General
Using Applied Research to Inspire the Next Generation of Engineers
“At the University of Navarra (UNAV), all research undertaken has got to be marketable,” said Prof. Roc Berenguer a Professor of Electronic Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation (TECNUN), UNAV, as presented his lecture.
“At the University of Navarra (UNAV), all research undertaken has got to be marketable,” said Prof. Roc Berenguer a Professor of Electronic Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation (TECNUN), UNAV, as presented his lecture.
“This helps to guarantee funding for all the applied research we conduct,” he added. Prof. Berenguer was speaking at a public lecture, facilitated by a grant from the Millennium Science Initiative (MSI) which enabled the Community Wireless Resource Centre (CWRC) to host him for a week. During weeklong stay, he provided a 3-day specialized training for Masters Students and Staff on the wireless communications test bed equipment. At the conclusion of the training, he held a public lecture to address the topic 'Establishing a Wireless Communication Testbed' on Wednesday 7th December 2011. MSI is managed by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST).
The lecture highlighted various applications of wireless communications including mobile phones, automatic braking of cars using wireless sensors to detect objects upfront, support for the blind via glasses with a wirelessly connected camera to the 'retina', remote monitoring of tire temperatures for electric cars, etc. At UNAV, businesses and other entities can encounter an ideal partner in the development of their research projects and are thus willing to fund such innovations.
The lecture series is one of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering's avenues to inspire undergraduate and postgraduate students to carry out research that seeks to address the specialized needs of the business community, among other initiatives.
Reacting to the public lecture, Dr. Dorothy Okello, Director CWRC and Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering challenged the students to become well grounded in the theory so as to be well placed to identify solutions for the various problems in our communities.
“Based on the theory gained in class and results from simulations you conduct, only then can you be able to take your wireless innovations to the next level,” remarked Dr. Okello.
Dr. Okello is also the Principal Investigator of the MSI-funded project "Adaptive Bandwidth Management in Cooperative Wireless Networks: Affordable and equitable access to the Internet". The three year grant worth US$ 250,000 ends this December 2011.
Thanks to the MSI grant, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has recently acquired a modern set of key equipment worth US$ 80,000 which includes; a spectrum analyzer, vector network analyzer and signal generators. As a result students will now be able to confirm the specifications and performance of their innovations before attempting to implement them.
The grant has also supported the costs of tuition and stipends for four Masters in Electrical Engineering students, with the first scheduled to graduate in January 2012. Two of the Masters students were also supported to spend 6-8 weeks at advanced research labs at the University of Pretoria and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Meraka Institute, South Africa.
In his remarks, Dr. Julius Butime, Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, thanked Prof. Berenguer for conducting the specialized training and public lecture.
“Now that we have this specialized equipment, I encourage you, the students of engineering, to join research groups such as those headed by Prof. Berenguer to help improve your skills and boost your research profiles,” he remarked.
The Department is planning hold the public lecture series more regularly, beginning next semester in January 2012, where speakers from leading national and international engineering departments will be invited. This public lecture was attended by over 130 participants, who included undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as academic staff.
The CWRC aims to enhance the practical skills of engineering students. As such, over the three year grant period, ten undergraduate students have had their industrial training with the CWRC from June to August each year. The training has exposed them to theory and practices of wireless networks with a focus on the telecentre-based community wireless networks.
Related Article
CWRC Public Lecture by Dr. Roc. Berenguer
mwamai@admin.mak.ac.ug, Public Relations Office
The Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today, Friday, 26th June 2026 handed over the CCE (Complex) Hall of Residence Site to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) Managing Director and CEO, Lieutenant General James Mugira for renovation and overhaul works. The UGX 12billion Government of Uganda-funded works, expected to be completed within a year, are the fourth project to be undertaken by NEC. They were preceded by; construction of the University Perimeter Wall, Renovation of Lumumba Hall, and Renovation of Mary Stuart Hall.
NEC’s Record Lauded
Prof. Nawangwe in his remarks at the handover ceremony lauded these projects. “The quality of work done by NEC makes us proud because we can finally say that we have Ugandans who can do the things, which we previously depended on foreigners to do.” He therefore thanked the Government of Uganda for fully funding the projects and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, whose visit set the renovation projects in motion.
The Vice Chancellor added that as the Alma mater for most members of both the Contractor and Project Management Teams, this was a moment of great pride as their expertise and skills have saved the country billions of taxpayers’ money. “Thank you for being patriotic”, he commended.
Prof. Nawangwe concluded by noting that CCE Hall, by virtue of its location, provides a first impression of Makerere University as a whole. He therefore urged the contractor to ensure that upon renovation, CCE Hall would create a memorable and lasting first impression, exceeding even that of the renovated Mary Stuart Hall.
A Project Fueled by Nostalgia
Speaking of impressions, Lt. Gen. Mugira, with nostalgia recalled that close to 42 years ago, he not only attended his first lectures in Hall 1 of the CCE Complex but also, on a more personal note added, “my wife was a resident, and so I have every motivation to put in a lot of effort and make sure that I deliver more than was done with Mary Stuart and Lumumba.”
He therefore extended heartfelt appreciation to his Alma mater Makerere University for the trust and confidence bestowed in NEC, which underscored their ability to deliver. “Trust is earned through performance, through integrity and consistency, and your decision to engage us motivates us to work even harder to exceed your expectations.”
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) Prof. Henry Alinaitwe reechoed the need to ensure that the project is executed with adherence to the cost, quality, specifications and safety related issues as earlier shared by the Acting (Ag.) Chief Engineer of Estates and Works, Eng. Ezra Sekadde.
“NEC has already demonstrated this (with previous projects), and that is why we have all the confidence that you can deliver this project within 12 months” remarked Prof. Alinaitwe. He equally lauded the Project Management Team (PMT) led by Arch. Dr. Kenneth Ssemwogerere whose supervision ensures timely project completion.
Relatedly, Arch. Dr. Semwogerere was on 25th June 2026, the eve of the handover, promoted to the rank of Associate Professor, a milestone Prof. Alinaitwe attributed to his track record as Head of PMT. He therefore, on a light note, urged him to keep up the good work as this could equally contribute to his promotion to the rank of full Professor.
Also present at the handover ceremony was the Principal, College of Education and External Studies (CEES) Prof. Anthony Mugagga, whose unit will be greatly affected by the renovations. He nevertheless welcomed and reiterated his full support for the project, noting that just as renovation of Lumumba and Mary Stuart Halls had resulted in many alumni revisiting, the CCE Complex would upon renovation attract former residents and teaching professionals to give back or forge new partnerships.
Student Welfare at the Forefront
On her part, the Dean of Students Dr. Winifred Kabumbuli lauded the renovations of Halls of Residence as a clear demonstration of Government’s dedication to the improvement of student welfare, and creating an environment conducive for nurturing responsible citizens who can contribute to national development. She pledged her Office’s and the Student Leadership’s readiness to ensure that the renovated facilities used responsibly for the benefit of future generations.
As a resident of the recently renovated Mary Stuart Hall, 92nd Guild President H.E. Kadondi Gracious could not help but appreciate how impactful the renovation of CCE Hall would be to student welfare. “The female students will be very excited (to occupy CCE Hall) but the male students will be left complaining – so we shall be expecting more renovations, not just for the female but also the male students,” she amiably concluded.
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