Dr. Swaib Semiyaga, PhD

Areas of Research Interest: Faecal sludge management (Containments, emptying and transportation, treatment, end-use and resource recovery), Solid waste management and recycling, Wastewater treatment and reuse

Dr. Swaib Semiyaga is a registered Civil Engineer with over 14 years of experience in Water, Sanitation, and Structural Infrastructure. Holding a Ph.D., M.Sc., and B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, he serves as a Lecturer at Makerere University. Dr. Semiyaga has an impressive academic record, with 20+ publications in peer-reviewed journals, and he actively contributes as a peer reviewer for over 20 international journals. Dr. Semiyaga has played a pivotal role in various projects, offering expertise across the sanitation value chain. His contributions encompass the design of faecal sludge containment, transport, and treatment plants. He has been instrumental in developing standards, guidelines, manuals, and catalogues for sanitation and solid waste systems in Ugandan municipalities, including Kampala, Gulu, Apac, Nansana, Mukono, and Kira.

Beyond academia, Dr. Semiyaga has experience in designing and overseeing the construction of various projects, including Mosques, Mixed-use buildings, Government schools, Health centers, and Border Markets. His holistic expertise showcases a profound understanding of civil engineering, emphasizing infrastructure development and innovative solutions in the field of sanitation

1. Graduate Professional Diploma (GPDP) in Sanitation
2. Certificate in “Didactic course on aligned teaching and active learning”
3. Certificate in “Introduction to Faecal Sludge Management”,
4. Certificate in “Municipal Solid waste Management in Developing Countries”,
5. Certificate in “Introduction to Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage
6. Certificate in “Planning & Design of Sanitation Systems and Technologies”

1. Manga, M., Aragón-Briceño, C., Boutikos, P., Semiyaga, S., Olabinjo, O., & Muoghalu, C. C. (2023). Biochar and Its Potential Application for the Improvement of the Anaerobic Digestion Process: A Critical Review. Energies, 16(10), 4051.
2. Musa, T. A., Martin, T. D., Sempewo, J. I., & Semiyaga, S. (2023). Impacts of climate and land use/cover change on mini-hydropower generation in River Kyambura watershed in South Western part of Uganda. Water Practice and Technology.
3. Tokwaro, R., Semiyaga, S., Niwagaba, C. B., Nakagiri, A., Sempewo, J. I., Muoghalu, C. C., & Manga, M. (2023). Application of black soldier fly larvae in decentralized treatment of faecal sludge from pit latrines in informal settlements in Kampala City. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11, 138.
4. Muoghalu, C., Semiyaga, S., & Manga, M. (2023). Faecal sludge emptying in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia: A systematic review of emptying technology choices, challenges, and improvement initiatives. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11.
5. Muoghalu, C. C., Owusu, P. A., Lebu, S., Nakagiri, A., Semiyaga, S., Iorhemen, O. T., & Manga, M. (2023). Biochar as a novel technology for treatment of onsite domestic wastewater: A critical review. Frontiers in Environmental Science.
6. Singh, S., Laker, F., Bateganya, N. L., Nkurunziza, A. G., Semiyaga, S., & Brdjanovic, D. (2022). Evaluation of Business Models for Fecal Sludge Emptying and Transport in Informal Settlements of Kampala, Uganda. Water, 14(18), 2914.
7. Semiyaga, S., Bamuhimbise, G., Apio, S. C., Kinobe, J. R., Nkurunziza, A., Lukooya, N. B., & Kulabako, R. (2022). Adequacy of vacuum and non-vacuum technologies for emptying faecal sludge from informal settlements of Kampala City. Habitat International, 125, 102596. 10.1016/j.habitatint.2022.102596.
8. Twinomucunguzi, F. R., Nyenje, P. M., Semiyaga, S., Kebirungi, P., Kulabako, R. N., & Kansiime, F. (2022). Antibiotics in shallow groundwater underlying urban informal settlements in developing countries: influence of on-site sanitation practices and risk assessment. Urban Water Journal, 1-13.
9. Twinomucunguzi, F. R., Nyenje, P. M., Kulabako, R. N., Semiyaga, S., Foppen, J. W., & Kansiime, F. (2021). Emerging organic contaminants in shallow groundwater underlying two contrasting peri-urban areas in Uganda. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(4), 1-25.
10. Nuwagaba, F.; Köberlein, M.; Mass, P.; Semiyaga, S. & Madrid, F. (2020). Sanitation For Millions – WASHaLOT 3.0 – An innovative handwashing technology in Uganda. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
11. Twinomucunguzi, F. R., Nyenje, P. M., Kulabako, R. N., Semiyaga, S., Foppen, J. W., & Kansiime, F. (2020). Reducing Groundwater Contamination from On-Site Sanitation in Peri-Urban Sub-Saharan Africa: Reviewing Transition Management Attributes towards Implementation of Water Safety Plans. Sustainability, 12(10), 4210. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104210
12. Gold, M., Harada, H., Therrien, J. D., Nishida, T., Cunningham, M., Semiyaga, S., Fujii, S., Dorea, C., Nguyen, V.A. & Strande, L. (2018). Cross-country analysis of faecal sludge dewatering. Environmental technology, 39(23), 3077-3087. 10.1080/09593330.2017.1374472.
13. Semiyaga, S., Okure, M. A. E., Niwagaba, C. B., Nyenje, P. M. & Kansiime, F (2018). Enhancing faecal sludge dewaterability and end-use by conditioning with sawdust and charcoal dust. Environemntal Technology. Doi: 10.1080/09593330.2017.1300191. 
14. Semiyaga, S., Okure, M. A. E., Niwagaba, C. B., Nyenje, P. M. & Kansiime, F. Optimisation of centrifuge operating conditions for dewatering physically conditioned faecal sludge from urban slums. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 8, 28-39. Doi: 10.1016/j.eti.2017.03.005.
15. Semiyaga, S., Okure, M. A. E., Niwagaba, C. B., Nyenje, P. M. & Kansiime, F. (2017). Dewaterability of faecal sludge and its implications on faecal sludge managment in urban slums. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 14(1), 151-164.
16. Semiyaga, S., Okure, M. A. E., Niwagaba, C. B., Katukiza, A. Y. & Kansiime, F. (2015). Decentralized options for faecal sludge management in urban slum areas of Sub-Saharan Africa: A review of technologies, practices and end-uses. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 104, 109–119.
17. Diener, S., Semiyaga, S., Niwagaba, C. B., Muspratt, A. M., Gning, J. B., Mbéguéré, M., Ennin, J. E., Zurbrugg, C. & Strande, L. (2014). A value proposition: Resource recovery from faecal sludge—Can it be the driver for improved sanitation? Resources, Conservation and Recycling 88, 32–38.