how Tunisia implements this tax and the revenue obtained from it. Projections indicated that the urban vacant land tax could generate approximately UGX 2.2 billion from Kyanja Parish alone representing about 4% of total property rate collection for the financial year 2023/24 and 1.9% of total revenue collection. The findings suggest that while the vacant land tax may contribute modestly to overall property tax receipts, its implementation could promote efficient dland use reduce and reduce speculative holding. The research emphasizes the need for clear legislative frameworks, improved administrative capacities and regular updates of urban cadastres through remoted sensing.
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ItemInvestigating the Impacts of Future Climate and Land use/Land cover Change on River Discharge in the Manafwa River Basin(Makerere University, 2026-03)Land use/land cover (LULC) and climate are the most crucial drivers that shape the hydrological cycle, influencing infiltration, evapotranspiration, runoff generation, and groundwater recharge. While previous studies have provided valuable literature about the impacts of these drivers on river discharge, most assessments remain limited to historical and present conditions, leaving the future impacts of climate and LULC underexplored. Consequently, the lack of understanding of future river discharge behaviour hinders informed decision-making in water resource management and disaster preparedness. Guided by the main objective of investigating the impacts of future climate and land use/land cover on river discharge, this study applied the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which integrates historical analysis and future scenario assessment. Specifically, the study sought to determine LULC change in the Manafwa River Basin from 2000 to 2040 and to examine how projected climate and LULC conditions influence river discharge under different future scenarios. Historical LULC maps for 2000, 2010, and 2020 were generated using Random Forest classifier and projected to 2030 and 2040 using TerrSet’s Land Change Modeler based on historical LULC maps and drivers of change. Climate data was obtained from the NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 dataset and three Global Circulation Models (GCMs) were used to create an ensemble of three models, from which past and future climate were obtained. The SWAT model was then parameterized/calibrated and validated with observed stream flow data. Thereafter, scenario simulations were carried out using the separation method. Results indicate that LULC changes alone substantially modify basin hydrology, with mean discharge projected to increase by 4.49% (from 12.70 m³/s to 13.275 m³/s) between 2000 and 2040, alongside rising peak flows and reduced minimum flows due to vegetation loss and agricultural expansion. However, climate change scenarios greatly amplify hydrological extremes, with mean discharge projected to 14.01 m³/s (10.31%) by 2030 and 14.45 m³/s (13.78%) by 2040 under high emission pathways SSP2 and SSP5 respectively, peak flows were exceeding 20 m³/s, and minimum flows increasing to 6.507 m³/s. These findings indicate that, while climate change emerges as the dominant driver of future river discharge variability, LULC
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ItemAssessing the impact of biomass on gaseous emissions from traditional brick kilns(Makerere University, 2025)The traditional brick making process remains essential to Uganda's construction sector and primarily depends on the burning of biomass fuels, such as hardwood in clamp kilns, which are temporary and unregulated. However, the environmental implications of this process, particularly pollutant emissions during firing, remain underexplored. This study, therefore, addresses this gap by assessing the impact of biomass on gaseous emissions from traditional brick kilns in the Ugandan construction sector. The study employed a cross-sectional design that involved fieldbased emission measurement to obtain CO2, CO, NO and NOx; and laboratory tests to obtain the calorific value and moisture content of hardwood samples. Emissions were measured for approximately 2 hours per kiln using a flue gas analyzer across 63 traditional kilns in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA). The results demonstrate that hardwood biomass, mainly species like eucalyptus and mugavu, is dominating owing to its availability and energy content. Nonetheless, poor combustion technology, together with the increasing moisture content of certain biomass varieties, result in increased emissions. Fuel moisture content varied from 11-18%, with calorific values ranging from 11-27 MJ/Kg. Fuel quantities used were between 2.3 to 12.65 tonnes. Higher moisture content was negatively associated with calorific value and fuel quantity used, suggesting potential precombustion preparation issues impacting kiln efficiency and emissions. Emissions analysis revealed significant CO (273-3,899 ppm) and CO2 (4,716-91,786 ppm) concentrations, indicative of inefficient combustion. NOx was negligible due to low nitrogen in the fuel. Fuel-based emission factors were 18.81 ± 9.84 g/kg for CO and 500.82 ± 313.85 g/kg for CO2. Moisture content and calorific value significantly influenced CO emissions, while only calorific value impacted CO2. This research addresses a critical knowledge deficiency in Uganda's emissions inventory and advocates for the advancement of cleaner biomass alternatives and enhanced kiln designs. The findings serve as a significant reference for environmental regulators, architects, and quantity surveyors aiming to integrate sustainability indicators into building procurement and materials planning.
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ItemTechnical project report for the construction of the new office block in Pallisa DLG, Pallisa District.(Makerere University, 2025)Effective administration is one of the main responsibilities of the Government of Uganda. One of the ways to achieve this is through the establishment of local administrative units in districts which act as local governments. For this to happen, it requires the construction and operation of sustainable infrastructure such as administrative buildings at local government headquarters which are a base and center for decentralized government of districts and municipalities and provides space for civil servants to execute their duties diligently. These administrative centres are points of service delivery and act as a reference of address for any government program to be extended to the community. The Government of Uganda is committed to a physical infrastructure development program as per the National Development Plan II1 (2020/21-2024/25) and Uganda Vision 2040. Pallisa DLG, in the financial year 2018/2019 budgeted and allocated funds from its budgetary allocations from the sector development grant of DDEG, towards the construction of a new administrative block at her headquarters in an effort to provide a conducive working office and administrative space for the civil servants employed at the district. The driving motivation for the conception of this project was the issue of modernization since it is a requirement for local governments to have proper and standard administrative office buildings which are home to the district leadership, technical staff and other personnel who are responsible with extending government services to the citizens of the country, especially the residents of the locality. The existing staff accommodation/offices had served their design life and had started developing major defaults which paused a danger to the occupants. Execution work for the project implementation was planned in phases considering the inability to secure the entire project cost at once, and the scope of works which was expected to span over a period of 5 - 6 financial years.