Research interest: Plant ecology, conservation biology, neglected and underutilized plants, and biomass energy

My teaching interests include ecology and conservation biology at undergraduate and graduate level. I also supervise undergraduate and graduate student research projects in the same fields. I have conducted research in plant ecology, conservation of threatened cycads, neglected and underutilized food plants. I often serve as a consultant plant ecologist in environmental social impact assessments. I have competence in the design and implementation of conservation projects. Additionally, I possess a moderate experience in grant writing and have won small grants from national and international agencies. Furthermore, I am competent in publishing articles in peer review journals where I sometimes serve as an invited reviewer. 

1. Ojelel, S., Katuura, E., Mucunguzi, P., & Kalema, J. (2024). Comparative analysis of floristic richness and diversity in six central forest reserves of north eastern Uganda. Research Square, DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4556975/v1
2. Richards, S. L., Kalema, J., Ojelel, S., Williams, J., & Darbyshire, I. (2024). Improving the application of Important Plant Areas to conserve threatened habitats: a case study of Uganda. bioRxiv, 2024-01. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.04.572590
3. Echiru, K. & Ojelel, (2023). Community-Based Restoration of Agroforestry Parklands in Kapelebyong District, North Eastern Uganda: In Nishi, M., & Subramanian, S. M. Ecosystem Restoration through Managing Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS). United Nations University, Tokyo Japan, https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-99-1292-6_5
4. Ojelel, (2022). Ethnobotany, nutritional value of wild edible plants and floristic diversity in selected central forest reserves of North Eastern Uganda. PhD thesis, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda
5. Ojelel, Mucunguzi, P. & Kalema, J. (2022). Population size, sex ratio and their implications on conservation status of Encephalartos macrostrobilus (Scott Jones and Jeff Wynants) in Uganda. Encephalartos, No. 139.
6. Echiru, K. & Ojelel, S. (2021). Utilization and population structure of tree species in the agroforestry parklands of Kapelebyong district, north eastern Uganda. Research Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. 9(3), 1-8.
7. Tugume, P., Anywar. G., Ojelel, S. & Kakudidi E.K. (2020). Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.): A review of its use as a spice, culinary herb and medicinal applications. In: Atta-ur-Rahman, Chouldhary MI & Yousuf S (eds). Science of Spices and culinary herbs. Vol. 2. Bentham Science Publishers Pte Ltd, Singapore.
8. Ojelel, S., Mucunguzi, P., Kalema, J., Kakudidi, E. K., Namaganda, M., & Katuura, E. (2020). Nutritional value of selected wild edible plants in Teso-Karamoja Region, Uganda. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 20(4), 16112-16125.
9. Ojelel S, Kalema J, Katuura E, Kakudidi EK, Namaganda M and Mucunguzi P (2019). Direct use values and nutritional potential of selected wild edible plants from Teso-Karamoja region, Uganda In: UNU-IAS and IGES (eds.) Understanding the multiple values associated with sustainable use in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (Satoyama Initiative Thematic Review vol. 5), United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, Tokyo, DOI: 13140/RG.2.2.11723.34087
10. Ojelel, S., Mucunguzi, P., Katuura, E., Kakudidi, E.K., Namaganda, M. & Kalema, J. (2019). Wild edible plants used by communities in and around selected forest reserves of Teso-Karamoja region, Uganda. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 115:3.
11. Ojelel, S. & Anywar, D. (2017). Status of Encephalartos macrostrobilus (Scott Jones & J. Wynants) in Agoro Agu Central forest reserve, Uganda. Encephalartos journal 127.
12. Ojelel, S., Otiti, T. & Mugisha, S. (2015). Fuel Value Indices of selected woodfuel species used in Masindi and Nebbi districts, Uganda. Energy, sustainability and society, 5:14.
13. Ojelel & Kakudidi, E. K. (2015). Wild edible plants utilized by a subsistence farming community in Obalanga sub-county, Amuria district. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 11:7

IUCN Redlist publications

1. Baldwin, I., Kalema, J., Ojelel, & Richards, S.L. 2022. Aloe butiabana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T110696681A110696694. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T110696681A110696694.en.
2. Rotton, H., Kalema, J., Ojelel, & Richards, S.L. 2022. Cardamine jonselliana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T216660498A216662460. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T216660498A216662460.en.
3. Baldwin, I., Kalema, J., Ojelel, & Richards, S.L. 2022. Aloe wilsonii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T110802969A110803027. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T110802969A110803027.en.
4. Rotton, H., Kalema, J., Ojelel, & Richards, S.L. 2022. Dracaena bugandana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T216247781A216662305. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T216247781A216662305.en.
5. Rotton, H., Kalema, J., Ojelel, & Richards, S.L. 2022. Arabis elgonensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T216660485A216662455. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T216660485A216662455.en.
6. Richards, S.L., Kalema, J. & Ojelel, 2022. Aloe lukeana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T110743261A110743285. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T110743261A110743285.en.
7. Richards, S.L., Kalema, J. & Ojelel, 2022. Aloe ikiorum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T110727150A110727173. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T110727150A110727173.en.
8. Darbyshire, I., Baldwin, I., Kalema, J. & Ojelel, S. Aloe cheranganiensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022:  e.T110698468A110698472.  https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T110698468A110698472.en.