Dr. Justine Nakintu - Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Began NMU affiliation in 2024.

Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Specialization

Ecology, environmental/social/health impact assessment, natural resources economics, paleoclimate and environment, ethnobotany, plant nutrition analysis, plant genomics.

Education

• PhD, Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology
• MSc, Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology
• BSc, Education - Biology and Chemistry emphases, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Appointments

• Lecturer, Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technoology

Research Interests

• Promotion of underutilized and indigenous crops.
• Nutritional and medicinal contribution of underutilized crops
• Crop improvement and management
• Agrobiodiversity conservation
• Agro-processing
• Paleoecology

Current Research Projects Involving Students

• Value addition to fruits from four varieties of jackfruit grown in Uganda, East Africa
• Agro-climatic suitability mapping for jackfruit in Uganda, East Africa

About Dr. Nakintu

Dr. Justine Nakintu is conducting research at NMU for ten months, supported by a fellowship from the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She will engage students in lab and GIS analysis related to her study of jackfruit. Dr. Nakintu seeks to help Ugandan farmers determine where soils are suitable for jackfruit cultivation, which they have started planting by trial and error as a possible cash crop. Another of her goals is to develop “value added” products to extend the shelf life of the fruit that is nutrient-rich, but typically spoils within five days of ripening.

Select Publications

8. Nakintu J, Albrecht C, Olet AE, Andama M, and Lejju BJ. 2024. Genealogy and Cultural Heritage of Jackfruit, the Moraceae Giant in Economically Important Trees. Origin, Evolution, Genetic Diversity and
Ecology.
7. Bálint M., Tumusiime J, Nakintu J, Baranski D, Schardt L, Romahn J, Marie-Claire Dusabe MC, Tolo UC, Grace Rugunda Kagoro RG, Ssenkuba F, Junginger A, and Albrecht C. (submitted). Environmental DNA barcoding reveals general biodiversity patterns in the large tropical rift Lake Albert:. Science of the Total Environment.
6. Onekalith S., Begumisa MG, and Nakintu J. (submitted.) Phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity of Ocotea usambarensis Engl. and Secamone africana (Oliv.) Bullock. Medicinal plants used in Bushenyi, Uganda. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.
5. Nakintu J., Andama, M., Albrecht, C., Wangalwa, R., Lejju, J. B., & Olet, E. A. (2023). Morphological traits of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.): indicators of diversity, selection and germplasm dispersion in Uganda. Scientific African, e01900.
4. Nakintu J, Albrecht C, Müller CM, Kagoro-Rugunda G, Andama M, Olet EA, Lejju JB, and Gemeinholzer B. (2020). Exploring the genetic diversity of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) grown in Uganda based on SSR markers. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 67(3), 605–619.
3. Nakintu J, Olet E, Andama MA, and Lejju J. (2019). Ethno-varieties and Distribution of jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) in Uganda: implications for trade, food security and germplasm conservation. East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation.
2. Nakintu J and Lejju J. (2016). Environmental dynamics of Lake Victoria: evidence from a 10,000 14 C yr Diatom record from Napoleon Gulf and Sango Bay. Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 5, 626-637.
1. Nakintu J and Lejju JB. (2016). A 10,000 14C yr diatom record from Napoleon Gulf and Sango Bay, Lake Victoria. Quaternary International. Proceedings of the African Quaternary, Environments, Ecology and Humans Inaugural Conference held from 30th January to 7th February 2015 at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Select Funded Grants and Fellowships

3. Fellowship. 2024. Senckenberg World of Biodiversity, Germany.  €9300.
2. Co-PI. 2024. “Exploring the Pedagogical Innovation and AI integration in Higher Institutions of Learning
funded by Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD - Postfach 200404 - D-53134 Bonn), €10,017
1. Team member. 2021. Inter University Cooperation Project, Subproject 2, funded by VLIR-UOS, € 600,000 per year for five years.

Select Honors

3. 2024 Association of American University Women International Fellowship, $50,000.
2. 2016 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) scholarship award, In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme Uganda.
1. 2015 travel grant to Cape Town, South Africa for the African Quaternary, Environments, Ecology and Humans, Inaugural Conference, UGX 7,500,000 ($2,000).