Mr. Kaconco James successfully defended his PhD thesis at a public defense session held at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).

His thesis was titled; Master Production Scheduling, Total Quality Management and Blood Production Towards Blood Transfusion Sustainability in Uganda.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the relationship between master production scheduling, total quality management, blood production, and transfusion sustainability in Ugandan blood banks. It aimed to address the challenges of blood safety and shortages in healthcare, leading to canceled or postponed transfusions and patient fatalities.

The study used was correlational and cross-sectional in nature with a pragmatic paradigm and a mixed-method strategy. It surveyed seven regional and seven university teaching hospital blood banks, using random and purposive sampling. Data came from self-administered questionnaires and interviews with key informants. Data analysis used SPSS20 and AMOS23 to determine relationships among variables. Qualitative data was analyzed using Nvivo software. Pilot tests ensured questionnaire and interview guide validity and reliability.

Findings showed a significant model for the relationship between master production scheduling and blood transfusion sustainability. Demand and supply significantly related to transfusion sustainability, while perishability had a positive but not significant relationship. Surprisingly, total quality management did not mediate the master production scheduling-blood transfusion sustainability link; instead, blood production fully mediated it. When considering both total quality management and blood production as serial mediators, both played a partial mediating role. Qualitative findings aligned with these results, highlighting various strategies used by Ugandan blood banks to enhance sustainability.

This study has managerial implications, emphasizing the importance of factors such as blood demand, staff involvement, continuous improvement, customer-centric approaches, and efficient bloodstock management in enhancing transfusion sustainability. Recommendations for policymakers include establishing a fund to support blood banks for knowledge dissemination and capacity development. They should also enhance annual evaluation, recognition, and awards for blood donors, individuals, and partners dedicated to transfusion sustainability. Establishing a dedicated unit under UBTS for compliance monitoring is recommended. Blood bank managers should invest in staff training, seek expert consultation on transfusion sustainability, and recognize and reward employees and teams demonstrating a strong commitment to transfusion sustainability.

Makerere University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd to create a platform for finalist and recently graduated students to undertake internships and industrial training with EACOP.  The pact provides a framework that will guide the collaboration between the two entities.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe signed on behalf of Makerere University while Martin Tiffen, the MD signed on behalf of EACOP at a ceremony held at Makerere University on Tuesday 16^th July 2024.  The MoU details the two main areas of collaboration in capacity building including internships or graduate training and the trainer of trainers.

In his remarks, Prof. Nawangwe commended the initiative which he said will benefit several students from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) and the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) where programs related to the oil and gas industry are offered. He noted that oil and gas was still a young industry in Uganda and therefore the collaboration was timely.

Prof. Moses Musinguzi, the Principal CEDAT said the college was ready to collaborate with EACOP based on the fact that it is home to several programs in addition to the traditional engineering courses offered. He said all professionals have something to input into the oil pipeline and therefore the college was ready to offer the necessary support in ensuring that the MoU is actualized.

Dr. Peter Olupot, the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department who spoke on behalf of the Dean School of Engineering said the school offers a range of programs relevant to the oil and gas industry in addition to the petroleum and geoscience subjects offered in the College of Natural Sciences. He said the School of Engineering was moving towards problem-based learning and competence-based assessment and therefore values the industry-academia relationships which will further the ongoing efforts towards producing graduates relevant to the industry.

The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd. is a project company set up to develop, build, and operate a pipeline system that will transport crude oil from the inlet flange at Kabaale in Uganda to the port of Tanga in Tanzania.

A team of staff of Northeastern University comprised of J.J. Kappa, Khalid I. Koddi, and Swaby Meisha paid a courtesy call on the Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) while on a mission to lay strategies for the forthcoming study abroad program.

Over twenty students from Northeastern University will next summer come to the Margret Trowel School of Industrial and Fine Art for a period of three weeks. While here, students will take on two courses identified by the faculty, engage with the local community to get the cultural experience and visit the cultural sites such as the museum and Nagenda International Academy of Art and Design (NIAD) among other areas.

While receiving the team, the Principal, Prof. Moses Musinguzi gave a brief background to the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) as one of the ten Colleges making up Makerere University, as well as MTSIFA as one of the Schools making up the College.

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