Peter Wasswa

Peter Waswa

Current degree:                 MSc Hydrology

Type of mobility:              MSc Degree-seeking mobility

Host university:                                 Rhodes University

Home university:              Makerere University

 

Summary:

My interest in studying MSc Hydrology generally comes from the desire to help address some of the continued water related challenges faced by not only the communities I hail from but the whole world. From time to time, communities in my home country and in Africa at large are facing significant climate change challenges exposing them to a number of water related effects. I mastered skills in climate and hydrological modelling using high level computer programming like MATLAB, R, GIS and basic Python coding. I also acquired skills in dealing with large global satellite datasets which are usually in NETCDF format. I would love to do a PhD in Hydrology.

 

Research:

My current research project “Application of the modified Pitman and SWAT models for groundwater recharge estimation of the Uitenhage Artesian Basin, South Africa”, aims to evaluate the applicability of the modified Pitman model and SWAT model for groundwater recharge estimation in the Uitenhage Artesian Basin.Specifically,my research project aims to deliver three objectives; (a) to design a perceptual/conceptual model for groundwater recharge estimation of the Uitenhage Artesian Basin,(b) to estimate groundwater recharge using all available data together with two hydrological models in the Uitenhage Artesian Basin and (c) to compare the application of the modified Pitman model and SWAT model in groundwater recharge estimation of the Uitenhage Artesian Basin. Furthermore, the study will be governed by three research questions; (i) using modified Pitman model, how much of the annual precipitation received in the Uitenhage Artesian Basin is recharged to groundwater?,(ii) to what extent can the use of modified Pitman model be relied upon as an appropriate practical method for estimating groundwater recharge considering its simplicity?  And (iii) how well does the use of modified Pitman model compare with SWAT model in estimating groundwater recharge?

My undergraduate research project was “An Assessment of March-May rainfall characteristics and its effects on streamflow of River Kafu in Masindi district Catchment-Uganda” and the main objective was to assess the patterns in MAM rainfall and effects on the streamflow of river Kafu in Masindi district-Uganda.

 

Projects:

  1. Soil Survey and Land Suitability Studies for Lothar-Iriri and Korisea-Lotome multi-purpose dam in Napak district, Karamoja region. (A technical report Prepared for ministry of water and environment of Uganda) by Okwonzia Judith Tomma (MSc), Ojara Moses (PhD), Akodi David (MSc), & Wasswa Peter (BSc) (5th July-10th Aug 2019).
  2. Yelulu Micro-Catchment Management Plan, Albert Nile Catchment, Upper Nile Water Management Zone. (A Micro-Catchment Physiographic And Socio-Economic Situation Analysis Report Prepared  for Ministry of Water and Environment-Uganda).By Lawrence Orikiliza (PhD-Mak),Daniel Waiswa (PhD-Mak),Ms.Evelyne Busingye (MWE)  and Peter Wasswa (BSc-Mak) (October 2019)
  3. An assessment of the implications of the 1.5-2.0 on trends of Uganda’s Water demands (2000-20180 and projected Uganda’s future Water demands over the period of (2020-2040). A case study of Mpanga River Catchment by Isaac Mugume (PhD-Mak) and Peter Wasswa (BSc-Mak).
  4. Improving the Prediction of Storms and Flood Forecasting over Kampala city. By Alex Nimusiima (PhD-Mak), Isaac Mugume (PhD-Mak), Bob Alex Ogwang (PhD-UNMA) and Peter Wasswa (BSc-Mak).
  5. “Towards a food secure Uganda”, By Prof. C. P. K. Basalirwa (Mak), Dr. Julianne Sansa-Otim (Mak) ,Dr. Isaac Mugume (UNMA),Dr. Alex Nimusiima (Mak) ,Dr. Bob Ogwang (UNMA) ,Dr. Anthony Mwije (Mak), Dr. Mary Nsabagwa (Mak) , Dr. Silvia Nahayo (Mak), Dr. Robert Kakulu (Mak) and Peter Wasswa (Mak).
  6. Examining Uganda’s Maize Production Potential for the Period 2021-2040 using the World Food Study Model by Isaac Mugume, Ronald Ingula Odongo, Denis Nseka, Peter Wasswa, Triphonia Ngailo, and Joyce Lunyolo & Sulin Tao

 

Organisations and Awards:

  1. Amnesty International
  2. International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
  3. Society of Young Agriculture and Hydrology Scholars of India (SYAHI)
  4.  Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) Forum
  5.  Young Hydrologic Society (YHS), National Representative (NatReps)-Uganda
  6. Community Water-Energy –Food NEXUS of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
  7. American Meteorological Society

 

Skills and Expertise:

Reading and writing papers for publications, setting up climate and hydrological models, modelling past and future water demands using WEAP, PITMAN,HYDRUS and SWAT Models, analysing climate change scenarios under different RCPs and SSPs, analysing maps in GIS, using Google Earth Engine, writing scripts in R, MATLAB and Python together with extracting large global datasets from satellites.

 

Courses:

I am interested in doing a course in python, Google Earth Engine and publication and thesis writing

 

Connections:

http://Linkedin.com/in/wasswa-peter-7a385416a

Twitter: @waswapete

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9101-4517

 

Last Modified: Fri, 25 Feb 2022 11:29:25 SAST