Dr. George Kimbowa is an accomplished water and agricultural engineer, researcher, and academic with over 15 years of experience in irrigation engineering, water resources management, and environmental systems. His expertise spans applied hydraulics, hydrology for micro-catchments, climatology, agrometeorology, hydrologic modeling, and the application of GIS, remote sensing, and GPS technologies in water resources planning and ecosystem modeling.
He holds a PhD in Water Resources Management of Makerere University, a Master of Science in Water Engineering of Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences in Algeria, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Engineering of Busitema University.
Dr. Kimbowa currently serves as a lecturer and research supervisor, teaching a wide range of courses including GIS and Remote Sensing, Hydrology, Hydraulics, Irrigation Systems, Soil Mechanics, Water Treatment, and Flood Management. He has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate research projects in areas such as water quality, irrigation systems, flood management, and hydrological modeling.
In addition to academia, he has extensive professional experience as a water engineer, hydrologist, and irrigation specialist. His work has involved designing and implementing irrigation systems, conducting water resource assessments, participating in government performance evaluations, and supporting rural water supply and sanitation projects in Uganda. He has also been actively engaged in consultancy work, including planning and designing solar-powered micro-irrigation systems.
Dr. Kimbowa is an active researcher with multiple peer-reviewed publications focusing on water resource management, agroforestry systems, hydrological modeling, and climate change impacts, particularly in the Mt. Elgon region. His work integrates scientific modeling with local knowledge to inform sustainable environmental management.
He has received several prestigious scholarships and research grants, including support from the African Union and Makerere University, and is recognized as an Open Access Ambassador with the International Water Association.
Through his teaching, research, and professional practice, Dr. Kimbowa continues to contribute significantly to sustainable water resource management, agricultural development, and climate resilience in Uganda and beyond.
• Kimbowa, G., Mfitumukiza, D., Ddumba, S. D., Nseka, D., Mukwaya, P. I., & Mugagga, F. Management of tree growing and agroforestry in an agroforested landscape: Institutions, policies, and stakeholders in Mt. Elgon Water Tower, Uganda [Manuscript accepted for publication]. Regional Environmental Change.
• Kimbowa, G., Mfitumukiza, D., Ddumba, S. D., Mukwaya, P. I., Nseka, D., & Mugagga, F. (under review). Scenario-based assessment of future water demand and allocation in the River Manafwa sub-catchment of the Mt. Elgon Water Tower region, Uganda [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Water International.
• Kimbowa, G., Ddumba, S. D., Mfitumukiza, D., Mukwaya, P. I., Nseka, D., & Mugagga, F. (under review). Exploring human-environment interactions: The impact of population growth and tree cover change on water availability in Mt. Elgon Water Tower, Uganda. Manuscript submitted for publication in African Geographical Review.
• George Kimbowa, Jamiat Nanteza, David Mfitumukiza, Saul Daniel Ddumba, Denis Nseka and Frank Mugagga. Analyzing the drivers that shape people's perceptions of the impact of changes in forest cover and human population on water availability in the Mt. Elgon water tower, Frontiers in Water, 10.3389/frwa.2025.1576366, 7, 12-May-(2025).
• Kimbowa, G., Wanyama, J., Mukaya, M., Otim, D., Awio, T., and Mugisha, M. (2025). Learning from farmers’ knowledge on participatory irrigation management using Qmethodology. Irrig. Drain. 74, 342–361. doi: 10.1002/ird.2991
• Kimbowa, G., Buyinza, J., Gathenya, J. M., and Muthuri, C. (2024). Learning from local knowledge on changes in tree-cover and water availability: the case of the contested agroforested landscape of the Mt. Elgon Water. Front. Water 6:1283574. doi:10.3389/frwa.2024.1283574
• Van Noordwijk, M. et al. (2022) ‘Mimicking nature to reduce agricultural impact on water cycles: A set of mimetrics’, Outlook on Agriculture, p. 003072702110738. doi:10.1177/00307270211073813.
• M. Msaddek, A. El Garouani, and G. Kimbowa, “Modeling the Hydrological Impacts of Vegetation Cover Changes in the Upper Oum Er-Rbia Watershed (Morocco),” J. Ecol. Eng., vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 167–180, 2021.
• M. Msaddek, G. Kimbowa, and A. El Garouani, “Hydrological Modeling of Upper OumEr Rabia Basin (Morocco), Comparative Study of the Event- Based and Continuous-Process HEC-HMS Model Methods,” pp. 159–184, 2020.
• Van Noordwijk, M.; Speelman, E.; Hofstede, G.J.; Farida, A.; Abdurrahim, A.Y.; Miccolis, A.; Hakim, A.L.; Wamucii, C.N.; Lagneaux, E.; Andreotti,F.; Kimbowa, G.; Assogba, G.G.C.; Best, L.; Tanika, L.; Githinji, M.; Rosero, P.; Sari, R.R.; Satnarain, U.; Adiwibowo, S.; Ligtenberg, A.; Muthuri, C.; Peña-Claros, M.; Purwanto, E.; van Oel, P.; Rozendaal, D.; Suprayogo, D.; Teuling, A.J. Sustainable Agroforestry Landscape Management: Changing the Game. Land 2020, 9, 243. https://doi.org/10.3390/land9080243 xi. International SDG Research Symposium, Utrecht University, Netherlands, 9-11 June 2020
• George K, Khaldoon A M. Assessing the Bujagali Hydropower Project in Uganda. Mod App Ocean & Pet Sci 2(4)-2019. MAOPS.MS.ID.000141. DOI:10.32474/MAOPS.2019.02.000141
• Kimbowa G., Msaddek M. and El Garouani A. (2017). Impact of Land-Use Change and Climate Variability on Soil Hydrologic Processes in the Upper Oum Er Rabia River Basin, Morocco, presented at Modelling and Geospatial Technologies for Water Resources in Africa. “MTGS for Water in Africa”, Université Moulay Ismail, Meknés, 19-21 October 2017
Irrigation and hydraulics engineering
Water resources and environmental management
Socio-hydrological modelling
Catchment and lake hydrological modelling
Sustainable agro-forested landscape management;
Rainwater harvesting
Flood management
Serious gaming
Climate change
Environmental quality management
Ecosystem services and climate services for agriculture and water