Dr. Abubaker Muwonge (Phd)

Lecturer

amuwonge@kyu.ac.ug, wamuwonge@gmail.com

Phone: +256776119777

Biography

Dr Muwonge Abubaker is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kyambogo University. He possesses a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and Masters degree in Biotechnology from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

Before joining Kyambogo University, He worked as Molecular biologist at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), Namulonge, Uganda, where he characterized maize and rice germplasm and Implemented molecular/genomics tools in the cereals breeding program. He also worked as Graduate research fellow, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Uganda. He has vast experience in genomics, developing and characterizing transgenic organisms using advanced techniques, bioinformatics, microbiology, project design, proposal development. He is a bio-safety inspector for confined field trials of genetically engineered organisms/plants, certified by the National Council for Science and Technology. He teaches and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Areas of speciality.

 Dr Muwonge has a training background in molecular biology both at masters and PhD level. Areas of speciality – Genomics, plant tissue culture, bioinformatics, microbiology. Research project proposal development and management, Data analysis using R.

My research interests are in the use of genomic tools to address prevailing challenges in health, environment and crop production; Applied microbiology – developing microbial based fertilisers(biofertilizers)  to boost crop  productivity; antibiotics resistance in foodborne pathogens and crop pathogens; bioinformatics – data analysis using R.

Current Projects

Characterization of antibiotic resistance profiles in foodborne pathogens from selected foods sold in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Publications

Research Link  Click to View

  1. Muwonge, A., Jaindra, T., Kunert, K., Leena. T.  (2016). Expressing stacked HRAP and PFLP genes in transgenic banana has no synergistic effect on resistance to Xanthomonas wilt disease. South African Journal of Botany. Vol 104, 125–133.
  2. Kasozi, Lwanga Charles and Derera, John and Tongoona, Pangirayi and Zziwa, Simon and Muwonge, Abubaker and Gasura, Edmore and Bergvinson, DJ.(2018).Comparing the Effectiveness of the “weevil warehouse” and “laboratory bioassay” as Techniques for Screening Maize Genotypes for Weevil Resistance. Food Secur. Vol 6, 170–177.
  3. Tripathi, Jaindra Nath and Muwonge, Abubaker and Tripathi, Leena. (2012). Efficient regeneration and transformation of plantain cv.“Gonja manjaya”(Musa spp. AAB) using embryogenic cell suspensions. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology Plant. Vol. 48. 216–224.
  4. Ikiriza, Hilda and Ogwang, Patrick Engeu and Peter, Emanuel L and Hedmon, Okella and Tolo, Casim Umba and Abubaker, Muwonge and Abdalla, Ali Abdalla Mai. (2019). Dioscorea bulbifera, a highly threatened African medicinal plant, a review. Cogent Biology. Vol 5, 1631561.
  5. Hilda Ikiriza, Clement Olusoji Ajayi, Hedmon Okella, Abubaker Muwonge, Mai Abdalla Ali Abdalla and Casim Umba Tolo. (2021). Quantification of Diosgenin content in Dioscorea bulbifera linn germplasm from Uganda. Academia Journal of Medicinal Plants. Vol 9, 40—47.
  6. Namukwaya B., Magambo B., Arinaitwe G., Oweitu C., Erima R., Tarengera D., Bossa L., Karamura G., Muwonge A., Kubiriba J., Tushemereirwe W. (2019). Antioxidants enhance banana embryogenic cell competence to Agrobacterium mediated transformation. African Journal of Biotechnology, 18(28):735-743
  7. Sserumaga J.P., Dan Makumbi, Marilyn L. Warburton, Stephen O. Opiyo, Godfrey Asea, Abu-Baker Muwonge, and Charles L. Kasozi. (2019). Genetic diversity among tropical provitamin A maize inbred lines and implications for a biofortification program. Cereal Research Communication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1556/0806.46.2018.066
  8. Zziwa, S., Kasozi, L.C., P. Rubaihayo and Muwonge, A. (2018). Genetic resistance of maize inbred lines to Striga hermonthica. Accepted by International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research.ISSN: 2223-7054 (Print) 2225-3610 (Online)
  9. Kasozi, L.C., J. Derera, P. Tongoona, P. Tukamuhabwa, Muwonge and G. Asea. (2016). Genotypic variation for maize weevil resistance in eastern and southern Africa maize inbred lines. Uganda Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2016, 17 (1): 83 – 97.
  10. Kasozi, L.C., Muwonge, J.P. Sserumaga, G. Asea and D. Makumbi. (2016). Stability analysis for Imazapyr- and Striga-resistant maize hybrids across environments in Uganda. NARO-MAK Joint Agricultural Dissemination Conference. 21 – 24 November 2016, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala.