Our Faculty

Pacifique Ahishakiye is a dedicated Practical Farming and Conservation Agriculture Lecturer with over five years of experience teaching undergraduate students. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Massey University, New Zealand, and a Bachelor’s degree in Crop Production and Horticulture from the University of Rwanda. Pacifique has a diverse and extensive background in the agricultural sector. He worked as an Extension Officer for over three years, where he directly supported farmers in rural communities. For five years, he worked as a Vegetable and Fruit Enterprise Technologist at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), focusing on improving the production, value chains, and market access for vegetable and fruit crops.  In addition, Mr. Ahishakiye served as the Head of the Mechanization Department for the Irrigation and Mechanization Task Force of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), where he played a key role in developing and implementing mechanization strategies to boost agricultural productivity and efficiency across the country. His areas of research interest include best agricultural practices, agroforestry, no-tillage techniques, and Conservation Agriculture (CA). He can be reacged at pahishakiye@rica.rw

Frederick Ayuke is the Thread Coordinator for Conservation Agriculture and Soil and Water Conservation Lecturer of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and a Master of Philosophy degree in Soil Biology from the University of Kenya. His doctoral degree in Soil Biology is from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He was a Norman Borlaug Fellow. Dr. Ayuke focuses on conservation agriculture, soil fertility improvement, soil biodiversity conservation and associated ecosystem services, and soil organic matter dynamics in agroecosystems. He is a consultant for the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Centre for International Tropical Agriculture. He can be reached via email at fayuke@rica.rw

Tibebu Belete Chane is working as a senior lecturer at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dry Land Crop and Horticultural Sciences in 2008 from Mekelle University and a Master of Science Degree in Plant Breeding in 2011 from Haramaya University in Ethiopia. Dr. Tibebu Chane also received his doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Plant Protection (plant pathology) in 2021 from Selcuk University in Turkey. He has more than eleven years of teaching and research experience at Samara University, Ethiopia, and RICA, Rwanda. In addition, Dr. Tibebu Chane was the Chairperson of Curriculum and Modularization (2012-2013) and research and publication (2014-2015) at Samara University, Ethiopia. He is the author or co-author of more than 20 papers in international refereed journals. He is an active professional member of the Ethiopian Horticultural Sciences Society (EHSS) since 2014 and the Scholars Academic and Scientific Society (SAS Society) since 2021. Dr. Tibebu Chane’s research areas of interest and experience are plant disease characterization and management, plant breeding and genetics, forage crop management, pre- and post-harvest management of horticultural crops, and plant genetic resource conservation. He can be reached via email at tchane@rica.rw or tibebelete@gmail.com

Duncan Cheruiyot is the Row and Forage Crops Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s degree in Agronomy; Plant Breeding and Genetics Option from Egerton University in Kenya. He earned his doctoral degree in Environmental Sciences from the North-West University in South Africa. His prior professional experience includes being a project consultant and research fellow at International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, a lecturer of Botany at the University of Kabianga In Kenya, a research assistant at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute, and a student agronomist at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and Tea Research Foundation of Kenya. He can be reached via email at dcheruiyot@rica.rw

Quenan Gasana is a Post-Harvest Management Lecturer at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Processing and Marketing and a Master of Science in Bioresources and Food Sciences, both from Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. Mr. Gasana also received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanization with honors from the University of Rwanda in Kigali. In his most recent experience, he served as the Head of Agricultural Mechanization Department at the University of Rwanda and has served in education for several years. In addition, he has extensive research experience with published work. He can be reached via email at qgasana@rica.rw

Jean Bosco Hagwirineza is a Vegetable and Tree Crop Instructor and Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Crop Production and Horticulture from the University of Rwanda and a Master of Science in Agronomy and Agro-Industry with a specialization in Mediterranean and Tropical Horticulture from the Montpellier SupAgro and Agrocampus in Ouest, France. He previously lectured at IPRC Musanze and the University of Rwanda. His prior experience also includes environment audit and monitoring for the Rwanda Environment Management Authority. He can be reached via email at jbhagwirineza@rica.rw

Lark Hovey is a Communications Thread and Curriculum Coordinator at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Ms. Hovey holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Spanish from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in TESOL and Linguistics from Ball State University. Her prior experience includes serving as a lecturer and curriculum consultant in higher education at RICA, she is responsible for teaching communication courses, as well as monitoring and advising the implementation of RICA’s global outcomes for the Communications Thread across the curriculum. She can be reached via email at lhovey@rica.rw

