Financial year: 2023/2024
1. Teaching and Learning
Teaching and learning under a blended mode (online and face-to-face), together with assessment of 122 students for the second semester of the 2023/2024 academic year, was conducted. Vocational training was conducted for 38 first-year undergraduate students, and internship training for 21 second-year undergraduate students. Field visits were made to Kamuli Town Council garbage dumping site, National Water and Sewerage Corporation in Jinja, Wagagai Gold Mines in Busia, Butaleja, Manafwa, Bulambuli and Kapchorwa for graduate and undergraduate students.
2. Community Engagement
Community outreach was conducted in Kisaikye Parish, Namasagali Sub-county, Kamuli District. Undergraduate students trained local communities in nursery-bed preparation, planting indigenous tree species, soil and water conservation, and making energy-saving cook stoves. Six fish cages were fabricated and prepared for deployment on the River Nile.
3. Research
With support from the Busitema University Research and Innovations Fund, two research projects were implemented: “Bamboo for Flood Risk Reduction in Butaleja District, Eastern Uganda” and “Inclusive Education for Migrant Populations in Higher Education Institutions in Uganda.” The Faculty reported eight peer-reviewed journal publications. Research projects for 41 third-year undergraduate students and dissertation research for 57 graduate students were supervised.
4. Curriculum Development and Review
Three new master’s programmes—MSc Natural Resources and Environmental Governance, MSc Sustainable Aquaculture, and MSc Fisheries Science and Management—were developed and approved by the University Council. The MSc Environmental Economics was reviewed and approved by the University Council.
5. Academic Support Services
Students participated in inter-hall and inter-campus games. Hygiene in student hostels was maintained; health and counselling services were provided; and power and water supply was maintained.
6. Challenges
- Limited space for teaching and practical training at Namasagali Campus.
- Lack of laboratory technicians and boat crew (coxswain) to support practical training for BSc Fisheries and Water Resources Management students.
- Lack of a full-time office administrator for the Jinja Study Centre.
- Operation of the Jinja Study Centre in rented premises.
- Limited funding for research.
7. Recommendations
- Recruit two technicians and one coxswain to support research and practical training for BSc Fisheries and Water Resources Management students.
- Recruit the office administrator for the Jinja Study Centre on a permanent basis.
- Acquire a permanent home for the Jinja Study Centre.
- Increase research funding for the Faculty.
Prepared by: Sowedi Masaba (PhD), Deputy Dean.
Publication records from the report have also been entered individually in the Research section.