Dr. Robert Opiro (PhD)

Senior Lecturer


Professional Biography
Dr. Robert Opiro is a Senior Lecturer and the Head of the Department of Biology at Gulu University, Uganda. He assumed this substantive leadership role in July 2022 after successfully serving in an acting capacity for three years. He holds a PhD in Molecular Entomology from Gulu University—with part of the training conducted at Yale University’s School of Public Health—and an MSc in Zoology (Entomology) from Makerere University. With over 15 years of experience in academia, Dr. Opiro is committed to high-impact teaching, research, and community engagement. He teaches undergraduate courses such as Entomology, Ecology, Animal Physiology, Integrated Vector Management, and Biology Teaching Methods. At the postgraduate level, he leads advanced courses in Applied Entomology and coordinates graduate seminars aimed at fostering analytical thinking and research capacity. Dr. Opiro has supervised more than 50 undergraduate and over 20 MSc theses, and he is currently supervising four PhD candidates.

As Head of Department, Dr. Opiro has led major curriculum reviews, policy development, and program restructuring at Gulu University. He is an active contributor to institutional governance and has played a key role in graduate training coordination, examinations management, and academic quality assurance. He is also involved in outreach programs that address public health, education, and environmental challenges.

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Qualifications

  1. PhD (Molecular Entomology), Gulu University, Uganda. 2018
  2. MSc Zoology (Entomology), Makerere University, Kampala, 2011
  3. BSc Education (Biologicals) (Hons), Gulu University, Uganda, 2006

Research Interests

vectors and parasites’ biology, particularly related to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis.

