Prof. Johnny Mugisha

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), (1999)
Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany
Field of Study: Agricultural Economics
Title of Dissertation: “The Impact of Structural Adjustment Policies and External Market Effects on Ugandan Agricultural Economy: A Computable General Equilibrium Approach”
This study applied a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to assess how trade liberalisation policies and external market dynamics influenced agricultural production, employment, household welfare, and government budgets in Uganda.

Master of Science (M.Sc), (1994)
Makerere University, Uganda
Field of Study: Agricultural Economics
Title of Thesis: “Evaluation of the Cooking Banana Marketing Structure in Uganda”
The research analysed banana marketing channels, assessed marketing challenges, and employed a Linear Programming transportation model to optimise banana distribution for increased trader profitability.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Agriculture, Upper Second Class Honours, (1991)
Makerere University, Uganda
A broad-based degree in agriculture covering crop science, animal production, agricultural economics, and extension methodologies.

• Agricultural and Environmental Economics

• Agricultural Value Chain Analysis and Development

• Food and Nutrition Security

• Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Agriculture

• Socio-economic Evaluation of Agricultural Technologies

Prof. Johnny Mugisha has made outstanding contributions to academic mentorship and capacity building through the supervision of students at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. His supervision work spans over two decades and includes:

• Ph.D. Students Supervised to Completion: 8

• Master’s Students Supervised to Completion: Over 100

• Undergraduate Research Supervision: Numerous final-year research projects at Makerere University and in collaboration with other institutions

Many of Prof. Mugisha’s former students have gone on to occupy influential positions in:

• Universities (both within Uganda and across Africa)

• Ministries and national policy institutions

• International organizations and development agencies

• Research institutions such as NARO, NAADS, and the National Planning Authority

He is widely recognized for mentoring early-career academics, many of whom are now faculty at 8 of the 10 public universities in Uganda, as well as institutions like the University of Eswatini and CGIAR.

Prof. Mugisha’s mentorship legacy continues through the Johnny Mugisha Foundation, an NGO formed by his former students to provide technical services in agriculture and natural resource economics for community development.

Selected Presentations by Prof. Johnny Mugisha

• “Socio-economic hurdles for accessing smallholder-small scale innovations for unlocking economic opportunity: What have we learnt from agriculture and related sectors?”
  RUFORUM Triennial Conference, Windhoek, Namibia – August 6–16, 2024

• “Women’s Production Capacities Enhancement and Gender Yield Gap Reduction in Groundnuts in Uganda”
  InterDrought V Conference, Hyderabad, India – February 21–25, 2017

• “Amaranth Grain Production and Value Addition for Improved Livelihoods in the Lake Victoria Basin: Economics of Amaranth Production in Kamuli District, Uganda”
  Lake Victoria Research Initiative (VicRes) Biennial Forum, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Uganda – October 10–13, 2011

• “Draft Curriculum Proposal for MSc in Environmental and Resource Economics”
  3rd Annual Conference for Academic Partnership for Environment and Development Innovations in Africa (APEDIA), Potchefstroom, South Africa – November 16–17, 2011

• “Innovative Approaches in Improving Food Security and Access to Biofuel-Benefits”
  Workshop Organizer and Presenter – Fairway Hotel Kampala, Uganda – October 07–09, 2011

• “Impact of Agricultural Training on Young Farmers in Uganda”
  Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) 24th Annual Conference – March 9–15, 2008

• “Tuber Utilisation Options Among Sweet Potato Producers in Eastern Uganda”
  African Crop Science Conference, Kampala – December 5–9, 2005

• “Marketing Structure of the Uganda Banana Industry”
  African Crop Science Conference, Kampala – June 14–18, 1993

• Academic Leadership: Prof. Mugisha has demonstrated exemplary leadership in academic administration, serving as Dean of the School of Agricultural Sciences at Makerere University from 2013 to 2021 and as the Head of the Department of Agribusiness and Natural Resource Economics at Makerere University. His leadership has helped shape the direction of agricultural education and research in Uganda.

• Supervision and Mentorship: With over 100 master’s students and 8 PhD students successfully supervised to graduation, Prof. Mugisha has played a crucial role in shaping the future of young scholars. Many of his graduates hold important positions in government, research institutions, and private sector organizations across Uganda and beyond.

• International Collaborations: Prof. Mugisha has led and participated in numerous collaborative research projects with universities and institutions across Africa, Europe, and beyond. These collaborations have focused on various aspects of agricultural and environmental economics, ensuring a wide-reaching impact on policy and development.

• Institutional Development: He has been a key figure in establishing institutional linkages and fostering partnerships, such as the Erasmus Exchange Program between Makerere University and Justus-Liebig University Giessen. He co-founded the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD) Makerere Centre, contributing to global dialogues on sustainable development and environmental economics.

• Community Engagement: Prof. Mugisha’s passion for rural development is reflected in his active involvement in community-based projects, including the formation of the Johnny Mugisha Foundation, which supports local agricultural and environmental initiatives. He also serves on various boards and committees aimed at improving Uganda’s agricultural sector and natural resource management.

• Consultancy Expertise: Prof. Mugisha is a sought-after consultant, offering his expertise to government agencies, international organizations, and private sector companies. His consultancy work spans multiple sectors, including agricultural value chain development, policy evaluation, and environmental sustainability.

• Editorial and Peer Review Contributions: As a peer reviewer for several high-impact journals, Prof. Mugisha contributes to maintaining the quality and integrity of research in agricultural economics and related fields. He reviews for journals such as Scientific African, Energy, Sustainability and Society, and Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics.