kacholi photo

Name
Prof. David Sylvester Kacholi

Academic Rank
Associate Professor

Department
Biological Sciences

Biography

Biography

Professor David Sylvester Kacholi possesses extensive expertise in the fields of ethnobotany, ethnobiology, and ethnomedicine, in addition to forest ecology and utilisation of natural resources. He is affiliated with the Department of Biological Sciences at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education, which functions as a constituent college of the University of Dar es Salaam. Professor Kacholi actively engages in teaching, research, and public service, bringing forth vast experience in courses such as Ecology, Environmental Science, Biostatistics, Botany, and Scientific Writing. Professor Kacholi has conducted extensive research and authored numerous publications concerning the ethnobotany of Tanzania, urban agriculture, forest fragmentation, and the utilisation of natural resources. 

Contacts

Email:

Email Address
david.kacholi@duce.ac.tz

Mob:

Research Interest

Research Interest
Ethnobotany, Ethnobiology, Ethnomedicine, Forest utilisation and conservation, Environmental protection

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Projects

Projects

  1. Development of poultry feed from under-utilized food wastes: A strategic Step towards value-added Food wastes and improved Public Health in Tanzanian Cities. Researchers: James Tano Zacharia (PI), David Sylvester Kacholi, Halima Mvungi Amir, and Rita Alex Lyatuu (Co-PIs). Amount: 100,000,000.00 TZS (42,850 USD). Duration: 1 year (March 2023 to February 2024). Funding: UDSM the 5th Call for competitive research and innovation grants 2022/20223.

  2. Screening of phytochemicals, toxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the mostly used plants for treatment of respiratory disorders in Tabora region. Researchers: Halima Mvungi Amir (PI), David Sylvester Kacholi, and Steven Nyandoro (Co-PIs). Amount: 29,999,650.00 TZS (12,850 USD). Duration: 1 year (March 2023 to February 2024). Funding: UDSM the 5th Call for competitive research and innovation grants 2022/20223.

  3. Enhancing multi-disciplinary grant writing skills for early career researchers in Tanzania Higher Education. An exploratory study. Researchers: Katherine Fulgence (PI), Christina I. Raphael, David Sylvester Kacholi and Edwin Babeiya (Co-PIs). Amount: 15,000,000.00 TZS (6,522 USD). Duration: 1 year (January 2022 to December 2022). Funding: UDSM the 4th Call for competitive research and innovation grants 2021/2022.

  4. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Tabora region, Tanzania. Funding: DUCE Competitive Research and Innovation Grants – 2019. Amount: 14,983,710.40 TZS (6,500 USD). Duration: 1 year (January – December 2020). Researchers: Dr. David Sylvester Kacholi (PI) and Ms Halima Amir Mvungi (Co-PI). Project Registration Number DUCE-20030.

  5. Impact of sanitation and hygienic practices on vegetable parasite load in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Funding: UDSM Competitive Research and Innovation Grants – 2019. Amount: 30,000,000.00 TZS (13,000.00 USD). Duration: 1 year (January – December 2020). Researchers: Dr. Jared Silivester Bakuza (PI), Dr. David Sylvester Kacholi (Co-PI), and Ms Husna Kangusi (Research Trainee). Project Registration Number UDSM-20012.

  6. Urban agriculture and heavy metal pollution: A case of Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. Funding: Self-financing. Amount: 4,000,000.00 (1,800.00 USD). Duration: 1 year (July 2016 – June 2017). Researchers: Dr. David Sylvester Kacholi (PI) and Dr. Minati Sahu (Co-PI).

  7. Heavy metals accumulation in Amaranthus species. Funding: Self-financing. Amount: 1,450,000.00 TZS (660 USD). Duration: 6 months. (June 2015 –December 2016). Researcher: David Sylvester Kacholi (PI) and Minati Sahu (Co-PI).

  8. Habitat Fragmentation and Biodiversity in Uluguru Forests in Morogoro, Tanzania. Funding: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD - PhD Scholarship). Amount: 66,000,000.00 TZS (33,000 Euro). Duration: 3 years (June 2009 - February 2013). Researcher: David Sylvester Kacholi (PI).

Publications

Publications

  1. Kacholi D.S. (2025). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal herbs used by Luguru tribe against various human ailments in Morogoro Rural District, Tanzania. The Scientific World Journal, 2025 (1), 6134739, doi.org/10.1155/tswj/6134739   

  2. Kacholi D.S, Amir, H.M. (2024). Indigenous knowledge and quantitative analysis of medicinal plants used to remedy respiratory tract disorders in mid-western Tanzania. BioMed Research International, 2024, 8534815, 17 pages, 2024. doi.org/10.1155/bmri/8534815 

  3. Kacholi D.S, Amir, H.M, and Isdory A.J. (2024). Traditional medicinal plants used for gastrointestinal disorders by the Nyamwezi traditional health practitioners of Tabora region, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 29:1-16. doi.org/10.32859/era.29.42.1-16

  4. Kacholi, D.S. (2024). Antiasthmatic medicinal plants of Tanzania: an ethnomedicinal and ethnopharmacological review. The Scientific World Journal, 2024 (1), 4420431, 16 pages. doi:10.1155/2024/4420431

  5. Kacholi, D.S. (2024). Medicinal plants used for dermatological disorders among the Nyamwezi Community in Tabora region, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 28:1-22. doi.org/10.32859/era.28.50.1-22 

  6. Kacholi, D.S. (2024). A comprehensive review of antimalarial medicinal plants used by Tanzanians. Pharmaceutical Biology, 62:133-152. doi:10.1080/13880209.2024.2305453 

