Affiliated students

Department of Geography, Geo-informatics and Climatic Sciences

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives:

Assessment of the impact of climate change on tea production in Western Uganda

1. Examine the historical and projected future spatial-temporal precipitation and temperature for drought pattern characterization in Kyenjojo and Kabarole district

2. Evaluate land suitability for tea growing in Western Uganda based on weather, soil and land use multi-criteria

3. Assess the effect of a changing climate on tea yield in Western Uganda

Hobbies: Reading news, nature walks, playing football

Department of Environmental Management

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives:

Climate change effects and adaptation strategies of small-holder tea farmers in Western Uganda: A case study of Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts

1. To examine the trends and special distribution of rainfall and temperature in Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts

2. To assess community perceptions and knowledge of climate variability impacts on tea production among small-holder tea farmers in Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts

3. To establish adaption options utilzised by small-holder tea farmers IN Kyenjojo and Kabarole districts to manage climate change effects on tea production

Department of Forestry, Bio-diversity and Tourism

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives:

Effect of droughts and root rot diseases on Tea productivity in western Uganda

1. To identify and characterize species associated with tea root rot diseases and conduct pathogenicity tests on these species and isolates

2. To evaluate the resistance of selected tea clones to drought and the most pathogenic root rot fungal pathogens

3. To analyze phsysiological and biochemical responses of tea under drought and root rot stress

4. To quantify net primary production (NPP) of tea under drought and root rot stress

Department of Forestry, Bio-diversity and Tourism

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives:

Estimation of Tea Net Primary Production in Rwenzori region, Uganda

1. To estimate the above ground and below ground biomass production of different tea genotypes from Rwebitaba TRC and private tea companies in Rwenzori region

2. To determine quality paarameters of tea (Tannins, Polyphenols, Caffeine, Amino acids) of different tea genotypes from Rwebitaba TRC and private tea companies in Rwenzori region

3. To analyze the net primary production (NPP) of different tea genotypes from experimental fields at Rwebitaba TRC and private tea companies in Rwenzori region

Hobbies: Reading, adventure, football (dangerous midfield player!)

Department of Agricultural Production

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives:

Evaluating Biochar and Mulch to Enhance Soil Properties, Microbial Biodiversity and Yield of Tea in Uganda

1. To determine the effects of fertilizer, biochar and mulch (individually and in combination) on selected soil physical and chemical properties

2. To assess how different combinations of fertilizer, biochar and mulch influence the undancedce and diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

3. To evaluate the impact of fertilizer, biochar and mulch (individually and in combination) on tea yield and quality

 Hobbies: Dancing, cooking, travelling

Department of Agricultural Production

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives:

Designing biochar amendment for sustainable tea production in degraded ferralsols in Western Uganda

1. Effect of biochar produced at different pylorisis temperatures and enriched with sulphur on soil physical chemical properties

2. Effect of biochar pH on growth of tea seedlings in screening house

Hobbies: Gardening, fellowshiping, travelling, playing soccer

Department of Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering

Makerere University

Research focus and objectives:

Innovating Smart and Scalable Irrigation Technology for Improved Tea (Camellia Sinensis) Production

The objectives of the study are to: (i) assess effect of irrigation levels on yield and quality components of commercial tea clones at Rwebitaba Zonal Agricultural Research Development Institute (R-ZARDI); (ii) determine effect of irrigation levels on economic viability of commercial tea clones at R-ZARDI; (iii) estimate biomass of commercial tea clones using remotely sensed Normalized Difference Vegetative Index at R-ZARDI; (iv) predict soil water availability using crop water stress index based on remotely sensed temperature of tea canopy at R-ZARDI.

Hobbies: Running and walking, cycling, weight lifting, reading, and cooking. Furthermore, I am interested in learning Calligraphy as an additional hobby.

Department of Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives:

Development of an automated canopy temperature-based irrigation scheduler in tea production in Uganda

1. To develop a machine-learning algorithm that extracts canopy temperature from thermal images obtained from a thermal camera mounted on unmanned aerial vehicle

2. To validate a model of crop water stress index and soil moisture content against soil moisture profilers

3. To investigate the interaction of irrigation with biochar in tea production using an automated irrigation scheduler

Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics

Makerere University

Research focus and objectives:

A Value Chain Analysis of the Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilient Tea Innovations in Uganda

• To assess the welfare effects of the Nature Based Solutions(Nbs) such as climate-resilient tea varieties, integrated use of tea pruning and banana by-products, nitrogen-fixing agroforestry trees, and irrigation tea farming strategies in the tea value chain towards reducing vulnerability of the tea value chain in Uganda

  1. To identify farmers’ perceptions and willingness to use Nature-based Solution (Nbs) farming strategies such as integrated use of tea pruning and banana by-products, nitrogen-fixing agroforestry trees, resilient tea varieties, and irrigation in tea production

  2. To determine the socio-economic drivers for smallholder farmers’ use of NbS such as integrated use of tea pruning and banana by-products, nitrogen-fixing agroforestry trees, resilient tea varieties, and irrigation.

  3. To assess the role of vulnerable groups and impact of the Nbs on the welfare of different actors in the tea value chain

  4. To establish consumers' acceptability of climate-resilient tea varieties both at local and export market

Hobbies: Language learning, cooking, reading, traveling, singing

Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics

Makerere University

Research topic and objectives: 

Socio- economic evaluation and adoption of tea agroforestry and selected tea varieties in small holder farmers

• To assess the socio-economic impact of tea-agroforestry systems on smallholder tea farmers.

• To determine the factors that affect the adoption of tea- agroforestry systems among tea farmers.

• To determine the factors affecting profitability of tea from the selected tea varieties within agroforestry systems.

Hobbies: Nature walks and hiking, gardening