Dr. Nyafwono Margaret

Senior Lecturer

Nyafwono Margaret is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Environment & Natural Resources Management, Gulu University. She holds a PhD from the University of Eastern Finland, focusing on the Biology of Environmental Change, obtained in 2014. She has an MSc. in Natural Resources Management from ITC, the Netherlands, and a BSc. in Forestry, from Makerere University.

Margaret’s core research areas include Tropical forest ecology, biodiversity conservation, and the impact of environmental changes and anthropogenic disturbances on insect and other animal communities.

Margaret has a wealth of experience in teaching, research, community development activities and student mentorship spanning over 20 years. She sits on a number of Institutional Committees, including PhD students’ Doctoral Committees and Gulu University’s More Women in Research Implementing Committee (MWRIC).

She is a Climate Change Mitigation champion at the University, who initiated the “Greening” Gulu University Campaign a few years back. And in 2023, massive tree planting started at the Faculty of Agriculture & Environment, with yearly expansion to other areas of the University. This is aimed at not only fighting climate change but to give the University that “Green” beauty that is un matched by any other landscape in the region.

Qualifications

Institution Period Degree obtained
University of Eastern Finland 2011-2014 PhD in Biology of Environmental change
ITC, the Netherlands. 2006-2008 MSc. in Natural Resources Management
Makerere University, Uganda 1991-1995 BSc. Forestry
Tororo Girls’ School 1989-1991 UACE Certificate
Tororo Girls’ School 1985-1988 UCE Certificate

Research Interests

i. Biodiversity conservation
ii. Tropical Forest Ecology
iii. Fruit-feeding butterfly ecology
iv. Environmental Management
v. Tree Nursery establishment
vi. Snail vectors and their transmission patterns

Publications

Byagamy, J.P., Opiro, R., Nyafwono, M., Angwech, H., Malinga, G.M., Echodu, R., Igwaro Odongo-Aginya, E., Aug, 2026 . (2026) . Spatio-ecological determinants of Biomphalaria and Bulinus snail intermediate hosts and schistosome-like infections in the Lango subregion, Northern Uganda: a geostatistical approach to guide targeted disease control . Parasites and Vectors
Byagamy, J.P., Opiro, R., Nyafwono, M., Angwech, H., Malinga, G.M., Echodu, R., Igwaro Odongo-Aginya, E., April, 2026 . (2026) . Praziquantel efficacy and post-treatment reinfection and incidence of Schistosoma mansoni among school-aged children in Northern Uganda: a 24-week cohort study in a high transmission focus . BMC Infectious Diseases , 26(1475)
Byagamy, J. P., Opiro, R., Angwech, H., Nyafwono, M., Malinga, G. M., Echodu, R., & Odongo-Aginya, E. I. (2025) . (2025) . Prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of schistosomiasis and intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in northern Uganda: Implications for public health interventions . PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, [online] Volume 19(12). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013827
Byagamy, J.P., Opiro, R., Nyafwono, M., Malinga, G.M., Echodu, R., Igwaro Odongo-Aginya, E., Dec, 2025 . (2025) . Prevalence, intensity, and risk factors of schistosomiasis and intestinal parasitic infections among primary school children in northern Uganda: Implications for public health interventions
. (2025) . Individual-level size distribution patterns in fruit-feeding butterfly communities along a forest restoration gradient in the Afrotropics
Eveliina Korkiatupa, Geoffrey M. Malinga, Ryosuke Nakadai, Margaret Nyafwono, Perpetra Akite, Sille Holm, Wouter van Goor, Richard Kigenyi, Anu Valtonen . (2023) . Recovery patterns in community composition of fruit‐feeding butterflies following 26 years of active forest restoration . Ecosphere AN ESA Open Access Journal, 14(5)
Oloya, J., Malinga G.M., Nyafwono, M., Akite, P., Nakadai, R., Holm, S., Valtonen, A., 2021 . (2021) . Recovery of fruit-feeding butterfly communities in Budongo Forest Reserve after anthropogenic disturbance . Forest Ecology and Management , 491, pp. 1-9
Valtonen, A., Malinga, G., Nyafwono, M., Nyeko, P., Owiny, A., Roininen, H., 2017 . (2017) . The successional pathway of the tree community and how it shapes the fruit-feeding butterfly community in an Afrotropical forest , pp. 12-21
Nyafwono, M., Valtonen, A., Nyeko, P., Owiny A.A., Roininen, H., 2015 . (2015) . Tree community composition and vegetation structure predict butterfly community recovery in a restored Afrotropical rain forest
Nyafwono, M., Valtonen, A., Nyeko, P., Roininen, H., 2014 . (2014) . Fruit-feeding butterfly communities as indicators of forest restoration in an Afro-tropical rainforest . Biological Conservation, 174, pp. 75-83
Nyafwono, M., Valtonen, A., Nyeko, P., Roininen, H., 2014 . (2014) . Butterfly Community Composition Across a Successional Gradient in a Human-disturbed Afro-tropical Rain Forest . Biotropica, 46, pp. 210-218

