Duncan Ongeng obtained a Bachelor of Food Science and Technology Degree from Makerere University in 2000. He later worked as a research apprentice with the National Agricultural Research Organization in Uganda. He obtained a Master of Science in Food Technology degree from University of Leuven (Belgium) in 2004 and joined Gulu University as a Lecturer in 2005. He acquired a PhD in Bioscience Engineering from the University of Leuven in 2011 and rose to the rank of Senior Lecturer and the Dean of the faculty of Agriculture and Environment at Gulu University in 2012.

He was promoted to the position of Associate Professor in 2016. He has published several scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and managed several research and development grants including a 1.3million euro grant aimed at enhancing capacity for agricultural research and training in Gulu University funded by the NUFFIC, the Netherlands. As a dean, he led the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment to operationalize the Student-Centered Outreach Model and the Agribusiness Innovation Model at Gulu University.