Dr. Agnes Nandutu Masawi, PhD

Position: Head, Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology

Phone: +256 782 807 027

Email: agnes.nandutu@mak.ac.ug

Categories: Leaderhsip, Teaching Staff

Department: Biochemistry, Sports Science

Biography

Dr. Nandutu is a Senior Lecturer, teaching the subject of Biochemistry to Science, Veterinary and Medical students at Makerere University. Dr. Nandutu’s research areas of interest include Food chemistry, food safety, scientific validation of medicinal plants, phytochemical and antioxidant evaluation and starch chemistry. Her PhD study involved investigating Biochemical, physico-chemical and Nutritional properties of sweet potato ( Ipomomea batatas Lam) and its processing into an infant weaning food. The sweet potato-based infant food developed in this study had the potential to be used as weaning food because of its nutritional values and viscoelastic properties, which compared well with commercial baby foods.

In addition to teaching, Agnes has supervised over 12 MSc. and 4 PhD students and published several articles in refereed journals. She has participated in several projects, but not limited to what is listed below:

Education

PhD. Food Chemistry and Nutrition, University of Surrey, UK, 2005
M.Sc. Biochemistry, Makerere University, 1998
B.Sc. Biochemistry and Chemistry, Makerere University, 1994

Publications

Mary Namwanje, Agnes Nandutu Masawi, Margaret Masette, Esther Babirekere, Godfrey Kawooya Kubiriza, Jackson Efitre, Kashub S Tumwesigye, Nathan Muchwa Semwanga, Robinson Odongo “Silver Cyprinid Fish-Enriched Snack for Pregnant Women’s Nutrient Supplementation” has been published in the Research Journal of Food and Nutrition. ISSN: 2637-5583 | Volume 8, Issue 1, 2025
Biryomumaisho Justus Murokore, Peter Vuzi California, Raphael Wangalwa, Alex Paul Wacoo Clement Olusoji Ajayi, Hannington Gumisiriza,A gnes Nandutu Masawi ( 2023): “Effect of Extraction Period on Total Phenolics, Total Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Capacity of Ugandan Camellia sinensis (L) Kuntze, Black Primary Grades and Green Tea,” Journal of Food Quality, vol. 2023, Article ID 3504280, 8 pages, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3504280.
Biryomumaisho Justus Murokore, Raphael Wangalwa, Alex Paul Wacoo Clement Olusoji Ajayi, Hannington Gumisiriza, Agnes Nandutu Masawi Peter Vuzi California (2023.) “Aflatoxin Susceptible Food Consumption Frequency, Prevalence, and Levels in Household Foodstuffs in Southwestern Uganda,” Journal of Food Quality, vol. 2023, Article ID 4769432, 7 pages, https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4769432.Agwaya M.S, Nandutu A.M* and Vuzi P.C ( 2016). Protective Effects of Zanthoxylum chalybeum in Diabetes-induced Myocardial Dysfunction in Rats, published in the European Journal of Medicinal Plants, Volume 12(1).
Moses Solomon Agwaya, Peter California Vuzi, and Agnes Masawi Nandutu *( 2016). Hypoglycemic Activity of Aqueous Root Bark Extract Zanthoxylum chalybeum in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats published in Journal of Diabetes Research volume 2016, article ID 8727590 5 pages, 2016. doi:10.1155/2016/8727590.

Below is a list of research projects that Dr. Nandutu Agnes Masawi has participated in:

Retention studies of processed products from orange-fleshed sweet potato, a staple food for rural communities in Uganda. This was a collaborative study with HarvestPlus and was supported by IFPRI and CIAT
Biochemical analysis of vitamin A, iron and infection status among women and children in Uganda: a baseline survey. A collaborative study with HarvestPlus supported by IFPRI and CIAT
Postharvest quality of Solanum aethiopicum leafy vegetable subjected to various handling and storage technologies.
The protective properties of different phytochemicals against non-infectious diseases such as diabetes mellitus.
Currently involved in the Eco-innovative Technologies for improved Nutrition, sustainable Production and Marketing of Agro-ecological Food products in Africa (Innoecofood).

Grants Obtained

2008: Biochemical analysis of vitamin A, iron and infection status among women and children in Uganda: a baseline survey. This is also a collaborative study with HarvestPlus supported by IFPRI and CIAT given USD150,000

2008: Targeting Gene-based Markers Associated with Drought Tolerance Mechanisms for cassava breeding Supported by Millenium Science Initiative (MSI) (World Bank) but working on the biochemical aspects. We were given USD 250,000

2024: Assessing feasibility, acceptability and utility of Tuberclosis-Molecular Bacterial Load Assay for monitoring TB treatment in three HIV clinics in Kampala (PI) funded by MAkRiF

2024 Eco-innovative Technologies for improved Nutrition, sustainable production and Marketing of Agro-ecological Food products in Africa (Innoecofood) funded European Union.