Projects

NISHATI Project
    Dr. Nyafwono Margaret
Forest management & sustainable charcoal value chain: wood energy plantation
    Dr. Nyafwono Margaret

Supervision

PhD Level (01)

S/N NAMES REG. NO. THESIS TITLE
1. BYAGAMMY John Paul

(Thesis submitted for examination).

 20/U/2876/PHD/PS
Water physicochemical & geospatial determinants of seasonal
snail vectors, praziquantel outcomes, and human schistosomiasis
in Lango sub-region, northern Uganda.

MSc. Level (08)

S/N NAMES REG/NO THESIS TITLE
1. OLOYA Joseph

(Graduated).

 15/U/2139/MEP/PS Recovery of fruit-feeding butterfly communities in Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda.
2. ACCA Everline

(Graduated).

 16/U/3047/MSE/PS The Impact of Oil & Gas exploration on fruit-feeding butterfly communities in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.
3. ANYAYO Florence Okoda

(Graduated).

 19/U/2583/MSE/PS The population structure and conservation status of Afzelia africana in differently managed forests in Lamwo district, northern Uganda.
4. OKOT Peter Byron

(Graduated).

 19/U/2588/MSE/PS Suitability of wild & planted yams as climate resilient foods in Omoro & Nwoya districts, northern Uganda.
5. OLORO Moses

(Graduated).

 19/U/2589/MSE/PS Effect of community practices on the successful establishment & development of clonal eucalyptus plantations in Lira district, northern Uganda.
6. ETURA Ambrose

(Graduated).

 19/U/3744/MSE/PS The effect of urban development on wetlands in Lira City.
7. OTIM Ronald

(Awaiting Graduation in Nov, 2026).

 22/U/1338/MSE/PS Occurrence and composition of plastic pollutants in selected fish species from water bodies in Kwania district, northern Uganda.
8. OKULLU Haron

(Awaiting Graduation in Nov, 2026).

 23/U/0551/MSE/PS The impact of brick making on the environment in Apac district.

MSc. Level, Research in Progress (04)

S/N NAMES / REG. NO. RESEARCH TOPIC STATUS
1. ITEO John Bosco

Reg. No. 22/U/1021/MSE
Impact of land use and land cover change on the elephant
(Loxodonta africana) crop raiding patterns in Kidepo Valley Conservation Area, Uganda.
 Data collection phase
2. HABARUREMA Fred

Reg. No. 24/U/0476/MSE
Spatial distribution amidst seed predation of
Khaya anthotheca across management zones in Rwensama Forest Reserve.
 Data collection phase
3. LOKATO Denis

Reg. No. 24/U/05282/MSE/PS
Spatial distribution of Citropsis apiculata in disturbed zones in Budongo Central Forest Reserve.
 GUREC Review
4. TOPACO Godfrey

Reg. No. 22/U/1356/MSE
Evaluating the feeding efficiency of Cane rats
(Thryonomys Swinderianus): An assessment of their Potential for Sustainable Livestock Production in Uganda.
 Data collection phase

Undergraduate Research Supervision (05 Students)

S/N NAMES REG/NO THESIS TITLE
1. AUSO Judith

(Graduated).

