Ronald Semyalo

Ronald Semyalo is a hydrobiologist and has served as a lecturer in the Department of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Sciences at Makerere University since 2016. Semyalo has been working with large lake ecosystems, particularly Lake Victoria, since 2000. He started working with the ecological impacts of harmful algal blooms and transitioned to studying cyanobacterial toxins and their effects on drinking water provision. Currently, his interests lie in examining drinking water sources, treatment methods, and providing clean water to informal communities, alongside studying aquaculture's impact on freshwater ecosystems. Beyond research, Semyalo has spearheaded several capacity-building projects, including the Water and Society project (2013–2021) and Water ESSENCE project (2021–2026), both funded by NORAD (the Norwegian Government). Over 70 master's students and 20 Ph.D.s have benefited from these projects focusing on academic mobility. These projects involve numerous partner institutions across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Additionally, Semyalo is involved in the Water Sources for Africa Project, collaborating with academic and industry partners from West Africa, East Africa, and France. Semyalo has served as the academic coordinator of Makerere University's long-standing collaboration (35 years) with the University of Bergen since 2019. This collaboration program has academically nurtured over 200 staff members at Makerere University and continues to support collaborative activities between the two institutions.