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Research using educational games to tackle freshwater challenges in Uganda wins postgraduate award
Brian Nalumenya from CAWR impressed judges by exploring how game-based learning can improve environmental education for young people in Uganda
Research news / Sustainability, Clean Growth and Manufacturing
Friday 29 May 2026
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A postgraduate researcher whose work is helping to improve awareness of sustainable freshwater management in Uganda through educational games has been recognised as Coventry University’s Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) of the Year 2026.
Brian Nalumenya from the Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) impressed judges with research exploring how game-based learning can improve environmental education for young people in Uganda.
Winning this award means a great deal to me, as it reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment I have invested throughout my PhD journey. It is truly a memorable achievement, and I am proud to have represented CAWR successfully.
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all my supervisors for their continuous guidance, encouragement and support throughout this journey.
Brian Nalumenya
His PhD research, titled Game-Based Learning: Towards More Sustainable Management of Freshwater Resources in Uganda, focuses on increasing public awareness and understanding of freshwater conservation through interactive educational activities designed for children.
The project was developed around the idea that educating young people at an early age can help create future generations who better understand the environmental and social impacts of water pollution and water wastage, while encouraging more sustainable behaviours.
As part of the research, Brian designed three educational game materials to support environmental learning: Water Conservation Snakes and Ladders, Water Awareness Quartet Cards, and Water Pollution Puzzles. The games were created to make learning about freshwater sustainability more engaging, interactive and accessible for school pupils.
The project has already resulted in four academic publications, including papers published in leading Q1 and Q2 journals, as well as presentations at major international conferences.
Looking ahead, Brian hopes to expand the research across Uganda and into other countries, while also exploring whether teachers are willing to adopt game-based learning approaches more widely within classrooms.
The nominees for this year’s competition included:
Opeoluwa Akinseloyin - Centre for Computational Science and Mathematical Modelling
Sachita Shahi - Centre for Future Transport and Cities
Tjasa Savoric - Centre for Arts and Creative Cultures
Heni Hale - Centre for Dance Research
Anna Higo - Centre for Healthcare and Community Transformation
The Postgraduate Researcher of the Year awards celebrate the outstanding achievements, impact and innovation of postgraduate researchers across Coventry University.
Explore PhD opportunities at Coventry University.
