Aims: Access to clean and safe water is a challenge globally. This study assessed the levels of three trace metals (iron, copper and chromium) and chlorine in water samples from municipal water supply points in Makerere University and springs from Bunga, Uganda. Study Design: This research employed a quantitative analytical method. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from five different sites of Makerere University halls and Bunga springs, Kampala. This study was undertaken between May 2021 and October 2021. Methodology: Trace metal content and free chlorine of the water samples were determined and calibrated using multiparameter Palintest 7100 photometer. Results: Analytical results indicated that the average iron, copper and chromium and chlorine content of the tap water samples from the municipal supply system were 0.0125 ± 0.00433 mg/L, 0.155 ± 0.0384 mg/L, 0.0325 ± 0.01479 mg/L and 3.045 ± 0.180623 mg/L, respectively. The corresponding mean values for water samples from Bunga springs were 0.0080 ± 0.0109 mg/L, 0.0124 ± 0.2019 mg/L, 0.056 ± 0.02073 mg/L and 0.00 ± 0.00 mg/L, respectively. These average values were within the maximum permissible limits of 0.3 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L and 0.05 mg/L for iron, copper and chromium in drinking water as recommended by the World Health Organization. However, springs A and B had chromium concentrations above the recommended value of 0.05 mg/L. Conclusion: Trace metal and chlorine content of the sampled water were within compliance limits except for chromium which exceeded at springs A and B in Bunga, Kampala.

Aims: This work investigated the phytochemical constituents and synergistic antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of Mondia whytei roots and Physalis peruviana leaves. Study Design: This study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. Place and Duration of Study: All research works were performed at the Central Science Laboratories, Faculty of science, Kyambogo University between September 2021 and March 2022. Methodology: Standard methods were followed for phytochemical screening of ethanolic extracts of Mondia whytei roots, and Physalis peruviana leaves. The potential synergistic antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts were evaluated through agar well diffusion assay. The bacteria strains were cultured on Mueller-Hinton agar. Sterile cork borer (6 mm diameter) was used to create the wells on petri discs and filled aseptically with 10 µl of the test extract (100 mg/ml) and Chloramphenicol (0.5 mg/ml) was used as the positive control. The interaction between the extracts and the combined extract was assessed by determining their fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. Results: Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols were found to be present in both extracts. Cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, anthraquinnones and steroids were present only in ethanolic extract of Physalis peruviana leaves. The antibacterial activities of Mondia whytei roots extract, Physalis peruviana leaves extract and combined extract were obtained with the following zone of inhibitions; 19.20 ± 0.72 mm, 19.77 ± 0.60 mm, 25.93 ± 0.83 mm for S. aureus and 15.50 ± 0.46 mm, 15.00 ± 0.26 mm, 17.87 ± 0.61 mm for E.coli respectively, as compared with the standard reference antibiotic with zone of inhibitions; 26.00 ± 0.00 mm for S. aureus and 24.00 ± 0.00 mm E. coli. The MICs were determined at 0.1-100 mg/ml, and the FIC index were obtained from the evaluated MIC values with the corresponding values of 0.5 (synergistic) for S. aureus and 1.0 (additive) for E. coli. Conclusion: The results obtained from the present study support the traditional claims of using the selected plants to treat bacterial infections. The extracts had low antibacterial activities on the selected human pathogens, Hence, if these extracts are used in unison, greater efficacy could be achieved; further studies should be done using combined extracts combined with commercial antibiotics.