Publications

R.Mwesige, J.Poul Byagamy, R.Opiro, H.Angwech, D.Onanyang, P.Buchen Ocen, S.Ochaya, G.Maxwell Malinga . (2025) . Sibling species composition and feeding pattern of malaria vectors in indoor-sprayed and non-sprayed districts of Lira and Kole, northern Uganda . Malaria Journal, p. 11
D.Acan, R.Opiro, B.Musinguzi, B.B.Agaba, S.P.Alarokol . (2025) . Prevalence of malaria and associated risk factors among febrile under-five refugee children attending Panyadoli Health Centre III, Kiryandongo District, Mid-western Uganda. Malaria Journal . Malaria Journal, [online] Volume . Kampala, Uganda: BMC. Available at: https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-025-05404-8
R.Echodu, R.Opiro, W.Okeyo, R. Bateta, P.O. Mireji . (2025) . Prospects for application of population genetics for control of tsetse flies in Africa . Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214574525000598?via%3Dihub#preview-section-abstract
D.Acan, R.Opiro, J.Okot, S.Peter Alarokol . (2025) . Point-of-Care Evaluation of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (mRDT) for Detection of Plasmodium falciparum Among Children Under 5 Years of Age Attending Panyadoli Health Center III in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Mid-Western Uganda . Journal of Parasitology Research, [online] Volume . Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/japr/9956261
Opiro R, Saarman NP, Echodu R, Opiyo EA, Dion K, Halyard A, Aksoy S, Caccone A (2016) . (2025) . Evidence of temporal stability in allelic and mitochondrial haplotype diversity in populations of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Diptera: Glossinidae) in northern Uganda , p. 12
Bornfree Gum1, Robert Opoke1*, Betty Akwongo1, Benson Oloya2, John Bosco Omony1, Robert Opiro3, Morgan Andama1, Godwin Anywar 4 and Geoffrey Maxwell Malinga3 . (2024) . An ethnobotanical survey of plant species used for medicinal purposes in Amuru district, northern Uganda , p. 17
Saarman, N. P., Son, J. H., Zhao, H., Cosme, L. V., Kong, Y., Li, M., Opiro, R... & Caccone, A. (2023) . (2023) . Genomic evidence of sex chromosome aneuploidy and infection-associated genotypes in the tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes, the major vector of African trypanosomiasis in Uganda , p. 10
Okori, B. C., Oryema, C., Opiro, R., Amos, A., Obici, G. I., Rutaro, K., ... & Sande, E. (2022) . (2022) . Ethnobotanical survey of plants locally used in the control of termite pests among rural communities in northern Uganda . Kampala, Uganda: CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, p. 10
Opiro, R., Moses, O. A., Opoke, R., Oloya, F. A., Nakafu, E., Iwiru, T., ... & Opiyo, E. A. (2022) . (2022) . Spatial Distribution of Tsetse Flies and Trypanosome Infection Status in a Vector Genetic Transition Zone in Northern Uganda . Journal of Parasitology Research, 2022, p. 6
Opiro, R., Opoke, R., Angwech, H., Nakafu, E., Oloya, F. A., Openy, G., ... & Opiyo, E. A. (2021) . (2021) . Apparent density, trypanosome infection rates and host preference of tsetse flies in the sleeping sickness endemic focus of northwestern Uganda , p. 12
Son JH, Weiss BL, Schneider DI, Dera K-sM, Gsto ̈ttenmayer F, Opiro R, et al. (2021) . (2021) . Infection with endosymbiotic Spiroplasma disrupts tsetse (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) metabolic and reproductive homeostasis . Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34529715/
Manun Channumsin1, Marc Ciosi 2, Dan Masiga 3, Harriet Auty4,C. Michael Turner5, Elizabeth Kilbride4, Barbara K. Mable . (2021) . Peer review report for blood meal analysis in tsetse flies , p. 20. Available at: https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/6-213
Omona, S., Malinga, G. M., Opoke, R., Openy, G., & Opiro, R. (2020) . (2020) . Prevalence of diarrhoea and associated risk factors among children under five years old in Pader District, northern Uganda , p. 9
. (2019) . Spatio-temporal distribution of Spiroplasma infections in the tsetse fly (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) in northern Uganda , p. 22
Saarman, N. P., Opiro, R., Hyseni, C., Echodu, R., Opiyo, E. A., Dion, K., ... & Caccone, A. (2019) . (2018) . The population genomics of multiple tsetse fly (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) admixture zones in Uganda
Saarman, N., Burak, M., Opiro, R., Hyseni, C., Echodu, R., Dion, K., ... & Caccone, A. (2018) . (2018) . A spatial genetics approach to inform vector control of tsetse flies (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) in Northern Uganda
. (2017) . Genetic diversity and population structure of the tsetse fly Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Diptera: Glossinidae) in Northern Uganda: Implications for vector control , p. 29
Angwech H, Nyeko J. H, Opiyo E.A, Okello-Onen J, Opiro R, Echodu R, Malinga G. M, Njahira M.N, Skilton R.A. (2015) . (2015) . Heterogeneity in the prevalence and intensity of bovine trypanosomiasis in the districts of Amuru and Nwoya, Northern Uganda . BCM Veterinary Research, p. 8
Opiro R., Anne. M, Akol, Osinde, C. Okello-Onen, J. (2013) . (2012) . Tick-repellent properties of four plant species against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann (Acarina: Ixodidae) tick species , p. 5. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert-Opiro/publication/284889691_Tick-repellent_properties_of_four_plant_species_against_Rhipicephalus_appendiculatus_Neumann_Acarina_Ixodidae_tick_species/links/5e3957dc299bf1cdb90b26fa/Tick-repellent-properties-of-four-plant-species-against-Rhipicephalus-appendiculatus-Neumann-Acarina-Ixodidae-tick-species.pdf
Opiro R., Okello-Onen, J. And Anne, M. Akol. 2010 . (2010) . Ethnoveterinary Botanicals Used for Tick Control in the Acholi Subregion of Uganda . 2010, Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, p. 4

