Introduction Paper currency notes, exchangeable fomite, that is continuously contaminated because of the poor handling and storage practices. Objective: the general objective of the study was to determine the bacterial contamination of paper currency notes possessed by food vendors around Mulago National Referral Hospital Complex. Methods A total of sixty paper notes of six denominations (1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000) were collected from different food vendors. Each note was preserved in a sterile falcon tube and transported to the microbiology lab for bacteriological examination. Data from questionnaires was analyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM SPSS Statistics). Results All sampled paper notes had bacterial contamination. The bacterial counts ranged from 4×10 2 cfu/ml to 6.8×10 9 cfu/ml, with the Shs.1000 notes having the highest average total bacterial load of 2.17×10 9 cfu/ml and highest average total coli form counts of 21.5×10 2 cfu/ml. The fifty thousand shillings note had no coliform detected. Of the analysed 60 samples, 27(45%) samples contained Staphylococcus aureus . None of the sampled paper notes had Escherichia coli . Conclusion The study revealed that most of Ugandan paper notes are contaminated with bacteria including potential pathogens that cause disease in healthy individuals and opportunistic pathogens that may cause disease in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. This study showed that the most contaminated note denominations were those of low denomination (Shs.1000 and Shs.2000) which had the highest bacterial count. The study revealed the paper currency notes were stored in different places where the commonest was the drawer and kept with different items, the commonest being pens. Hence, great care must be taken while handling money during the preparation and handling of food to avoid cross contamination.

Background HIV self-testing (HIVST) is globally accepted as an important complement to existing HIV Counseling and Testing approaches. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and factors associated with the utilization of HIV self-testing among university students of South western Uganda. Methods An online cross sectional study design that used the quantitative approach was conducted purposively among 356 university students of Kampala International University (KIU) and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in South western Uganda between 12th August 2020 and 31st August 2020. Mapping different course leaders in launching the Google form link that contained the structured questionnaires in their respective formal class WhatsApp groups for enrolling potential participants. Descriptive analysis of numeric data was summarized in means with standard deviations and presented using tables. Descriptive analysis of categorical data was summarized in frequencies, proportions and presented using tables. Association between independent and dependent variables was assessed using Chi square test (X2) for bivariate analysis in SPSS IBM version 20. Results Of the 356 participants, the study had 57.3% of the participants from KIU and 42.7% were from MUST. The study found that university students who had ever self-tested were 43.2 Socio demographic variables associated with utilization of HIV self-testing were the student’s year of study (p = 0.007), having a sexual partner (p = 0.012), and place of residence (p = 0.000). Conclusions The study demonstrates low levels of utilization of HIV self-testing among University students in association with a number of factors that include how they are aware towards HIV self-testing, places of their residence, having a sexual partner. Key words: HIV, self-testing, University, students, factors associated

Background:  Non-communicable diseases (NCDS) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Adolescents are involved in lifestyle behaviors that foster NCDs development later on in the future because of their lack of knowledge about NCDs risk factors. However, there is a paucity of studies that have dealt with knowledge and practices of adolescents about NCDs risk factors. This study therefore aimed at assessing the knowledge and practices of adolescents about NCDs risk factors at Kabwohe HCIV. Methods:  A health center-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 adolescents receiving health-related care services at Kabwohe health center IV. Information was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used in the statistical interpretation. Results:  The overall knowledge of adolescents about NCDs risk factors was 60%. Concerning diet that has fruits, the majority 60(62.4%) took fruits at least once, twice or thrice in a week while 35(37.6%) took fruits more frequently as in four, five times or days as they are indicated in the table above. About vegetable intake,57(60%) percent took a diet with vegetables once, twice, or thrice in a week compared to the 38(40%) that took a diet with vegetables many times a week.44(35.8%) took sugary foods more often i.e. many times in a week compared to the 61(64.3%) that took them less often. The following variables were significantly associated with knowledge about NCDs risk factors: area of residence (p=.0028), Level of education (p=.0181). Conclusion:  Average levels of knowledge were recorded among adolescents receiving care at Kabwohe health center IV though there were high practicing percentages of the risky healthy lifestyle behaviors that foster NCDs development.

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On average, an automobile has over 30,000 parts as it leaves a production line. Most car makers the world over source these parts from global automotive suppliers who form part of the Automotive Industry Value Chain. This paper presents three major sectors where domestic manufacturing can plug into automotive supply chains for parts and components that can be adopted onto the global automotive stage, namely: (1) Materials and Mineral resources; (2) Human Resource Potential; (3) Enterprises already plugging into various aspects of Automotive Manufacturing in Uganda. Uganda is rich with naturally occurring minerals that have generally been exported as raw materials. It is therefore imperative that interventions towards development of capabilities for local processing into viable products that can be absorbed into the automotive markets are achieved. The Ugandan population boasts of highly skilled human resources with institutions producing a skilled labor force that has no opportunities for engagement. It is thus imperative that initiatives take shape to enable local input in the automotive value chain with the ultimate aim of indigenous original equipment manufacturing companies coupled with component and subsystems suppliers to propagate industrialization in Uganda