Dr Matia Mukama

Dr Matia Mukama

Lecturer, Department of Food Science and Technology PhD (Food Sci) SU, MSc (Food Sci) SU, BSc (Food Sci & Tech) Mak | Premier member (UGAFOST)

Biography

Dr Mukama is currently a Lecturer at the Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Kyambogo University.

He possesses a PhD in Food Science with a specialisation in Food Engineering, Food Packaging Design and Postharvest Technology from Stellenbosch University, South Africa (2019). He also did a Postdoctoral Fellowship focussed on Energy Security & Living Labs at the School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, South Africa (2020/2021). He graduated with a MSc in Food Science from Stellenbosch University, South Africa in 2015. He also holds a BSc in Food Science and Technology from Makerere University, Uganda attained in 2013.

Dr Mukama is a multitalented Food Scientist with several years of research, graduate students’ supervision, and management experience in the Food industry. Matia is a published researcher with a number of articles in highly regarded peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings.

In addition to being a trained Science Communicator, Matia is also passionate about Science Communication and the translation of generated Scientific knowledge into tangible society solutions.

Matia is a Premier Member of the Uganda Food Science and Technology Association (UGAFOST), Professional member of South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and the South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST).

Research Interests:

  • Application of Engineering Principles in Food Package Design and Improvement
  • Cold Chains and their application in Food Postharvest Technologies
  • The Fourth Industrial Revolution in the Food Industry
  • Postharvest Technologies in relation to Climate Change
  • Sanitation and Waste Management in the Food Industry

Current Project(s)

Assessment of the current cold chain potential of the Ugandan food system, Kyambogo University Research Grants (US$ 7,727)

List of Publications:

Research Link: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kP7rgxcAAAAJ&hl=en

Peer review

  1. Ambaw, A., Mukama, M., Fadiji, T., & Opara, U. L. (2022). Fresh fruit packaging design verification through virtual prototyping technique. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 32, 100858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2022.100858
  2. Mukama, M., Musango, J. K., Smit, S., Ceschin, F., & Petrulaityte, A. (2022). Development of living labs to support gendered energy technology innovation in poor urban environments. Technology in Society, 68, 101850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101850
  3. Batinge, B., Musango, J. K., Ceschin, F., Ambole, A., Smit, S., Mukama, M., & Petrulaityte, A. (2022). From energy security to security of energy services: the role of gendered innovations in living labs. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 33(2), 49-61. https://doi.org/10.7166/33-2-2469
  4. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A & Opara, U.L. (2021). Characterisation of Ventilated Multi-Scale Packaging Designs Used for Postharvest Handling of Pomegranate in South Africa. Agricultural Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America, 52(4), 32.
  5. Musango, J.K., Smit, S., Ceschin, F., Ambole, A., Batinge, B., Anditi, C., Petrulaityte, A., & Mukama, M. (2020). Mainstreaming gender to achieve security of energy services in poor urban environments. Energy Research & Social Science, 70, 101715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101715
  6. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., & Opara, U.L. (2020). Advances in design and performance evaluation of fresh fruit ventilated distribution packaging: A review. Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 24, 100472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2020.100472
  7. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., & Opara, U.L. (2020). Thermophysical properties of fruit—a review with reference to postharvest handling. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-020-00536-8
  8. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., & Opara, U.L. (2020). A virtual prototyping approach for redesigning the vent-holes of packaging for handling pomegranate fruit – A short communication. Journal of Food Engineering, 270, 109762. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2019.109762
  9. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., Berry, T.M., & Opara, U.L. (2019). Analysing the dynamics of quality loss during precooling and ambient storage of pomegranate fruit. Journal of Food Engineering, 245, 166-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2018.10.020
  10. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., & Opara, U.L. (2019). Thermal properties of whole and tissue parts of pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit. Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, 13, 901-910. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-018-0004-1
  11. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., Berry, T.M., & Opara, U.L. (2017). Energy usage of forced air precooling of pomegranate fruit inside ventilated cartons. Journal of Food Engineering, 215, 126-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2017.07.024
  1. Ambaw, A. Mukama, M., & Opara, U.L. (2017). Analysis of the effects of package design on the rate and uniformity of cooling of stacked pomegranates: Numerical and experimental studies. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 136, 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2017.02.015

Conference papers

  1. Ambaw, A., Mukama, M., Fadiji, T., & Opara, U. L. (2022, February). Packaging of the future: innovations in packaging design and cold chain logistical management. In V International Symposium on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean Fruits 1349(pp. 389-398).
    https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1349.53
  1. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., Berry, T.M., & Opara, U.L. (2018). Effect of relative humidity on pomegranate quality under simulated ambient storage conditions. Acta horticulturae, 1201, 265-272. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1201.36
  2. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., & Opara, U.L. (2018). Analysis of the thermal and biophysical properties of pomegranate fruit. Acta horticulturae, 1201, 273-280. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1201.37
  3. Ambaw, A., Mukama, M., & Opara, U.L. (2018). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based analysis of the aerodynamic and thermodynamic performances of package designs during cooling of stacked pomegranates. Acta horticulturae, 1201, 205-212. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1201.28
  4. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., & Opara, U.L. (2018). Some engineering properties of pomegranate fruit relevant to postharvest handling and processing. Proceedings in the 12th CIGR Section VI Technical Symposium, 22-25 October, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria
  5. Mukama, M., Ambaw, A., Berry, T.M., & Opara, U.L. (2018). Dynamics of pomegranate fruit weight loss during precooling and ambient storage: a spatial and temporal analysis. Proceedings in the 12th CIGR Section VI Technical Symposium, 22-25 October, IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria

Contact details:

Email: mmatia@kyu.ac.ug / muksmatiz@yahoo.com

Phone: +256756384709 / +256787311811