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The megalithic pillar sites found around Lake Turkana, Kenya, are monumental cemeteries built approximately 5000 years ago. Their construction coincides with the spread of pastoralism into the region during a period of profound climate change. Early work at the Jarigole pillar site suggested that these places were secondary burial grounds. Subsequent excavations at other pillar sites, however, have revealed planned mortuary cavities for predominantly primary burials, challenging the idea that all pillar sites belonged to a single ‘Jarigole mortuary tradition’. Here, the authors report new findings from the Jarigole site that resolve long-standing questions about eastern Africa's earliest monuments and provide insight into the social lives, and deaths, of the region's first pastoralists.

Background No comprehensive studies have been carried out on the infectious causes of abortion in Kenyan dairy cattle herds. A survey was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV), Brucella abortus (BA) and Neospora caninum (NC) among dairy cattle herds in Nakuru County, a major dairying area in Kenya. A prospective sero-epidemiological study was also undertaken to investigate the effects of BVDV, BA and NC on the occurrence of bovine abortion in dairy cattle herds, where monthly rectal palpations for pregnancy were performed, and monthly serum samples were tested for antibodies to the 3 pathogens. Results In the 398 randomly selected cattle on 64 dairy herds, the seroprevalences of antibodies to BVDV, NC and BA were 79.1, 25.6 and 16.8%, respectively. Of the cattle seropositive to NC, 83.3% were also seropositive to BVDV and 13.7% to BA. Of the cattle seropositive to BVDV, 17.1% were also seropositive to BA. Among 260 monitored pregnant dairy cattle on the same 64 dairy farms, an incidence risk for abortion of 10.8% (28/260) was identified, while the incidence of other foetal losses was 1.1% (3/260). The incidence rates of sero-conversion for NC, BVD and BA were 1.1, 0.06 and 0.5 new infections/100 cow-months at risk, respectively. The foetal losses were mainly observed in animals less than 96 months old and occurred in mid-gestation. Neospora caninum was associated with most cases (29.0%) of foetal losses, followed by mixed infections of NC and BVDV (12.9%), BVDV (9.9%) and co-infections of BA and NC (6.5%). Conclusions This is the first study to document the substantial incidence risk of BVDV and NC abortions in dairy cattle in Kenya, and demonstrates the relative importance of BA, BVDV and NC infections in dairy cattle in Kenya. Kenya laboratories should offer diagnostic tests for BVDV and NC to help farmers determine their roles in abortions on their farms. A comprehensive policy on the control of these important diseases should also be put in place by government with the involvement of all stakeholders in the dairy cattle industry.

This paper examines the mediating role of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kampala, Uganda. To empirically validate the conceptual model and test the hypothesised relationships, the authors collected data from a sample of 228 SMEs in Kampala district, Uganda purposefully selected for this study. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were analysed using SPSS/20 and AMOS version 23. The findings exhibit a full mediation of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among SMEs. Besides, informational differences and entrepreneurial networking are insignificantly related. There were, however, some limitations: as the study was cross-sectional in nature, it was difficult to trace the process of interactions among employees especially, how they attach meaning to information and entrepreneurial networking patterns over time;-the study was conducted in Kampala district among trade, manufacturing, and services sectors only. The implication is that entrepreneurial networking can only be explained and predicted through ecologies of innovation. The study recommends that SME owners/managers need to fully understand and facilitate ecologies of innovation for employees to interact and attach meaning to information. This research contributes to the literature on mediation of ecologies of innovation between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking through its empirical findings of the hypothesised relationships. It theoretically contributes to existing knowledge by integrating complexity systems leadership theory.

Yellow fever vaccine is highly effective with a single dose, but vaccine supply is limited. The minimum dose requirements for seroconversion remain unknown. In this double-blind, randomized, noninferiority trial in Uganda and Kenya, we assigned adults with no history of yellow fever vaccination or infection to receive vaccination with the Institut Pasteur de Dakar 17D-204 yellow fever vaccine at a standard dose (13,803 IU) or at a fractional dose of 1000 IU, 500 IU, or 250 IU. The primary outcome was seroconversion at 28 days after vaccination with each fractional dose as compared with the standard dose, evaluated in a noninferiority analysis. Seroconversion was defined as an antibody titer at day 28 that was at least four times as high as the antibody titer before vaccination, as measured by a plaque reduction neutralization test. We conducted noninferiority analyses in the per-protocol and intention-to-treat populations. Noninferiority was shown if the lower boundary of the 95% confidence interval for the difference in the incidence of seroconversion between the fractional dose and the standard dose was higher than -10 percentage points. A total of 480 participants underwent randomization (120 participants in each group). The incidence of seroconversion was 98% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94 to 100) with the standard dose. The difference in the incidence of seroconversion between the 1000-IU dose and the standard dose was 0.01 percentage points (95% CI, -5.0 to 5.1) in the intention-to-treat population and -1.9 percentage points (95% CI, -7.0 to 3.2) in the per-protocol population; the corresponding differences between the 500-IU dose and the standard dose were 0.01 percentage points (95% CI, -5.0 to 5.1) and -1.8 percentage points (95% CI, -6.7 to 3.2), and those between the 250-IU dose and the standard dose were -4.4 percentage points (95% CI, -9.4 to 0.7) and -6.7 percentage points (95% CI, -11.7 to 1.6). A total of 111 vaccine-related adverse events were reported: 103 were mild in severity, 7 were moderate, and 1 was severe. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the four groups. A yellow fever vaccination dose as low as 500 IU was noninferior to the standard dose of 13,803 IU for producing seroconversion within 28 days. (Funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership and the Wellcome Trust; NIFTY ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04059471.).