Projects

Supervision

S/No List of MSc Supervised to completion Year of Graduation
1 Lakot Amerida (Reg.No: 22/1064/MBB/PS). Bacterial communities and their association with Onchocerca volvulus infection in simulium flies in northern Uganda 2025
2 Dramwi Mathias (Reg.No: 16/U/MEP/2723). Species composition, age structure and seasonal abundance of tsetse flies along Esia River in Itirikwa Subcounty,Adjumani district
North west Uganda		 2025
3 Odeke Faustine (Reg. No: Reg. No: 14/U/2720/MEP) Trypanosome infection rates in cattle and tsetse
flies in pastoral communities of Napak District		 2025
4 Odaga Geoffrex (Reg.No: 20/U/1905/MEP/PS) species composition and infection status of simulium flies in onchocerciasis endemic foci of northern uganda 2025
5 Ntale Patrick Reg. No: 21/U/2676/MEP/PS: Prevalence of bovine African trypanosomiasis and associated risk factors in pastoral communities surrounding Katonga Wildlife Reserve, Western Uganda. 2025
6 Nockrach Francis Reg. No: 21/U/2682/MBB/PS: Species composition and molecular genetic structure of blackflies in northern Uganda. 2024
7 Mwesige Rashid Reg. No: 19/U/3498/MEP/PS: species composition and feeding pattern of malaria vectors in indoor and non-indoor residual spraying districts of Lira and Kole, northern Uganda. 2024
8 Oroma Christine (Reg. No. 18/U/3287/MEP). Ethnoveterinary plants and practices used for control of ticks and haemoparasites of cattle among smallholder farming communities in Otuke District. 2024
9 Odoch Kizito (18/U/2475/MEP). Abundance and Diversity Of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) In Abim District, North East Uganda. 2024
10 Kaweesa James (14/U/2717/MEP). Susceptibility patterns of Anopheles gambiae s.l. vectors to commonly used pyrethroids in Bugiri District, Eastern Uganda. 2022
11 Nansubugah Sarah (18/U/2472/MEP). Trypanosome infection rates in tsetse flies in the cattle corridor district of Nakasongola in Uganda. 2023
12 Odude Wycliffe (14/U/2722/MEP). Species composition, abundance and infectivity rates of malaria vectors in Apac district. 2023
13 Allele Okello Moses (Reg. No: 18/U/2461/MEP). Tsetse apparent density and prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis in Oyam and Otuke ditricts, northern Uganda 2023
14 Tekakwo Stephen (Reg. No. 18/U/2467/MEP). Molecular characterization of trypanosome infections in tsetse flies and livestock in a human-wildlife-livestock interface in Nwoya district. 2023
15 Oyet William Sam  (16/U/MEP/2729) impact of ivermectin mass drug administration on onchocerciasis control in awere sub county, Pader district. 2022
16 Kagenda Gabriel Atwoki (17/U/2368/MEP). Tick borne diseases and management practices under different livestock Production Systems In Lira District, Northern Uganda. 2022
17 Onanyang David (Reg. No: 18/U/2476/MEP). Characterization of Anopheles gambiae spp complex in IRS and non-IRS areas of Teso subregion. 2025
18 Ogweng Geoffrey Ebuu (Reg. no) Effects of varroa mite (Varroa destructor) infestation on the honeybee colony performance in Apac district, northern Uganda 2022
19 Ocen Paskweli (Reg. No): Field efficacy and timing of application for selected pesticides against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) infestation on maize in Apac district, Uganda 2022
20 Nyeko Francis Omona (Reg. No: 19/U/3489/MEP/PS). Prevalence of theileria spp. and risk factors for ticks infestation on goats in Kitgum district, northern Uganda 2022
21 Asinde Anne Kifounji. Ms Anne Asinde Kifounji-Trypanosome Infection Rates in Tsetse Flies and Distribution of Heamatophagous Flies in Tororo District. 2019

More Information


Projects and fellowships
Ongoing

1. IAEA CRP D42018 (2025–2030) – Mapping Tsetse Fly Species Distribution for Strategic SIT Interventions in Uganda. (€35,000) – Chief Scientific Investigator

2. NIH-Fogarty Subgrant (2021-2026; 5 years) – Molecular Aspects of Tsetse and Trypanosome Transmission. – Postdoctoral Research Associate

3. Muni University Research Innovation Fund (2025-2026) – Black soldier fly larvae for organic waste conversion to compost manure in Arua City, Uganda. – Co-Principal Investigator

4. AFRICHILD Seed Grant (2025-2026) – Development of a parental control mobile application for online child safety. – Co-Investigator

5. NIH-Fogarty Grant D43TW011813 – Vector Biology Training Program in East Africa (2023-2027). – Executive Committee Member

Completed (Selected)
1. ARNTD Small Grants Programme (2021) – Exploration of Simulium microbiomes for novel vector control of Onchocerciasis. (£30,000) – Principal Investigator

2. NIH-GID Tsetse and Trypanosome Transmission Project – Postdoctoral Research Associate

3. THRiVE-2 Career Development Award (2018–2019) – Trypanosome infection prevalence in tsetse flies and livestock reservoirs. (£10,000) – PI

4. BioInnovate Africa (2019–2021) – Integrated Push–Pull Deployment for Tsetse Control. – Research Associate

5. Millennium Science Initiative (2010–2013) – Molecular diagnostics of trypanosome infections in post-conflict districts. – Research Student

6. NIH/NIAID Grant R03TW008755 (2011–2018) – Emergence of new sleeping sickness foci in Uganda. – PhD Student

Fellowships

1. Yale School of Public Health (2015–2016) – Research Fellow

2. BECA-ILRI Hub, Nairobi (2012) – Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Fellow

3. NIH-GID PhD Research Fellowship (2014–2017) – KARI-Trypanosomiasis Research Centre & Yale University