Dr. J. S. Tenywa - Head

The department has continued to excel in academic, training, research and establishment of national and international linkages. In the area of academics, the department has continued to offer soil science and related courses in the Faculties of Agriculture, Forestry and Nature Conservation, Arts and Institute of Public Health. Several research programmes are ongoing in the department under the following six themes:

    1.   Rehabilitation of degraded soils
    2.   Soil Survey and resource inventory
    3.   Soil fertility management
    4.   Bio-fertilizer research
    5.   Soil and water management
    6.   Soil and environmental Pollution
    7.   Environmental Assessment and modeling.

Linkages
Linkages with NARO, NAADS, CIAT-TSBF and other Governmental and Non Governmental Organizations have been established. Consultancies are on going at Departmental and individual staff levels. The Department has also continued to steer the activities of the Soil and Water Conservation Society of Uganda, SIDA / SAREC, Committee on Desertification (NCCD) forum coordinating all NGOs involved in land related activities. Additionally, the department spearheaded organizing of the 23rd Conference of the Soil Science Society of East Africa (SSSEA) held in Masaka, Uganda from 20-24th 2007. The conference brought together Scientists, students, Policy makers from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

Mission
To achieve lasting and sustainable improvements in Agriculture, Agro-industry and livelihoods of the communities by producing knowledgeable and self-reliant professionals and practitioners and generating and disseminating client responsive knowledge and technologies in the fields of soil, water and land management.

Goal
Our goal is to positively, effectively, efficiently improve training and research in soil, water and land resource as a perquisite for solving food security and environmental problems, and eradicating poverty in Uganda.

Objectives

1.  Make training and research more relevant and demand driven service delivery
2.  Expand and efficiently utilize resources at our disposal

Capacity Building
Dr. Twaha Basamba completed his Ph.D at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norway) Mr. C. Kizza-Lusawta, B. Balikudembe, S. Katende Serrunjogi, D. Kirya successfully completed their B.Sc. Degrees in BBLT of Makerere University. Mr. Ogwang Francis also completed his B.Sc.LUM of Makerere University. However, death robbed us of 4 staff members: Assoc. Prof. Jacob Aniku, Mr. M. Lubogo, Mr. Kawoya, and Ms. T. Nakamya.

During these years, Dr. Moses Tenywa and Dr. Victor Ochwoh were promoted to Assoc. Professors. Mr. C. Kizza – Luswata and S. Katenda Serunjogi were also promoted to Senior Technicians. Mr. Kizito was appointed the departmental driver. Dr. L. Mulumba has been appointed Lecturer (on contract terms).

The analytical laboratory continues to provide soil, plant and water analysis services to the public besides supporting the research activities and training of the students.

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Land Use and Management course which started in 2001/2002 has seen increased numbers of student enrollment. It started with 30 students of which 10 where government and others were privately sponsored. In academic year 2002/2003, 36 students registered: 8 were government, 2 supported by I @mak.com and 9 by Carnegie Female Scholarship the rest where privately sponsored. The numbers of fourth year B.Sc. Agriculture students specializing in Soil Science and those doing their special projects in Soil Science has continually increased.

The Department is in the process of mounting a Masters Degree course in Agricultural Land Use and Management. The program still awaits approval by the University authorities.

Programmes
Undergraduates
The Department offers 21 undergraduate courses annually.

Postgraduate
The number of students pursuing M.Sc degree continued to increase from 6 for the academic year 2004/2005, 6 for 2005/2006 to 8 for the year 2006/2007. The Department offers several courses throughout the academic year in addition to supervising its student and those from other departments. The Department currently has 9 Ph.D enrolled students. A number of students have completed their Masters of Science in Soil Science and Ph.D.

Contact:

Head
Department of Soil Science
Faculty of Agriculture
Makerere University
P.O. Box 7062
Kampala
Office: 256 414 542277
Fax: 256 414 531641
Email: soil@agric.mak.ac.ug

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