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Francis Otto

Francis Otto

Chief, ICT Services

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Dr. Francis Otto is a Computer Scientist with special interest in information and communication technology (ICT) research for development. He has more than 20 years of experience in Higher Education and ICT sectors having worked in a number of organisations – both public and private.

Before joining Mountains of the Moon University as Director of ICT, Dr. Otto worked for fives years as Manager of Knowledge Hub at the RUFORUM, a network of 170 universities in 40 African countries (as at 2024), based in Makerere University in Uganda and previously worked with Uganda National Council for Higher Education, Huawei Technologies and  Orange Telecom.

He is a member of ICT Association of Uganda, Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) and other professional bodies.  In terms of academic leadership, he worked with Makerere University and Uganda Christian University and rose from Assistant Lecturer to Senior Lecturer and Head of Information Technology Department, which he served for more than 5 years and  also acquired other relevant administrative experience in relation to management of academic processes.

  1. 2016: PhD in Computer Science, University of Reading, United Kingdom (Commonwealth Scholar)
  2. 2013: Graduate Diploma in Leadership Development in ICT and the Knowledge Society, Dublin City University in Ireland, An African Leadership in ICT (ALICT) initiative funded by the African Union Commission
  3. 2007:  M.Eng. in Computer Application Technology,  Central South University, China
  4. 2003: BSc (hons) in Computer Science and Statistics, Second Class Upper,  Makerere University
  5. 1999: Diploma in Education (Physics/Mathematics), Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo
  1. Pius Coxwell Achanga, Francis Otto, Maliko Kisembo. Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Practice: Experiences from Mountains of the Moon University, International Journal of Advanced Research, East African Nature & Science Organization, 2025, No. 8 (1) 561-580, DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/ijar.8.1.3606
  2. Otto, Francis; Amitu, David, Martin and Agena Maureen. Social Collaborative e-Learning Contextual model. RUFORUM Working Document Series, 2018, ISSN 1607-9345, No. 17 (1), Available from http://repository.ruforum.org.
  3. Tizikara, Clesensio; Nakayiwa, Florence; and Otto, Francis. Investing in women as drivers of growth: A gender-based assessment of the science, technology and innovation ecosystem in Uganda. African Journal of Rural Development, [S.l.], v. 4, n. 2, p. 261-281., Apr. 2020. ISSN 2415-2838.
  4. Otto, Francis; Amitu, David, Martin; Elalami, Rafiq; Lubega Jude, Thaddeus and Mirembe, Drake, Patrick. Transforming Agriculture in Africa using Digital Technologies: A Perspective of Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, RUFORUM Working Document Series (ISSN 1607-9345), 2019
  5. Amitu, David Martin and Otto, Francis. Environment monitoring sensors for future nuclear power plants. RUFORUM Working Document Series (ISSN 1607-9345), 2018, No. 17 (2): 127-130. Available from http://repository.ruforum.org
  6. Amitu, David Martin; Otto, Francis and Jacob Kato. Exploiting the 5G network opportunities for enhancing food security. RUFORUM Working Document Series (ISSN 1607-9345) 17 (2), 115-119. Available from http://repository.ruforum.org
  7. Kato, Jacob; Nnam, Jacqueline and Otto, Francis. Evaluation of RUFORUM online platforms. RUFORUM Working Document Series (ISSN 1607-9345), 2018, No. 17 (1): 175-182. Available from http://repository.ruforum.org
  8. Otto, Francis; Shirley Williams and Karsten Øster Lundqvist. “Using Social Networking Tools for Teaching and Learning: A Perspective of University Lecturers and Students.” In International Conference on E-Learning, E-Education, and Online Training, pp. 191-199. Springer, Cham, 2015.
  9. Otto, Francis; Nurul Amin Badrul; Shirley Williams and Karsten Øster Lundqvist. “Students’ Perception of Privacy Risks in Using Social Networking Sites for Learning: A Study of Uganda Christian University.” In International Conference on E-Learning, E-Education, and Online Training, pp. 182-190. Springer, Cham, 2015.
  10. Otto, Francis and Shirley Williams. “Official use of social network sites by African universities.” In Science, Computing and Telecommunications (PACT), 2014 Pan African Conference on, pp. 46-51. IEEE, 2014.
  11. Otto, Francis and Musinguzi Benon. “Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Private Universities in Uganda: Challenges and Opportunities.” (2012).
  12. Otto, Francis and ABK Kasozi.  “Uganda’s Education System Tailored to the Job Market and Job Creation: What went Wrong” Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS). (2012)
  13. Otto, Francis; Drake Patrick Mirembe and Maybin Muyeba. “A model for data management in peer-to-peer systems.” International Journal of Computing and ICT Research 1, no. 2 (2007)
  14. Mirembe; Drake Patrick and Otto, Francis. “Analysis of Free Haven anonymous storage and publication system.” Strengthening the Role of ICT in Development (2007): 372.
  15. Otto, Francis and Song Ouyang. “Improving Search in Unstructured P2P systems: Intelligent walks (i-walks).” In IDEAL, pp. 1312-1319. 2006.
  16. Otto, Francis; Mirembe Drake Patrick; Elizabeth Olule and Song Ouyang. “Enhanced master-slave time synchronization architecture for wireless sensor networks.” In proceedings of Australian Telecommunication Network Application Conference (ATNAC), Melbourne, Australia, 2006.
  1. 2025: Transitioning Higher Education Regulators and Universities to Competence Based Education in East and West Africa  – (TRUCE). This is a 1,000,000 Euro project responding to the urgent need to transition African higher education from traditional, teacher‐centered approaches to Competency-Based Education (CBE) as a means to tackle youth unemployment and equip graduates with practical, entrepreneurial skills. In both Ghana and Uganda, where CBE has been adopted in lower secondary schools and vocational training respectively, universities remain entrenched in outdated pedagogies despite governmental directives. To address this gap, the TRUCE consortium include Makerere, Mountains of the Moon, University of Ghana, University of Education Winneba, University of Barcelona, and Polytechnic Institute of Porto, RUFORUM, and Higher education regulatory bodies in Uganda and Ghana.
