Short Biography

Dr Denis Okello is a Ugandan Scientist based at Makerere University. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics and he is the current Head of Department of Physics (January 2022- January 2026).
Dr Okello holds a PhD in Physics from Makerere University (2013). He also holds an MSc Physics from NTNU and BSc from Makerere University. He has taught a number of Physics courses both at Undergraduate and Master’s level.
Dr. Okello is involved in scientific research with collaborative networks in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Norway, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Mozambique. He has coordinated a number of projects as PI and Co-PI.
Recently they have concentrated their research on energy storage materials for solar cooking applications.
Since 2014, Dr. Okello has published over 20 scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals. He is also an author and reviewer in many journals. He has supervised 4 Ph.D. and 12 M.Sc. students to completion.

Education Background

PhD in Physics from Makerere University (2013)

MSc in Physics from NTNU

BSc in physics from Makerere University.

Publications

i. Chaciga, J., Nyeinga, K., Okello, D., & Nydal, O. J. (2024). Design and experimental analysis on a single tank energy storage system integrated with a cooking unit using funnel system. Journal of Energy Storage, 79, 110163.
ii. Chaciga, J., Okello, D., Nyeinga, K., & Nydal, O. J. (2025). Experimental analysis on a solar photovoltaic indoor cooker integrated with an energy storage system: A positive step towards clean cooking transition for Sub-Saharan Africa. Solar Compass, 100109.
iii. Katongole, D. N., Nyeinga, K., Okello, D., Mukiibi, D., Mubiru, J., & Kisira, Y. (2024). Empowering the solar energy landscape: The techno-economic analysis of grid-connected PV power plants in Uganda. Energy for Sustainable Development, 82, 101544.
iv. Komakech, I., Okello, D., Kavuma, A., Abal, B., & Wygoda, A. (2025). Validation of clearcalc for efficient patient specific QA. Medical Dosimetry.
v. Komakech, I., Okello, D., Kavuma, A., Orem, J., Tagoe, S. N. A., & Wygoda, A. (2024). Errors in manual radiotherapy treatment procedures and their evolution in a low resource setting: Uganda’s experience. Physica Medica, 118, 103212.
vi. Katongole, D. N., Nyeinga, K., Okello, D., Mukiibi, D., Mubiru, J., & Kisira, Y. (2023). Spatial and Temporal Solar Potential Variation Analysis in Uganda Using Measured Data. Tanzania Journal of Science, 49(1), 1-14.
vii. Olanya, A., Okello, D., Oruru, B., & Kisolo, A. (2023). Natural Radioactivity Levels and Radiogenic Heat Production in River Sediments from Gulu and Amuru Districts, Northern Uganda.
viii. Okello, D., Omony, R., Nyeinga, K., & Chaciga, J. (2022). Performance Analysis of Thermal Energy Storage System Integrated with a Cooking Unit. Energies, 15(23), 9092.
ix. Kajumba, P. K., Okello, D., Nyeinga, K., & Nydal, O. J. (2022). Assessment of the energy needs for cooking local food in Uganda: A strategy for sizing thermal energy storage with cooker system. Energy for Sustainable Development, 67, 67-80
x. Okello, A., Owuor, B. O., Namukobe, J., Okello, D., & Mwabora, J. (2022). Influence of the pH of anthocyanins on the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells. Heliyon, 8(7), e09921.
xi. Olanya, A., Okello, D., Oruru, B., & Kisolo, A. (2022). The primordial radionuclides activity concentrations and associated minerals in rocks from selected Quarries in northern Uganda. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 66(1), 45-65.
xii. Tusiime, S., Nyeinga, K., Okello, D., & Nydal, O. J. (2022). Performance Investigations of the Charging and Discharging Processes in a 3-Tank Thermal Energy Storage System. Tanzania Journal of Science, 48(4), 727-740.
xiii. Bwayo, E., Okullo, W., Mukiibi, D., Okello, D., Lugolole, R., & Ireeta, T. W. (2021). Dependence of reflectance on angular deposition and film thickness of ZnS/Ag nanolayers. Engineering and Applied Science Letters, 4(4), 26-42.
xiv. Alex Okello, Brian Owino Owuor, Jane Namukobe, Denis Okello, Julius Mwabora
Influence of concentration of anthocyanins on electron transport in dye-sensitized solar cells. Heliyon (2021 V0, https://doi.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06571
xv. Pamella K. Kajumba, Denis Okello, Karidewa Nyeinga, Ole J. Nydal. Experimental investigation of a cooking unit integrated with a thermal energy storage system. Journal of Energy Storage, 32 (2020). doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2020.101949
xvi. Mavuto H. Banda, Karidewa Nyeinga, Denis Okello. Performance evaluation of 830 kWp grid-connected photovoltaic power plant at Kamuzu International Airport-Malawi. Energy for Sustainable Development 51 (2019) 50–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.05.005
xvii. Robert Lugolole, Ashmore Mawire, Denis Okello, Katlego A. Lentswe, Karidewa Nyeinga,Adedamola B. Shobo. Experimental analyses of sensible heat thermal energy storage systems during discharging, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 35 (2019) 117–130
xviii. R. Lugolole, A. Mawire, K.A. Lentswe, D. Okello, Karidewa Nyeinga (2018) Thermal performance comparison of three Sunflower Oil based sensible heat thermal energy storage systems during charging cycles. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessment. Volume 30, December 2018, Pages 37-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2018.09.002
xix. Shobo A.B., Mawire A., Okello D. (2017). Experimental thermal stratification comparison of two storage systems. 9th International Conference on Applied Energy, ICAE2017, 21-24 August 2017, Cardiff, UK, Energy Procedia (142) 3295-3300. doi.org/10.1016/J.EGYPRO.2017.12.460
xx. Tabu Bernard, Karidewa Nyeinga, Jimmy Chaciga, Denis Okello. Thermal performance of selected oils in Uganda for indirect solar domestic cooking applications. Tanzania Journal of Sciences, 2018.
xxi. Karidewa Nyeinga, Ole J. Nydal, Denis Okello, and Eldad J. K.B. Banda. 2016. Dynamic model of a small scale concentrating solar cooker with rock bed heat storage. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa; Vol.27, No.1, pp.20-27.
xxii. Denis Okello, Ole J. Nydal, Karidewa Nyeinga and Eldad J. K. Banda. 2016. Experimental investigation on heat extraction from a rock bed heat storage system for cooking applications. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa; Vol.27, No.2, pp.30-37.
xxiii. D. Okello, E.E.van Dyk, F.J. Vorster. Analysis of measured and simulated performance data of a 3.2 kWp grid-connected PV system in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Energy Conversion & Management, 100: 10-15, 2015

xxiv. Denis Okello, Choo W. Foong, Ole J. Nydal, and Eldad J.K. Banda. An experimental investigation on the combined use of phase change material and rock particles for high temperature (350oC) heat storage. Energy Conversion and Management, 79: 1 – 8, 2014.
xxv. Denis Okello, Ole J. Nydal, and Eldad J.K. Banda. Experimental investigation of thermal de-stratification in rock bed TES systems for high temperature applications. Energy Conversion. Mgmt, 86:125-131, 2014.

Projects /Grants

UGA 01: Material Sciences and Solar Energy (PI)
ENET: Energy Technology Network (Co-PI)

The detailed CV can be accessed here