Research Interest:
Dr. Arthur Tugume is a Ugandan scientist based at Makerere University, Uganda. He is an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology and Virology at the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology, where he has served in various academic, administrative, and management capacities since 1999. He is a two-time Head and Chair of the Department of Plant Sciences, Microbiology and Biotechnology (2012-2015 and 2020-2022). He is currently the Dean, School of Biosciences in the College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University (2022-2026).
Dr. Tugume holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Helsinki, Finland (2010). He also holds an M.Sc in Agriculture (Crop Science) (2003) and B.Sc (Botany and Biochemistry) (1999) both from Makerere University. Dr. Tugume is involved in scientific research with collaborative networks in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland, Japan, Germany, UK and USA. He has been a PI, Co-investigator, Coordinator, Champion, or Scientific advisor of projects with budgets ranges of US$18,000 to US$6.2million. For details, see the list of on-going and past projects below.
Dr. Tugume’s research group works on plant-pathogen interactions, associated biotic stresses and disease management on crop commodities sweetpotato, cassava, banana, watermelons, and pumpkins. They focus on virus ecology, evolution, diagnostics, vector transmission, agro-ecosystem disease dynamics in these crops, and banana xanthomonas wilt pathosystem evolution. In addition, he is interested in sexual reproductive development of vegetatively propagated crops (banana, cassava and sweetpotato). For details, please see the list of publications below.
Dr. Tugume has over 30 scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals generated in 12 years (2008-2022). He is an author, reviewer, and an editor. He is has supervised, mentored and/or examined 10 PhDs, 12 MSc, and over 30 BSc students’ research work. He has kin interest in science leadership and is fond of raising and motivating early career scientists, which is reminiscent of his broad reach in the crop commodities and subject themes of plant pathology, virology and sexual and vegetative reproductive development. Lately, he is at the helm of designing recommendations to Uganda government of Uganda on strategies for integrating science, technology and innovations (STIs) as a catalyst for national economic transformation and development.
PROJECT TITLE #1
Improving scalable banana agronomy for small-scale farmers in highland banana cropping systems in East Africa.
PROJECT LIFE:
2016-2021
PROJECT PI, Co-PI AND OTHER TEAM MAMBERS:
Dr. Jerome Kubiriba (PI), National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO)
Assoc. Prof. Arthur Tugume (Makerere University-based PI)
COLLABORATORS/COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
Bioversity International-CIAT Alliance
Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)
CABI International
African Soil Health Consortium (ASH-C)
BUDGET:
USD 5,700,000.00
PROJECT SUMMARY:
The significance of banana in the livelihoods of people in east and central Africa accounts for close to 4% of the GDP of the entire region. Most of the genotypes grown have emerged through centuries of farmer-assisted selection and are unique to the region. Wide yield gaps were previously observed because whereas the potential to yield and solve food shortages, many constraints accounted for failure to reach banana’s yield potential. The constraints included pests and diseases, drought spells and soil infertility. This project attempted a holistic approach to the banana production chain including marketing. Makerere University’s workstream however focused on redefining the contributions of banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW) as the main biotic constraint to banana productivity. BXW is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris musacearum (Xcm). The study also assessed the incidence of latent Xcm infections and promotion of carefully crafted cultural practices to enhance escape of banana plantations from further BXW-based damage in infested fields. This project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
PROJECT TITLE #2
Transmission biology of the ipomovirus Sweet potato mild mottle virus in sweetpotato.
PROJECT LIFE:
2011-2013
PROJECT PI, Co-PI AND OTHER TEAM MAMBERS:
Assoc. Prof. Arthur Tugume (PI)
COLLABORATORS/COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS:
Dr. Christopher Omongo (NaCRRI, Namulonge, Uganda)
BUDGET:
USD 60,000.00
PROJECT SUMMARY:
Sweetpotato is an important crop in Uganda but its contributions in food and income security is challenged by virus diseases. Notably, the virus named Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV) causes more severe damages when co-infecting with another unrelated virus, Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV). While the epidemiology of SPCSV is fairly studied, SPMMV epidemiology is less studied including lack of knowledge of vectors transmitting the virus. To control disease complexes like those arising from multiple infections with sweetpotato viruses, it is essential that the epidemiology of viruses in mixed and single infections be studied. This study therefore investigated SPMMV epidemiology at field-level by analyzing the preferences of different insect species in respect to SPMMV infection in the field of host preferences of different insects in sweetpotato. This project was funded by Regional Universities FORUM for capacity building in Agriculture (RUFORUM).
PROJECT TITLE #3
Creation of an Undergraduate Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biotechnology at Makerere University
PROJECT LIFE:
2008-2012
PROJECT PI, Co-PI AND OTHER TEAM MAMBERS:
Prof. Silvester Nyakaana (PI), Makerere University, Uganda
Prof. Hanington Oryem-Origa (Co-PI), Makerere University, Uganda
Assoc. Prof. Arthur Tugume (Co-PI), Makerere University, Uganda
Prof. Maud Kamatenesi-Mugisha (Co-PI), Makerere University, Uganda
Assoc. Prof. Gerald Mutumba (Co-PI) , Makerere University, Uganda
COLLABORATORS/COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS:
Prof. Jari PT. Valkonen, University of Helsinki, Finland
BUDGET: USD 2,500,000.00
PROJECT SUMMARY:
This project was a result of societal demands on the premise of using biology and living systems based technologies in the transformation of Uganda’s the national economy and her science, technology and innovations (STIs) ecosystem. As one of the identified tenets of economic transformation, no existing academic programs existed in Ugandan universities to train and equip students at undergraduate level in Biotechnology. Therefore, the BSc Biotechnology was designed for this purpose providing fundamental knowledge and skill in all areas of biotechnology that allows easy application and/or easy higher degree specialization in all areas. This academic program was funded by the Government of Uganda in partnership with the World Bank.