International Alumni Award
(L to R) Denis Kyetere and Bernard Bashaasha

Bernard Bashaasha
Ph.D. 1998
Agricultural Economics

Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at Makerere University, Bernard is responsible for strategic guidance of the department and day to day administration and management. Under his guidance his department has seen an increase in faculty with doctorate degrees, an increase in graduate students, and growing partnerships with agribusinesses. His department has also established an Agricultural Policy Research Institute, which he directs. In addition to his administrative and research work, Bernard teaches several undergraduate and graduate classes and has advised more than 20 graduate students.

Prior to taking the position at Makerere University, Bernard was a Research Officer for the National Research Organisation in Uganda. His research areas included production analysis, farming systems research, processing and marketing studies, and demand analysis.

Bernard earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Makerere University. He holds two Master’s degrees—one from Seoul National University in Agricultural Economics and one from The Ohio State University in Economics. Bernard earned his PhD in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology from OSU in 1998.

Bernard is Vice Chairperson of Uganda Agricultural Economics Association and is a member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists and the African Association of Agricultural Economists. He serves his community as a member of the Village Council.

Bernard resides in Kampala, Uganda with his wife, Joungsuk Lee, and three children, Mark Arinaitwe, Ronald Tukundane and Amy Lee Bashaasha.

Denis T. Kyetere
Ph.D. 1995
Agronomy

Originally from Mbara, Uganda, Denis earned his B.S. in Botany & Zoology from Makerere University in Kampala in 1979. After spending time in Mexico and India studying maize production and breeding, Denis received his M.S. in Plant Breeding from University of Wales in 1988. In 1995, Denis received his PhD in Agronomy from The Ohio State University.

Denis served as Acting Director General of the National Agricultural Organization (NARO) in Uganda for over a year before being named Director General in 2006. In this position Denis has restored a system of good governance, transparency, and accountability. As a result, staff morale has risen.

Denis is a member of the all Africa Crop Science Society and the Uganda National Academy of Sciences. He serves on the Executive Board of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). He has also held key positions in several other organizations including the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, the East African Seed Committee, the Coffee Research Network,a nd the Eastern and Central Africa Maize and Wheat Research Network.

Denis currently resides in Entebbe, Uganda with his wife, Ruthie Nduhukire, and their son, Donald Tumwesigye.