Dr. Buregyeya Apollo, PhD

Research Interests: Cement and Concrete Research, cement hydration, concrete microstructure, alternative binders, LC3, sustainable construction

Dr. Apollo Buregyeya is a distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, with over seventeen years of experience in teaching, research, and service. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering Materials from the University of the Witwatersrand and has taught a wide range of courses, including Civil Engineering Materials, Construction Technology, Durability of Structures, and Water Resources Engineering. Dr. Buregyeya has supervised numerous students in research and industrial training, earning a reputation as an effective and inspiring educator. His research focuses on sustainable construction materials, particularly the development of low-carbon, energy-efficient alternative binders, which are currently being piloted in Uganda. He has published extensively in reputable journals such as the African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, The TQM Journal, and the East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation, and has contributed to the RILEM Bookseries.

Dr. Buregyeya is also the author of a book, “The Big We: A Blueprint for Sustainable Growth of the Local Construction Industry in Uganda”, a comprehensive analysis of the Ugandan construction industry. The book provides historical insights, explores challenges, and offers actionable recommendations for fostering sustainable growth and local ownership in the sector. His practical experience and advocacy for policy change make it an essential read for those interested in Uganda’s economic and construction industry development.

In addition to his academic and research contributions, Dr. Buregyeya has served as Acting Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and has participated in key international workshops and conferences, including the 2nd Doctoral School LC3 at EPFL, Switzerland, the Final Evaluation Workshop on Cement Proficiency Testing Scheme for Africa in Germany, and the International Conference on Advances in Cement and Concrete Technology in Africa (ACCTA) in South Africa. His leadership, research, and dedication to sustainable construction practices have significantly advanced engineering education and industry standards in Uganda and beyond.

1. CIV2203: Civil Engineering Materials
2. CIV3105: Construction Technology
3. CIV4102: Civil Engineering Infrastructure Maintenance
4. CIV7125: Advanced Concrete Materials
5. CIV7203: Project Management
6. CIV7278: Durability and Maintenance of Structures

1. Final Evaluation Workshop on Cement Proficiency testing Scheme for Africa (Theme: Evaluation of Round Robin Results, Cement Testing, Technology Transfer, Low cost building materials in Rural Areas, Cement Quality Control in Africa, Sustainability); BAM- German Federal Institute of Materials testing and Research and Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt PTB; 26^th to 28^th February 2013; Berlin Germany.
2. International Conference on Advances in Cement and Concrete Technology in Africa, ACCTA; 28-30 January 2013; Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, South Africa. I presented a paper at this conference entitled Exploratory Characterisation of Natural Pozzolana Sourced from Uganda as a Mineral Admixture in Portland Cement Concrete. The paper is part of the conference proceedings.
3.  Pre-Conference Workshop on Advances in Cement and Concrete Technology in Africa, ACCTA (Themes: Concrete technology, Admixtures, Polymers and Cement Extenders for Concrete production); 25-26 January 2013; School of Civil Engineering, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
4. Training and Dissemination workshop in the Nile Basin: New Approaches to Adaptive Water Management under uncertainty (Train the Trainer workshop on Adaptive Water Management); February 19^th – 21^st, 2008. Applied Training Program, NBI, 6^th October City, Egypt.

1. Isaksson, R., Rosvall, M., Babaahmadi, A., Buregyeya, A., Hazarika, A., Marangu, J.M., Olonade, K., Ramanathan, S., Rucukye, A. and Valentini, L., (2023). Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Building Blocks—Diagnosing Opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sustainability, [online] 15(7), p.5822. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075822.
2. Buregyeya, A., and Nwaubani, S., (2022). Hydration and compressive strength of Portland cement blended with kamafugites and carbonatites: Effect of Physical Properties. East African Journal of Science, Technology and Innovation, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.37425/eajsti.v3i2.403
3. Isaksson, R., & Buregyeya, A., (2020), “Understanding sustainability – the case of building blocks in Tanzania and Uganda”, The TQM Journal, https://doi.org/DOI 10.1108/TQM-12-2019-0302.
4. Buregyeya A., Nwaubani S., Schmidt W., Kerali A. G. & Bagampadde U., (2018), ”Pozzolanic and hydration properties of kamafugites and carbonatitic lavas as supplementary cementitious materials in Portland cement”, African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 10:7, 845-859, DOI: 1080/20421338.2018.1527539
5. Buregyeya A., Ballim Y., Nwaubani S., Kerali A.G., Otieno M. (2018) “Effect of Carbonate Minerals and Calcination of Carbonatites and Kamafugites on Their Pozzolanic Performance and Early Age Concrete Properties”. In: Martirena F., Favier A., Scrivener K. (eds) Calcined Clays for Sustainable Concrete. RILEM Bookseries, vol 16. Springer, Dordrecht, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1207-9_15
6. Buregyeya A., Quercia G., Spiesz P., Florea M. V. A., Nassingwa R., (2013); “Exploratory characterisation of volcanic ash sourced from Uganda as a pozzolanic material in Portland cement concrete”, Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Cement and Concrete Technology in Africa (ACCTA), Johannesburg – South Africa, January 28-30, 2013; BAM Federal Institute of Materials Research and testing, Germany. ISBN 978-3-9815360-3-4
7. Wolfram Schmidt, Aleksandra Radlinska, Charles Nmai, Apollo Buregyeya, Wai Lok Lai, Shicong Kou, (2013) “Why does Africa need African concrete? An observation of concrete in Europe, America, and Asia- and conclusions for Africa”, Proceedings of International Conference on Advances in Cement and Concrete Technology in Africa (ACCTA), Johannesburg – South Africa  January 28-30, 2013; BAM Federal Institute of Materials Research and testing, Germany. ISBN 978-3-9815360-3-4