Department of Biology

Dr. Robert Opiro (PhD)
Head of Department

Department of Biology falls under the Faculty of Science. However, the Department offers trainings to students from the Faculty of Education and Humanities pursuing Bachelor of Science Education (Biologicals). We aim to provide a foundation in the biological sciences for biology majors and students in other faculties whose degree requirements include biology.To enhance the mission and goals of the University, the Department seeks to emphasise hands-on experience in the biological fields and integrates research and teaching activities across the biological field. We are committed to a broad range of learning opportunities, including traditional classroom experiences, non- classroom experiences in the field and the laboratory, independent study and full student engagement in research.

Welcome Message

Staff Members

Prof. Auma Elizabeth Opiyo Professor	PhD(UoN), MSc Medical Parasitology(LSHTM), BSc Hons (Zoology)(UoN)	View Profile
Assoc. Prof. Opio Alfonse Associate Professor		View Profile
Assoc. Prof. Richard Echodu Associate Professor		View Profile
Assoc. Prof. Malinga Geoffrey Maxwell Associate Professor		View Profile
Assoc. Prof. Christine Oryema Associate Professor		View Profile
Dr. Angwech Harriet Senior Lecturer	PhD(Università degli Studi del Molise), M.Sc. (Applied Parasitology) (MAK), B.Sc. (Ed.)	View Profile
Dr. Robert Opiro (PhD) Senior Lecturer	PhD (Gulu University), MA(MAK), BA(Gulu University)	View Profile
Nagayi Kalule Jane Yawe Lecturer		View Profile
Kilama Justine Luwa (PhD) Lecturer		View Profile
Opika-Opoka Hector Lecturer		View Profile
Okello Peter Assistant Lecturer		View Profile
Lamwaka Pamella Senior Assistant Technician		View Profile
Arihona Sidney Senior Assistant Technician		View Profile
Ojok Robert Peter Technician		View Profile

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Publications

Apio, E., Angwech, H., Opio, B., Okwir, G., Opoke, R., Malinga, G. M., & Opiro, R. (2026). . (2026) . Utilization of malaria control interventions and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Lira City, Northern Uganda . BMC Public Health, [online] Volume 26(1251). Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-026-26899-z

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

Were, R., Opio, A., Kagenda, G. A., Malinga, G. M., & Angwech, H. (2025). . (2025) . Prevalence and risk factors associated with Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs in Oyam district, Uganda . PLOS Neglected Tropical Disease, [online] Volume 19(12). Available at: https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0013776

Ocaya, J. , Arwenyo, B. , Ongwech, A. , Nnamuyomba, P. , Angwech, H. , Awor, S. , Kanis, D. , Kigozi, M. and Kisitu, J. (2025) . (2025) . Immobilization of TNT and RDX Explosives from Contaminated Soil at Demining Sites in Amuru District, Northern Uganda, Using Rice Husk Biochar . Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 13(11)

Malinga, G.M., Angwech, H., Alemu, M.H. et al. (2025) . (2025) . Strides in farming edible African bush cricket, Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in East Africa: a systematic review of rearing protocols . Int J Trop Insect Sci, [online] Volume 45, pp. 2589–2606. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42690-025-01561-0

Alaroker MF, Twongyirwe R, Nyeko P, Sengendo F, Anu V, Massa B, Angwech H, Malinga GM, Van Miert S. (2025) . (2025) . Local knowledge, perception and practices regarding edible insects among different ethnic groups in Northern Uganda . J Ethnobiol Ethnomed, 21(45)

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

Sengendo, F., Egonyu, J. P., Valtonen, A., Noyens, I., Angwech, H., Alaroker, M. F., ... & Van Miert, S. (2025). . (2025) . Growth, survival and nutritional composition of the edible long-horned Grasshopper Ruspolia differens (Serville) reared on diets from oil seed by-products . International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 45, pp. 2575–2588

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

Sengendo, F., Egonyu, J. P., Valtonen, A., Noyens, I., Angwech, H., Alaroker, M. F., ... & Van Miert, S. (2025). . (2025) . Supplementation of maize bran with either sunflower or oil palm seed cakes improves growth and nutritional value of the edible house cricket (Acheta domesticus) , pp. 590-602

Ocaya, J., Arwenyo, B., Ongwech, A., Nnamuyomba, P., Opio, A., Angwech, H., & Kisitu, J. (2025) . (2025) . Organic Explosive Residues from Demining Sites in Amuru District, Northern Uganda. . Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 13(3)

Opeto, C. D., Angwech, H., Ongwech, A., Abola, B., Odongo, S., & Malinga, G. M. (2024). . (2024) . Haemonchosis in Small Ruminants Under Traditional Husbandry Systems in Apac District, Northern Uganda . Journal of Parasitology Research

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

B. Arwenyo, J. Wasswa, M. Nyeko and G. N. Kasozi, (2017) . (2023) . The impact of septic systems density and nearness to spring water points, on water quality, African Journal of Environmental Science and technology , pp. 245-251. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJEST2023.3225

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

Akiiki Beyihayo, G. A., Kugonza, R. D., Ndyomugyenyi, E. K., Echodu, R., Marion W. Okot, M. W. and Dos Anjos, F. (2023) . (2023) . Genetic and phenotypic parameter estimates for selection within Ugandan indigenous chickens . Tropical Animal Health and Production, 55(100)

Harriet Angwech (2023). . (2023) . Career experience of women in STEM in Uganda . In: Nyadoi, P., Mbabazi, F. K., Nachuha, A. P. S., & Thomson, J. (2023). , Career growth for Uganda’s women and girls in sciences, the challenges, opportunities and experiences ISBN: 978-9914-745-40-5

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Department of Biology