  7. Kacholi, D.S. and Amir H.M. (2024). Ethnobotanical survey of anti-constipation medicinal plants used in Sikonge District, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 28:1-11. doi:10.32859/era.28.11.1-11 

  8. Kacholi, D.S, Kalokora O.J, Amir H.M, and Mogha N.G. (2023). Ethnogynaecological medicinal plants used by Tanzanian communities against female infertility and menstrual disorders – A comprehensive review. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 26:1-25. doi:10.32859/era.26.69.1-25 

  9. Kacholi, D.S, Charwi, MZ and Mogha NG. (2023). Ethnomedicinal study of medicinal plants used for treatment of urinary tract infections in Mara region, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 26:1-14. doi:10.32859/era.26.30.1-13 

  10. Kacholi, D.S. and Amir, H.M. (2023). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants traditionally used against erectile dysfunction in Tabora region, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25:1-12. doi:10.32859/era.30.5.1-12 

  11. Kacholi, D.S. and Amir, H.M. (2022). Herbal remedies used by traditional healers in curing Hemorrhoids in Tabora region. Pharmaceutical Biology, 60:2182-2188. doi:10.1080/13880209.2022.2136204 

  12. Kacholi D.S. and Amir, H.M. (2022). Ethnomedicinal survey of antidiarrheal plants of the Nyamwezi people of Nsenda ward in Urambo District, central western Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 24:1-14. doi:10.32859/era.24.21.1-14

  13. N.M Mogha, O.J Kalokora, Amir, H.M and Kacholi, D.S. (2022). Ethnomedicinal plants used for treatment of snakebites in Tanzania - A systematic review. Pharmaceutical Biology, 60:1925-1934. doi:10.1080/13880209.2022.2123942 

  14. Kacholi, D.S. and Amir, H.M. (2022). Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in managing Gonorrhoea and Syphilis in Urambo District, Tabora Region, Tanzania. Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants, 28:179-192. doi: 10.1080/10496475.2022.2035476 

  15. Kacholi, D.S. and Amir, H.M. (2021). Plants used by Nyamwezi Traditional Healers to remedy Sexually Transmitted Infections in Sikonge District, Tanzania. Journal of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(6): 89-102. http://ojs3.bongotech.info/index.php/jehs/article/view/120

  16. Kacholi, D.S and Sahu, M. (2021). Copper levels in three commonly edible fruits in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Are consumers at risk? Journal of Agriculture and Applied Biology, 2(2): 76-81. doi: 10.11594/jaab.02.02.02

  17. Kacholi, D.S. (2020). Population structure, harvesting rate and regeneration status of four woody species in Kimboza Forest Reserve, Morogoro region – Tanzania. Plants and Environment, 2(3):94-100. doi:10.22271/2582-3744.2020.sep.94

  18. Kacholi, D.S. (2020). Density and aboriginal uses of wild tree species in Milawilila forest reserve in Morogoro, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science, 46(1): 85-100. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/article/view/194819 

  19. Kacholi, D.S. (2019). Assessment of tree species richness, diversity, population structure and natural regeneration in Nongeni Forest Reserve in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science, 45(3):330-345. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/article/view/191173 

  20. Kacholi, D.S. (2018). Floristic Similarity and Diversity Gradients in the Eastern Arc and Coastal Forests of Tanzania. Journal of Education, Humanities and Sciences, 7(2):93-104. https://jehs.duce.ac.tz/index.php/jehs/article/view/27 

  21. Kacholi, D.S., Sahu, M. (2018). Levels and health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil, water and vegetables of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Journal of Chemistry, 2018:1402674, 9 pages. doi:10.1155/2018/1402674 

  22. Kacholi, D.S. (2016). Changes in forest composition, edaphic factors and exploitation pressure between edge and interior habitats in the Kimboza forest in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Journal of Education Humanities and Sciences, 5(2):68-77. 

  23. Sahu, M., Kacholi, D.S. (2016). Heavy Metal Levels in Amaranthus species from Chang’ombe-Mchicha area in Temeke District, Dar es Salaam – Tanzania. Asian Journal of Chemistry, 28(5):1123-1126. doi:10.14233/ajchem.2016.19604 

  24. Kacholi, D.S. (2015). Understory Composition, Diversity and Natural Regeneration Status of Uluguru Forests in Morogoro – Tanzania. Journal of Education Humanities and Sciences, 4(1):75-98. ISSN 1821 – 7427.

  25. Kacholi, D.S., Whitbread, A. M., Worbes, M. (2015). Diversity, Abundance, and Structure of Tree Community in the Uluguru Forests in the Morogoro Region, Tanzania. Journal of Forestry Research, 26(3):557-569. doi:10.1007/s11676-015-0078-0 

  26. Kacholi, D.S. (2014). Indigenous Tree Uses, Use Values and Impact of Human Population on Forest Size, Species Richness and Tree Density in the Uluguru Forests, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science. 40(1):34-50. www.ajol.info/index.php/tjs/article/view/148974 

  27. Kacholi, D.S. (2014). Analysis of Structure and Diversity of the Kilengwe Forest in the Morogoro Region–Tanzania, International Journal of Biodiversity, 2014:516840, 8 pages. doi:10.1155/2014/516840 

  28. Kacholi, D.S. (2014). Edge-Interior Disparities in Tree Species and Structural Composition of the Kilengwe Forest in Morogoro Region, Tanzania, ISRN Biodiversity, 2014: 873174, 8. doi:10.1155/2014/873174  

  29. Kacholi, D.S. (2013). Floristic Composition, Diversity and Structure of the Kimboza Forest in Morogoro Region, Tanzania, Journal of Education, Humanities and Sciences, 2(2): 84-95.