Angelique Kangondo is an agricultural economist with extensive training and experience. In her role at RICA, she teaches Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness while actively contributing to research and extension programs. Dr. Kangondo’s expertise, showcased through her PhD in Agricultural Economics obtained from Sokoine University of Agriculture-Tanzania, is centered on critical areas such as rural and agricultural development, livelihood analysis, agricultural value chain enhancement, impact studies, climate change and youth aspirations. She can be reached out at akangondo@rica.rw

Haji Athumani Msangi is an Entrepreneurship Lecturer and Thread Coordinator at RICA. His expertise spans Agricultural and Sustainable Rural Development, Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship, Agri-food Value Chains Development, Economics of Climate Change, Agri-food Systems, and Land Economics and Governance. Dr. Msangi holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, a Master’s degree, and a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. He has previously served as an assistant lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania where he taught courses like Agribusiness Entrepreneurship, Crop Production Enterprise, and Farm Management. Along with teaching, Dr. Msangi also contributed to collaborative research projects like “Food Systems Transformation in Southern Africa for One Health (FoSTA-Health)” and SUGECO Agri-food Entrepreneurship Initiative (SAEI). He also worked with other institutions such as the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Germany, College of Business Education, Economic and Social Research Foundation and Sokoine University Graduate Entrepreneurship Cooperative in Tanzania. Dr. Msangi has undertaken consultancies with organizations including International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), SOLIDARIDAD, and Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB). He can be reached at hmsangi@rica.rw

Celestin Munyaneza is the Dairy Production Instructor and Enterprise Lead at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Dr. Munyaneza holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Veterinary Medicine from the Interstate School of Veterinary Medicine, a Master of Science Degree in Livestock Production and Sustainable Development from the Cheikh Anta Kiop University of Dakar, and a doctoral degree in Animal Science and Production from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro, Tanzania. He has served as an Assistant Lecturer of Animal Production and the Academy Secretary of the Faculty of Agriculture, Environmental Management and Renewable Energy at the University of Technology and Arts of Byumba. His focus is on animal husbandry and animal production. He can be reached via email at cmunyaneza@rica.rw

Dr. Nshogoza is the Applied Agricultural Chemistry Lecturer of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry – Biology with Education from Kigali Institute of Education in Rwanda, a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Xiamen University in China, and a Ph.D. from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Biochemistry. His prior professional experiences include being a Lecturer at University of Rwanda / College of Science and Technology, Chemistry Department; Kigali Institute of Education, Institut d’enseignement Superieur de Ruhengeri (INES) and having been a Chemistry and Biology teacher at Sainte Bernadette College and Minor Seminary of Zaza. Even though he has been and is still a Lecturer, Dr. Gilbert also supervises various projects ranging from Undergraduate, Post-graduate, Master’s, and Ph.D. research projects at different Universities/College in Rwanda.

Birasa Nyamulinda is the Agricultural Business Instructor at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). Dr. Nyamulinda holds a Bachelor of Science in Development Economics and a Master of Science in Applied Economics from the University of Rwanda, and a doctoral degree in Economics from the University College Dublin in Ireland. He specializes in agribusiness, financial analysis, strategic planning, value chain analysis, impact assessment, entrepreneurship and project evaluation. Dr. Nyamulinda’s previous experience includes serving on the Rwanda Development Board and as an agribusiness investment advisor. He can be reached via email at bnyamulinda@rica.rw

Dr. Sylvans Ochieng Ochola is RICA’s Lecturer in Integrated Pest Management. His most recent experience was as a research fellow with the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In his prior experience, he served as a lecturer in several areas focused on crops, horticulture and soils. Dr. Ochola holds a doctorate in Plant Pathology from Nanjing Agricultural University in China, and a master’s in crop protection as well as a bachelor’s in agriculture, both from Egerton University in Kenya. He is a published researcher and a member of professional bodies including the International Society for Plant Pathology.
He can be reached via email at sochola@rica.rw

Dr. Judith Uwihirwe is a Lecturer of Precision Agriculture at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) with 15 years teaching experience from various universities. She holds PhD degree in Civil Engineering and Geosciences from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. She holds an interuniversity Master’s degree in Physical Land Resources with specialization in Land Resources Engineering from Ghent University and Vrije Universiteit of Brussel, Belgium. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Soil and Water Management from the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (ISAE). Her Research experience and interests focus on agricultural land and water management, hydro-geo-meteorological hazards, groundwater exploration and modelling, hydrogeology, precision agriculture, GIS and Remote Sensing. She can be reached at juwihirwe@rica.rw