  2. 2020: PI; Capacity building on the use agMOOCs for students and academic staff in Sub-Saharan Africa. The USD 32,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Learning supported the development of agricultural massive open online courses (agMOOCs) development.
  3. 2019: PI; Implementation of Regional e-learning Platform for Africa under Africa digital agriculture programme (AfriDAP). The USD 300,000 grant from BADEA was a two year project, which supported a number of universities in Uganda and other African countries.
  4. 2018: Co-PI; Sharing Innovations and Experiences from Korea for Higher Education Transformation in Africa (SIKET). The USD 504,000 projected was funded by the AfDB and supported a number of African universities in terms of lessons sharing, learning visits of leaders, strengthening innovation and incubation, high level dialogue and training university staff on entrepreneurship.
  5. 2018: Co-PI; Strengthening Gender Inclusive Participation in Science, Technology and Innovation. The USD 200,000 project was  funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and was meant to support support  Forum for African Women Vice Chancellors in promoting Gender Inclusive Participation in Science, Technology and Innovation
  1. KATATUMBA Kaganzi Fidelis, Doctor of Philosophy of Nkumba University, Online Learning Technology Adoption and Learning Success at Primary Level of Education in Uganda, In progress
  2. LUKWAGO Ismail, Doctor of Philosophy of Nkumba University, A Model for Adoption of E-Learning in Higher Institutions of Learning: A Perspective of Selected Private Universities in Uganda, In progress
  3. IYKE Nicholars Jude, Doctor of Philosophy of Nkumba University, Adopting Grid Computing Model for Collaborative Research in Higher Institutions in Kampala, In progress
  4. Mwanje Ronald Steve, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, Development of a Prototype Virtual Reality Teaching Platform for Vocational Training Centers In Uganda – A Case Study of Automotive Engineering at St. Simon Peters VTI Hoima, 2025
  5. TAMALE Drake, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, A Framework for Improving Document Submission in Digital Institutional Repositories: A case study of Uganda Christian University, 2025
  6. MWEBAZE Edgar,  Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, Design of A Savings-On-Transaction E-Wallet to Boost Savings for Informal Sector Case Study: National Social Security Fund, 2024
  7. BYARUHANGA Benson Mworozi, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, A Framework For The Adoption Of Intelligent Farm Advisory Systems For The Coffee Sector: A Case Of Western Uganda, 2024
  8. BURWANI BENON K , Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, Developing E-Agriculture Framework For Inclusive Agriculture In Uganda, 2024
  9. MUNANURA Dan Mbahungirehe, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University,Information Security Governance and Management Model for Digital Health in Low Resource Environments Case Study of Mukono Church of Uganda Hospital, 2023
  10. MUHUMUZA Faizo,Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, Assessing Barriers associated with Cloud Adoption to accelerate eGovernment by the Government of Uganda, 2023
  11. MUSONDOLI Ezra, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University,An Interoperability Framework for Guiding Information Sharing Within Drug Detection Systems in Low Resource Countries: A Case Study Of National Drug Authority – Uganda, 2023
  12. LADWAR Jacob, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, a Modified AODV Routing Protocol, 2012
  13. MUKALERE Justine,  Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University,  Electronic Voting and Anonymity in the Case of Electronic Governance: Case study of Guild elections, 2012
  14. NKENYEREYE Lewis, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, a Non FIFO (First In First Out) Packet Assignment Structure for DSMS (Distributed Shared Memory Switches) Memory Management Algorithm, 2012
  15. MWANDHA Alfred Obadiah Ayazika, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University,  a Mobile Content Portal for High-End Feature Phones and Smart Phones, 2011
  16. MUSERERO Joseph, Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University, Towards Effective E-participation model for policy management: A Case Study of Office of the Prime minister of Uganda, 2011
  17. MWESIGWA Isaac,  Master of Information Technology of Uganda Christian University,  Fixed WiMAX Performance of a Deployment in the Sub-Sahara Region, 2011

Membership to Boards and Committees, and other community service roles:

  1. Chairperson, Ad-Hoc Committee on the Verification of Integrated Data Management System (IDMS) Arrears 2024; Member, Curriculum implementation Ad-Hoc Committee 2023;
  2. Chairperson, Mountains of the Moon University, Curriculum Harmonization Task Force 2023; Vice Chairperson of the Mountains of the Moon University Administrative Staff Association Task Force 2019-2020;
  3. Alumni Advisory Panel member, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK. 2011-2013, Board Member, Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation-Uganda Grants Assessment: 2019 -2020:
  4. Reviewer of Makerere University Research Innovation Fund (RIF) proposals 2022:
  5. Reviewer of Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Research Grants proposals
  6. Examiner of Doctoral Thesis: NAMARA, Asiimwe Khadija, Doctor of Philosophy of Nkumba University, Information Technology Alignment and Employee Performance in the Private Service Sector in Uganda: A Case Study of Umeme (U) Limited Central Uganda, 2023
  7. Examiner of Doctoral Thesis: TAMALE,  Lilian, Doctor of Philosophy of Nkumba University, 2025