Dr Savina Asiimwe Byarugaba, PhD

My Teaching and research interests: My research interest is in ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology and conservation of plants with nutritional and medicinal values. I have proficient knowledge and experience in Ethnobotany / Ethnopharmacology including skills in Field and Laboratory analytical techniques. My postgraduate research was on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and bioactivity evaluation of nutri-medicinal plants used in the management of HIV/AIDS opportunistic infections in western Uganda.

I teach Phytochemistry; Aromatic, medicinal and Poisonous plants; African Biogeography; plant conservation; Environmental Education; Plant physiology; Gender and biodiversity conservation; Natural resources Law and Bioprospecting. I am a dedicated and goal-driven professional educator, committed to the social and academic growth of learners. 

Coming soon

1. Designing cost-effective 3D printed face shields for frontline healthcare workers fighting against the spread of COVID-19 in Uganda. This project was done in collaboration with Oysters and Pearls, an NGO based in Gulu, Uganda (I was the PI, worked with Elias Muhoozi, Claire, Emmanuel and Edgar)
2. Documentation, bioactivity and phytochemistry of selected herbal medicines used by local communities in family planning management in Uganda. This project was done in all the four regions of Uganda; North (Arua), East (Kamuli), Central (Mpigi) and West (Bushenyi) collaborating with Traditional Medical Practitioners (I was Co-PI, worked with Dr Madina, Dr Jane, Joel, and Prof Byamukama).
3. Essential oil crops commercialization for sustainable Public health products development and rational promotion. This was done in collaboration with a team from Bishop Stuart University (I was the PI, worked with Prof Maud and Mr Noah).

1. Ochora, D.O., Murithi, C., Masai, R.J., Abdi, F., Cheruyiot, A., Katuura, E., Asiimwe, S., Nabatanzi, A., Anywar, G., Oryem-Origa, H. and Namukobe, J., 2024. Ex vivo and in vitro antiplasmodial activity and toxicity of Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston (Fabaceae). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 318, p.117007.
2. Walusansa, A., Ssenku, J.E., Tugume, A.K., Asiimwe, S., Kafeero, H.M., Aruhomukama, D., Nakavuma, J.L. and Kakudidi, E.K., 2023. Global evidence on the potential of some Ugandan herbal medicines to mitigate antibiotic resistance: a meta-analysis across 2½ decades. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 41, p.100698.
3. Akwongo, B., Katuura, E., Nsubuga, A.M., Tugume, P., Andama, M., Anywar, G., Namaganda, M., Asimwe, S. and Kakudidi, E.K., 2022. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants utilized in the management of candidiasis in Northern Uganda. Tropical Medicine and Health, 50(1), p.78.
4. Walusansa, A., Nakavuma, J., Asiimwe, S., Ssenku, J., Aruhomukama, D., Sekulima, T., Kafeero, H., Anywar, G., Katuura, E., Nabatanzi, A. and Musisi, N., 2022. Medically important bacteria isolated from commercial herbal medicines in Kampala city indicate the need to enhance safety frameworks. Scientific Reports, 12(1), pp.1-19..
5. Tugume, P., Kamatenesi-Mugisha, M., Bazirake, G. B., Noah, W., & Asiimwe, S. (2022). The Potency and Efficacy of Essential Oils from Selected Aromatic Crop Species Commercially Grown in Uganda: A Review of their Use in Animal and Human Therapeutics. Challenges and Advances in Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 4, 180–204. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/capr/v4/2445A. [Book Chapter]
6. Kakudidi, E., Tugume, P., Asiimwe, S., & Anywar, G. (2022). Traditional and Modern Health Uses of Cannabis sativa in Africa and Its Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile. Cannabis/Marijuana for Healthcare, 189. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8822-5_10. [Book Chapter]
7. Asiimwe, S., Tugume, P., Kakudidi, E., Anywar, G. (2022). Potential Impacts of Cannabis sativa Cultivation on the Environment in Africa: A Review. In: Agrawal, D.C., Kumar, R., Dhanasekaran, M. (eds) Cannabis/Hemp for Sustainable Agriculture and Materials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8778-5_11. [Book Chapter]
8. Anywar, G., Kakudidi, E., Tugume, P., Asiimwe, S. (2022). The Cannabis/Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) Landscape in Africa: An Overview of its Cultivation and Legal Aspects. In: Agrawal, D.C., Kumar, R., Dhanasekaran, M. (eds) Cannabis/Hemp for Sustainable Agriculture and Materials. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8778-5_10. [Book Chapter].
9. Asiimwe, Savina, Godwin U. Anywar, Esezah Kyomugisha Kakudidi, and Patience Tugume. “Medicinal Plants in Uganda as Potential Therapeutics against Neurological Disorders.” In Medicinal Herbs and Fungi, pp. 421-443. Springer, Singapore, 2021.

