Upon her return to Makerere University in Uganda, she was promoted to Lecturer in the Department of Forestry, Biodiversity and Tourism in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, a position she has held ever since. Dr Nagawa is interested in the use of renewable resources such as extracts and essential oils as possible alternatives to synthetic drugs and pesticides commonly used in the treatment of bacterial infections; preservatives for stored grains to reduce post-harvest losses; preservation of wood for long-term storage. She is also interested in research on environmental chemistry and waste management issues from both domestic and industrial sources. She is currently working on microplastics in the environment and their removal. Christine believes that we are moving towards a circular economy and therefore researchers need to be involved in this sector to contribute to the sustainable management of our ecosystem, if we do not deal with waste, we risk spreading other diseases associated with improper waste management.
Since 2022, she has been coordinating the APPEAR project Environmental Chemistry for Sustainable Development (ECSDevelop). As coordinator, she is responsible for the overall management of the project. This has greatly enhanced her leadership skills while at the same time the proper management of the accounts/project funds is essential for the smooth running of the project and the realisation of the achievement of its objectives. The project aims to increase the capacity and contribution of environmental chemistry research in higher education to address local and global priority needs in improving water quality and advancing remediation technologies. Christine hopes that by working together, institutions in East Africa and Europe will provide the necessary expertise in research and innovation to meet national challenges in environmental pollution. Publications, patents and policy briefs resulting from the research will form an important basis for the adoption of new knowledge and/or technologies. The project aims to equip local farmers with the relevant skills to increase the production of moringa and gooseberries, which will provide a sustainable source of the scaled-up bioremediation technologies. In the long term, this will contribute to 1) environmental conservation in the Lake Victoria basin and the Albertine Rift, 2) improved livelihoods for farmers through the sale of moringa and gooseberries, thereby reducing poverty, and 3) improved community health through the consumption of clean water. This initiative will train 4 MSc and 5 PhD students and build capacity in environmental chemistry and wastewater management.
During her PhD studies in Austria, she learned a lot that would not have been possible if she had stayed in Uganda. Having access to state-of-the-art equipment and interacting with professors who are the best in their fields was an eye opener for her. She has improved her skills in different areas, especially in analytical techniques and data analysis, and above all in publishing; in academia, if you cannot publish your work, you may not grow at all.
During her intercultural experiences she came across different cuisines, the food was completely different from what she had at home. Even if it's the same fruit, the taste is completely different and she realised that she had to adapt quickly. And one thing she could never get enough of was Wiener Schnitzel. She enjoyed the wine culture and, of course, the socialising. During her stay in Tulln, she joined a volleyball club, which was very interesting. One of the cultural shocks she experienced was the weather. She used to dread the winter, which was too cold, and the summer, which was sometimes so hot that she had to stay indoors. All in all, the weather is something you learn to deal with, but it will always shock you.
Her studies in Austria exposed her to the world, whereas at Makerere University and other institutions there is a gap between academia and industry, universities in Europe emphasise a close relationship so that the research done addresses the problems faced by industry. She believes that if Ugandan institutions can adopt this approach, they will provide solutions for the country, and policy makers will see the need for continued collaboration between academia and industry. Her personal development has changed in such a way that her supervisors have become her role models and as she supervises students and teaches, she always looks back at the way she was treated during her time in Austria and strives to be a better person. Christine concludes that we always need exposure so that we can do better in all areas of our lives.