This paper examines the mediating effect of ecologies of innovation on the relationship between entrepreneurial networking and opportunity exploitation among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda. The study design was a cross-sectional survey, data were analysed using SPSS and Analysis of Moment Structure on a sample of 228 SMEs. The mediated model provides support for the hypothesis that ecologies of innovation partially mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial networking and opportunity exploitation. This confirms that the presence of ecologies of innovation significantly acts as a conduit in the association between entrepreneurial networking and opportunity exploitation. The practical implications are that opportunity exploitation can be understood and predicted through ecologies of innovation, entrepreneurial networking can also predict opportunity exploitation directly. Business owners and managers need to fully understand and utilise the ecologies of innovation to exploit opportunities effectively. Social implications, a deeper understanding of how entrepreneurial networking and ecologies of innovation affect employee relations will not be fully realised until employers create a platform for rational thinking, creativity and learning about this interaction. This study utilises social network theory to extend the existing research on opportunity exploitation.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between positive deviance (PD) and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey design using quantitative approach was employed in this study. Data were collected with the help of self-administrated questionnaires from 228 SMEs. Systematic sampling technique was used. Multiple regression data were analysed with the help of SPSS software.FindingsThe results indicated that ecologies of innovation partially mediate the relationship between PD and entrepreneurial networking. Besides, PD and entrepreneurial networking are significantly related.Research limitations/implicationsThe data were cross-sectional in nature, thus limiting monitoring changes in resources accessed from social networks by entrepreneurs over time.Practical implicationsManagers of SMEs and policy makers should pay more attention to the views of employees with divergent views, ecologies of innovation in creating a conducive environment for creativity and innovation among SMEs.Originality/valueThe study of PD, ecologies of innovation and entrepreneurial networking using complexity theory among SMEs in Uganda is a contribution to literature.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) establish formal and informal relations to access required resources for business competitiveness in Uganda. The major challenge of acquiring the required resources is attributed to inadequate management of informational differences among employees. This paper examines the relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among SMEs in Uganda. A mixed research method was deployed. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 228 SMEs. An interview guide was used for key informants. Stratified random sampling was used in selecting SMEs from the Kampala district, business owners/managers were purposively selected as the respondents. Multiple regression was used, and data were analysed using SmartPLS and Nvivo software. Findings confirmed a significant positive relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking. Specifically, both divergent opinions and new knowledge values are positively associated with entrepreneurial networking. The study recommends that SME owners/managers should establish policies and flat structures as an opportunity to address non-linear interchanges of information. Managers should create an enabling environment for employees with divergent opinions to interact with each other to become innovative with new methods of accessing resources from entrepreneurial networks. Future studies should use a longitudinal approach to study the trends over years. This study extends knowledge of entrepreneurial networking using complexity systems leadership theory.

Orientation: This article focused on the need for improved employer-employee relationships in order for public universities in Uganda to achieve their intended objectives.Research purpose: The purpose of this article was to review the need for appropriate employer-employee relationships that will ensure quality services and service delivery in public universities in Uganda.Motivation for the study: The researchers set out to examine why managers of public universities in Uganda were continuously paying less attention to the needs of the employees.Research design, approach and method: A descriptive research design was employed and 12 respondents, purposively selected from 4 public universities, were interviewed. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed using Nvivo software. This article is based on the perspective of agency theory, and discussed the contractual relationship between management and employees. The agency theory was deemed necessary because of its contribution to organisational literature.Main findings: There is a need to create and nurture a collegial working climate that promotes quality interactions through information sharing. This results in creating and retaining motivated and committed employees, and also helps to overcome the paradox of balancing the high demand for university education whilst offering quality services.Practical/managerial implications: Managers have to continuously monitor and accommodate employee needs and demands.Contribution/value-add: The potential value of the paper is its function as a guide for public universities to have visionary managers that will introduce new approaches to managing public universities in a competitive global environment.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the need for managers of public universities to pay attention to performance management practices and information communication technology (ICT) adoption in order to achieve successful managed performance.Design methodology approach - Using a disproportionate stratified purposive approach, a sample of 900 employees was drawn from four public universities in Uganda.Findings - The results revealed that performance management practices that are vested in agency relations and goal setting with ICT adoption are necessary in the achievement of managed performance in public universities.Practical implications - Building a positive employer-employee relationship and involving employees in setting goals and targets is crucial for successful management of organisations. ICT adoption will further facilitate service quality, service delivery and cost reduction.Originality value - This paper calls for a new approach to managing employees in public universities in developing countries and Uganda in particular.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to establish the relevant competencies possessed by engineering lecturers and the relationship between those competencies and the exhibited organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB).Design methodology approach - The study was carried out in two phases. Phase one was qualitative using a competency interview guide that was administered to ten engineering lecturers, selected using a purposive sampling design. From this interview, seven key result areas, competencies and critical outputs were obtained. Phase two was quantitative following the development of a questionnaire from the established competencies, key result areas and critical outputs. The questionnaire was administered to 110 engineering lecturers.Findings - The study revealed that those lecturers who have the relevant competencies do exhibit discretionary behaviours at work. The model could be useful in deriving employee competencies and critical outputs.Research limitations implications - A cross-sectional study using a small sample in a single institution could not warrant generalisability of the findings.Practical implications - Competency-based recruitment and selection has the potential to improve the ways in which universities could manage engineering lecturers.Originality value - The paper presents a new approach to competency profiling, the need for competent engineering lecturers.