 22/U/0433/GEM/PS
Raising Araucaria heterophylla seedlings through seed germination, wildlings and cuttings in Gulu district, northern Uganda.
2. ONENCAN Alfred

(Graduated).

 21/U/2538/GEM/PS
Breaking seed dormancy in Delonix regia (bojer ex hook) raf. using physical methods.
3. ADONG Annet

(Graduated).

 16/U/0339/GUA/PS
Commercial forestry & Socio-economic development in Uganda: the case of Lamwo district.
4. NAKKIDE Lilian

(Graduated).

 16/U/0384/GUA/PS
The effect of population growth on land use in Laroo division, Gulu Municipality.
5. ONYERI Julius

(Awaiting Graduation in Nov, 2026).

 23/U/2116/GEM/PS
Effects of charcoal biochar and cow dung amendments on the growth vigour of cocoa seedlings in Gulu city, northern Uganda.

More Information

THESES EXAMINATION
EXTERNAL (Makerere University) (01 student)-She graduated.

1.ATUKWATSE Catherine, Reg. 2017/HD02/3247/U.
Thesis title: – Risk assessment and management of herbicides in commercial forest plantations in Hoima district, Uganda.

INTERNAL (GULU UNIVERSITY) (07 students).

1.KALUNDU Joel, Reg. No.19/U/3893/MSE

2.TITIRACH Scovia, Reg. No. 19/U/2591/MSE

“The contribution of Alestes Baremoze to people’s livelihood along Victoria
and Albert Nile”.

3.ORUKA Ivan, Reg. No. 22/U/1302/MSE
“Breeding dynamics of the critically endangered griffon Ruppel’s vulture (gyps rueppellii) in Ngolonyako, Luku Central Forest Reserve, Uganda”.

4.ONYUTHFUA Godfrey, Reg.No. 21/U/2483/MSE
“Assessing the population dynamics of Afzelia africana in Adjumani district.”

5.KYARISIMA Prisca, Reg. No. 22/U/1471/MSE/PS
“Effect of dam construction on water quality and aquatic biota in Kabuyanda Dam”.

6.ACHOLA Winnie Stella, Reg. No. 24/U/0471/MSE/PS.
“Impact of stone quarrying activities on air & water quality: a case study of Te-Dam stone quarry site in Gulu City, Uganda”.

7.OWEKA Denis Emmanuel, Reg. No. 24/U/0488/MSE/PS
“Determinants of Agroforestry farmers’ willingness to adopt carbon trading in Gulu District.”

PAPER REVIEWS (01)
1.Effects of Land Use, Vegetation Diversity and Seasonality on Butterfly Assemblages in the Nanyuki Forest Block, Mount Kenya, Kenya.
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
ISSN: 1996-0786; DOI: 10.5897/AJEST

SERVICES OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY AND GULU UNIVERSITY
A: GULU UNIVERSITY
1.PhD Doctoral Committee member for ATTO Fransisca Kisembo (25/U/4923/PhD/PS), May 2026 to present.

2.PhD Doctoral Committee member for KEUBER Susan (22/U/2100/PHD/PS), 2025 to

Present.
3. PhD Doctoral Committee member for BYAGAMY John Paul (20/U/2876/PHD/PS, 2023-present.

4. I am the in-Charge of the Gulu University Tree Nursery, June 2025-present.

5. Graduate students’ research proposal Coordinator, Gulu University, 2023-present

6. Member, Fundraising Committee for Pailmol Pilgrimage, July 2015.

7. Deputy Dean, Faculty of Agriculture & Environment, 2015-2016.

8. HOD, Environment & Natural Resources Mgt, 2010-2011.

B: COMMUNITY
I train the community on tree nursery establishment & Management. In particular, how to raise cocoa and coffee seedlings, which are currently the two most popular perennial crops being promoted by the government to boost rural incomes for poverty alleviation in the community