Dr. Vianney Andrew Yiga, PhD

Research Interests: Biofuels; Biocomposites; Biochar; Bioplastics

Dr. Vianney Andrew Yiga has interest in renewable energy systems, waste management as well as product and production systems optimization.

Current Position

Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Makerere University, Kampala

Other key skills training (Certification)

• Certificate in East Africa Renewable Energy Statistics Training, International Renewable Energy Agency, 2024.
• Certificate in Design of Experiments (DoE) and Visual communication of Scientific Research, University of Kassel, Germany, 2020.
• Certificate in Information Competence and Management, Makerere University Kampala, 2020.
• Certificate in Qualitative Data analysis, Interpretation and Presentation, Makerere University Kampala, 2020.
• Diploma in MATLAB, University College of Southeast Norway, Norway, 2017.
• Certificate in Journalism, A-One Institute of Media & Business Studies, Kampala, 2011

1. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama & Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2025) “Alkali Modification and Pyrolysis of Rice Husks for Bioenergy Potential: A Kinetics Study”. Energy Science and Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.2084
2. Cynthia Awuor Owino, Michael Lubwama, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Faridah Were, Ocident Bongomin, Jonathan Serugunda (2024) “Mechanical and thermal properties of composite carbonized briquettes developed from cassava (Manihot esculenta) rhizomes and groundnut (Arachis hypogea. L.) stalks with jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) waste as binder” Discover Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-024-06123-6
3. Emmanuel Karakwita Nyakoojo, Joel Wakatuntu, Eseru Jasper, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Hillary Kasedde, Michael Lubwama (2024) “Characteristics of composite briquettes produced from carbonized banana peels and waste glass” Discover Materials.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-024-00104-7  
4. Michael Lubwama, Agatha Birungi, Andrew Nuwamanya, Vianney Andrew Yiga. (2024) “Characteristics of rice husk biochar briquettes with municipal solid waste cassava, sweet potato and matooke peelings as binders” Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40243-024-00262-x
5. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Sathiyaraj Subramaniyan, Naba Kumar Kalita, Michael Lubwama, Minna Hakkarainen. (2024) “Modified rice husk as component in recyclable and biodegradable epoxy thermosets” Discover Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-024-05834-0
6. Josephine Moriku Thomas Celestino, Peter Okidi Lating, Betty Nabuuma, Vianney Andrew Yiga. (2023) “Effects of clay, gum Arabic and hybrid binders on the properties of rice and coffee husk briquettes” Results in Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2023.101488
7. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Moses Katamba, Michael Lubwama, Karin. Adolfsson, Minna Hakkarainen, Edwin Kamalha. (2023) “Combustion, kinetics and thermodynamic characteristics of rice husks and rice husk-biocomposites using thermogravimetric analysis” Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12458-w
8. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama, Denis Karemani, Denis Bbosa, Emmanuel B.O. Olotu, Peter Wilberforce Olupot, Faith Natukunda. (2023) “Prediction of tensile strength of biochar filled polylactic acid composites via box-behnken design”. Journal of Engineering Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jer.2023.100142
9. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Andrew Nuwamanya, Agatha Birungi, Michael Lubwama, Harriet Nalubega Lubwama. (2023) “Development of carbonized rice husks briquettes: Synergy between emissions, combustion, kinetics and thermodynamic characteristics”. Energy Reports. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.05.066
10. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama & Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2023) “Thermal stability of NAOH modified rice husk fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites: Effect of rice husks and clay loading”. Results in Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinma.2023.100398
11. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama, James Opio, Emmanuel Menya, Denis Nono, Harriet Nalubega Lubwama. (2023) “Production and Characterization of Paper from Banana Stem Fiber: Optimization Using Box-behnken Design (BBD)”. Journal of Natural Fibers. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2023.2192019
12. Michael Lubwama, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Harriet Nalubega Lubwama, Ivan Ssempijja & Joseph Kihedu. (2023) “Emissions and emission factors for Dichrostachys cinerea, Morus Lactea, Piliostigma thonningii, Combretum molle, and Albizia grandibracteata firewood species and their charcoals”. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-04005-2
13. Herman Mbabali, Michael Lubwama, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Evans Were & Hillary Kasedde. (2023) “Development of Rice Husk and Sawdust Mycelium-Based Bio-composites: Optimization of Mechanical, Physical and Thermal Properties”. Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series D. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40033-023-00458-x
14. Denis Nsubuga, Isa Kabenge, Ahamada Zziwa, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Yusufu Mpendo, Mawejje Harbert, Ronald Kizza, Noble Banadda & Kerstin D. Wydra. (2023) “Optimization of adsorbent dose and contact time for the production of jackfruit waste nutrient-enriched biochar”. Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42768-022-00123-1
15. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama & Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2023) “Pyrolysis, kinetics and thermodynamic analyses of rice husks/clay fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites using thermogravimetric analysis”. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-022-11927-y
16. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama, Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2022) “Thermal and alkali modification of kaolin for potential utilization as filler material in fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites” Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-022-11379-4
17. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama, Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2022) “Thermal stability of unmodified and alkali modified rice husks for flame retardant fiber-reinforced PLA composites” Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry,1-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-022-11311-w
18. Tumusiime, Godias, Paul Wambua, Samson Rwahwire, David Njuguna, Vianney Andrew Yiga. (2022) “Production and mechanical characterization of reinforced zinc oxide nanoparticle-coated silk waste bio-composites” Polymer Bulletin, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-022-04475-w
19. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama, Sinja Pagel, Peter Wilberforce Olupot, Johannes Benz, & Christian Bonten. (2021) “Optimization of tensile strength of PLA/clay/rice husk composites using Box-Behnken design” Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 3, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01971-3
20. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama & Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2021) “Characterization of rice husks as potential reinforcement for polymer composites” Materials Circular Economy, 3, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-021-00031-5
21. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama, Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2021) “Application of Response Surface Methodology for optimizing tensile strength of rice husk fiber-reinforced polylactic acid composites”. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) Proceedings, 3, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3390/IOCPS2021-11242
22. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Sinja Pagel, Michael Lubwama, Johannes Benz, Peter Wilberforce Olupot & Christian Bonten. (2021) “Flame retardancy and thermal stability of agricultural residue fiber-reinforced PLA: A review.” Polymer Composites, 24, 15-44. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.25835
23. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Michael Lubwama, Peter Wilberforce Olupot. “Effect of Surface modification on the bio-chemical properties of rice and coffee husks agricultural wastes for potential use in briquettes and fiber-reinforced plastics development.” Journal of Natural fibers 18(3) (2021): 630-629. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2019.1642824
24. Michael Lubwama, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Silagi Wanambwa, Denis Bbosa & Harriet Nalubega Lubwama. (2021). Pyrolysis kinetics and combustion characteristics of local firewood species and charcoal produced by slow pyrolysis. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02050-3
25. Michael Lubwama, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Ivan Ssempijja, & Lubwama, H. N. (2021). Thermal and mechanical characteristics of local firewood species and resulting charcoal produced by slow pyrolysis. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-01840-z
26. Michael Lubwama, Vianney Andrew Yiga, & Harriet Nalubega Lubwama. (2020). Effects and interactions of the agricultural waste residues and binder type on physical properties and calorific values of carbonized briquettes. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-01001-8
27. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Lubwama, M., & Peter Wilberforce Olupot. (2020). Investigation on char residues and mean reactivity of compression molded rice and coffee husks bio-char reinforced polypropylene. In ASTFE Digital Library. Begel House Inc. https://doi.org/10.1615/TFEC2020.cbf.032093
28. Michael Lubwama, Vianney Andrew Yiga, Frank Muhairwe, Joseph Kihedu. (2020). Physical and combustion properties of agricultural residue bio-char bio-composite briquettes as sustainable domestic energy sources. Renewable energy, 148, 1002-1016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.10.085
29. Vianney Andrew Yiga, & Michael Lubwama. (2020). Thermogravimetric analysis of agricultural residue carbonized briquettes for domestic and industrial applications. MRS Advances, 5(20), 1039-1048. https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2019.485
30. Vianney Andrew Yiga, Sinja Pagel, Michael Lubwama, Stefan Epple, Peter Wilberforce Olupot and Christian Bonten. “Development of fiber-reinforced polypropylene with NaOH pretreated rice and coffee husks as fillers: Mechanical and thermal Properties.” Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials 33, no. 9 (2020): 1269-1291. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0892705718823255
31. Timothy Louis Musinguzi, Vianney Andrew Yiga, & Michael Lubwama (2019). “Production of bio-composite polymers with rice and coffee husks as reinforcing fillers using a low-cost compression molding machine.” Journal of Engineering in Agriculture and the Environment. https://doi.org/10.37017/jeae-volume5-no1.2019-5
32. Michael Lubwama & Vianney Andrew Yiga. “Characteristics of briquettes developed from rice and coffee husks for domestic cooking applications in Uganda.” Renewable energy 118 (2018): 43-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.11.003
33. Michael Lubwama & Vianney Andrew Yiga. “Development of groundnut shells and bagasse briquettes as sustainable fuel sources for domestic cooking applications in Uganda.” Renewable Energy 111 (2017): 532-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.04.041