10. Walusansa, A., Asiimwe, S., Nakavuma, J., Ssenku, J., Katuura, E., Kafeero, H. & Kakudidi, E. K. (2022). Antibiotic-resistance in medically important bacteria isolated from commercial herbal medicines in Africa from 2000 to 2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 11(1), 1-20.
11. Walusansa, A., Asiimwe, S., Ssenku, J., Anywar, G., Namara, M., Nakavuma, J. L., & Kakudidi, E. K. (2022). Herbal medicine used for the treatment of diarrhea and cough in Kampala city, Uganda. Tropical Medicine and Health, 50(1), 1-21.
12. Namukobe, Jane, Anthony Lutaaya, Savina Asiimwe, and Robert Byamukama. “An Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in the management of dermatological disorders in Buyende and Kayunga Districts, Uganda.” European Journal of Medicinal Plants (2021): 32(2)15-40.
13. Asiimwe Savina, Jane Namukobe, Robert Byamukama, and Betty Imalingat. “Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant species used by communities around Mabira and Mpanga Central Forest Reserves, Uganda.” Tropical medicine and health 49, no. 1 (2021): 1-10.
14. Namukobe, Jane, Peter Sekandi, Robert Byamukama, Moses Murungi, Jennifer Nambooze, Yeremiah Ekyibetenga, Christine Betty Nagawa, and Savina Asiimwe. “Antibacterial, antioxidant, and sun protection potential of selected ethno medicinal plants used for skin infections in Uganda.” Tropical Medicine and Health 49, no. 1 (2021): 1-10.
15. Asiimwe, Savina, Godwin U. Anywar, Esezah Kyomugisha Kakudidi, and Patience Tugume. “Medicinal Plants in Uganda as Potential Therapeutics against Neurological Disorders.” In Medicinal Herbs and Fungi, pp. 421-443. Springer, Singapore, 2021.
16. Walusansa, A., Asiimwe, S., Kafeero, H. M., Stanley, I. J., Ssenku, J. E., Nakavuma, J. L., & Kakudidi, E. K. (2021). Prevalence and dynamics of clinically significant bacterial contaminants in herbal medicines sold in East Africa from 2000 to 2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Tropical Medicine and Health, 49(1), 1-14.
17. Savina Asiimwe, Maud Kamatenesi-Mugisha, Agnes Namutebi, Anna-Karin Borg-Karlson, Peace Musiimenta. Ethnobotanical study of nutri-medicinal plants used for the management of HIV/AIDS opportunistic ailments among the local communities of western Uganda. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 150 (2013) 639–648
18. Savina Asiimwe., Anna-Karin Borg- Karlson., Muhammad Azeem., Kamatenesi Maud Mugisha., Agnes Namutebi and Ndukui James Gakunga.  Chemical composition and Toxicological evaluation of the aqueous leaf extracts of Plectranthus amboinicus Lour. Spreng.  International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science Invention., 2014, 3 (2):19-27
19. Savina Asiimwe, Agnes Namutebi, Anna-Karin Borg-Karlson, Maud Kamatenesi Mugisha and Hannington Oryem-Origa. Documentation and Consensus of indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by the local communities of western Uganda. Journal of Natural Products and Plant Resources., 2014, 4 (1):34-42.
20. Maud Kamatenesi Mugisha, Savina Asiimwe, Agnes Namutebi, Anna-Karin Borg- Karlson, and Esezah Kyomugisha Kakudidi. Ethnobotanical study of indigenous knowledge on medicinal and nutritious plants used to manage opportunistic infections associated with HIV/AIDS in western Uganda. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 155(2014)194–202.