Ankole Longhorn (ALH), Nganda (NGA) and Small East African Shorthorn Zebu (SEAZ) are indigenous Ugandan cattle and poorly characterized. The ancestry of ALH is traced to lateral horned Zebu and indigenous African long horned taurine. The ALH and SEAZ are parent breeds of NGA. Therefore, the current study aimed at phenotypic characterization of Nganda (NGA) and Teso Zebu (TSZ) in Uganda. Data were collected on 41 variables including geographic location, breed and morphometric measurements. A sample of 129 NGA from central and 63 TSZ from eastern Uganda were studied. Descriptive and inferential statistics were generated. Generally, the NGA was a chest-humped breed akin to its parent breeds. The breed had a solid brown coat and extremities (e.g., hooves) compared to the wide color variation tending to solid black in the TSZ. The NGA had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean values for all linear body measurements except height at withers. However, all linear measurements except ear length were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the interaction between breed and sex. The rump profile showed distinct breed differences. Our results demonstrate superiority of NGA over the TSZ in terms of linear traits. These results are pertinent in planning the sustainable utilization of these breeds.

The Dorper breed developed in South Africa is used either as a pure breed or crossbred with existing indigenous breeds by many countries across the African continent to improve sheep production. This article presents documented information on the adoption, use, and performance of Dorper sheep across the continent of Africa and opportunities for their more sustainable production under the changing climatic conditions in Africa. Apart from the well-documented information on the Dorper sheep in South Africa, published information on the performance of the sheep is mainly from Eastern Africa. Most countries initially retained purebred Dorpers in nationally owned institutions for multiplication and crossbreeding trials with different indigenous breeds prior to distributing the crossbreds to diverse livestock keepers. The offspring produced through crossbreeding programs with the Dorper have better growth rates than indigenous breeds in the different countries; however, the performance of Dorper sheep in South Africa has not been achieved in any of the other countries. Genomic studies including Dorper sheep have identified regions of interest for resistance to brucellosis and Mycoplasma ovipneumonia that imply adaptability to challenging environments within Dorper sheep. Unfortunately, limitations in systems for guided breeding and monitoring of sheep productivity in Africa have resulted in haphazard crossbreeding of the Dorper. Targeted efforts are required across the different countries to develop breeding programs for improving locally adapted Dorper sheep populations and their crosses with indigenous breeds. New science and technologies need to be innovatively packaged and used to identify and propagate more productive and resilient Dorper and Dorper-based breed-types for the increasingly challenging tropical African range environments.

This study aimed to examine the genetic relationship and structure of the local chicken genotypes in Uganda to serve as an essential component for improvement and conservation strategies. A set of 46 mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences among 7 chicken strain populations across Uganda was evaluated. The results revealed 5 polymorphic sites defining 7 haplotypes with the dominant (80%) haplotype, UGA01, shared among the populations. Maximum genetic variation was observed among frizzle and rose comb strains which had 2 haplotypes each, followed by the normal feathered which showed the highest (5) haplotypes and crested chickens with 3 haplotypes, however, naked neck, ptilopody, polydactylous chickens were the least diverse with highly conserved sequences. Overall haplotype (0.353±0.090) and nucleotide diversities (0.0007±0.0021) revealed a high sequence conversation among the strains, corresponding to a low genetic variation with no genetic structure detected. However, the highest genetic distance observed was between the naked neck / rose comb (0.300) and naked neck/ frizzle (0.300) chickens. A close phylogenetic relationship was observed among the strains suggesting a single founder population adapting to prevailing keeping conditions and high gene flows among the strains. All observed haplotypes were exclusively haplogroup E1 ancestry believed to have its roots in the Indian subcontinent.

The study sought to determine what commonalities exist among the Uganda service-learning activities that influenced the academic development of alumni. A Principal Components Analysis generated three aspects including 1) community engagement and reciprocity, 2) cognitive development, and 3) socialization.