William Okello currently serves as the Deputy Chief (Associate Professor) for Graduate Studies, Research, and Innovation at Soroti University, a public institution in Uganda established by an Act of Parliament in 2015. Appointed to this position in early 2025, he brings a wealth of experience and academic leadership to a growing university community focused on research excellence and innovation.
Prior to joining Soroti University, he served as Principal Research Officer in the Fish Habitat Management Programme at the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), under the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) of Uganda. His responsibilities encompassed strategic research planning, grant mobilization, policy development, and international collaboration in the fields of aquatic ecosystems and environmental management. From 2019 to 2023, he also held the role of Programme Leader, deputizing the Director of Research and leading multidisciplinary teams to advance sustainable water use and ecosystem conservation.
With a career spanning over 18 years, his academic and research expertise lies in limnology, wetland ecosystem management, and the sustainable use of natural resources. He has coordinated influential research that shaped national strategies for water pollution control and habitat restoration and led initiatives that secured over USD 5 million in research grants. His international engagements include collaborative studies with renowned institutions such as multiple universities in France, the University of Leicester (UK), the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (USA), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), the University of Liège (Belgium), and UNESCO-IHE (The Netherlands).
William has authored over 50 scientific publications and has served as an external examiner and PhD supervisor at Makerere University and other international institutions. He has also consulted for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and various Ugandan government agencies, contributing significantly to evidence-based environmental policy and regulatory frameworks.
His academic journey was profoundly shaped by his PhD studies at the University of Vienna, Austria, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for precision, critical inquiry, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Exposure to Austria’s advanced limnological research infrastructure inspired him to pioneer similar analytical capabilities in Uganda, fueling his ascent from Research Officer II to Principal Research Officer within NARO—progressing through every rank on merit.
A formative chapter of his career unfolded in Mondsee, Austria, where he conducted research under the mentorship of Professor Rainer Kurmayer. The methodologies he developed there later informed his work on cyanobacteria proliferation in Ugandan freshwater ecosystems, exemplifying the global applicability of localized scientific inquiry. His time in Austria also fostered lasting personal and professional connections, including memorable cultural experiences with Austrian research communities and host families—relationships that continue to shape his mentorship style and leadership philosophy. Through sustained academic rigor, global collaboration, and field-based innovation, William remains committed to advancing environmental sustainability, capacity building, and transformative research leadership in Uganda and beyond.
