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
Makerere University, through the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), has signed an open Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This MoU is one of several initiatives aimed at strengthening the university’s global collaborations and research partnerships.
In his remarks, Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe highlighted Makerere’s recent centenary celebrations as a testament to its long and influential history in Africa. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to serious, research-driven collaboration, noting Makerere’s aspiration to become a leading student-centered research university that develops solutions to regional challenges.
Prof. Nawangwe emphasized that Makerere’s research addresses critical issues such as widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, the devastating effects of climate change on agriculture, rapid population growth, and political interference in production. These challenges, he explained, call for climate-resilient agriculture, stronger health systems to address emerging diseases, and more inclusive governance. He further observed that Africa’s ambitious goal of producing one million PhDs in the next decade remains constrained by inadequate supervision capacity across the continent, stressing that collaborations like this MoU are key to bridging that gap.
EPRC Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Sewanyana, described the signing as particularly significant for EPRC and its Board of Directors as they embark on a new five-year strategic plan (2025/26–2029/30). She explained that the plan strongly emphasizes strategic collaborations, with this partnership serving as a prime example of leveraging collective strengths to deepen impact. She underscored EPRC’s role in advancing evidence-based policymaking for national development, aligning with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV.
Prof. James Wokadala, Acting Principal of CoBAMS, emphasized that the collaboration seeks to preserve and expand vital human knowledge while strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and global research networks. He noted that these networks are instrumental in advising legal and policy professionals, as well as aligning research agendas with both national and corporate priorities. He expressed pride in the extensive efforts of the School of Economics that have expanded these activities in recent years. He pointed to significant accomplishments that have been achieved in collaboration with IGC, including hosting a 2025 high-level international conference on mobile money payment systems, which positioned Makerere University as a thought leader on critical African economic issues. He also celebrated the successful bid by the School of Economics to host the ‘Africa Meeting of the Econometric Society’ in 2027, further demonstrating its contribution to impactful scholarship and policy influence.
The Acting Principal further emphasized that the new partnership with LSE will build on these achievements, offering immense benefits such as expanding capacity-building opportunities for faculty and students, especially in research and Public Infrastructure Management (PIM). The collaboration will also provide platforms for knowledge dissemination and policy dialogue, while addressing pressing socio-economic and health challenges. Ultimately, he said, formalisation of the partnership amplifies CoBAMS’ commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Speaking on behalf of LSE’s International Growth Centre (IGC), Executive Director Dr. Jonathan Leape expressed delight at formalizing the long-standing collaboration with Makerere and EPRC. He highlighted current joint projects, including research on the impact of the 2020 gender-based vaccine program on women’s skills and learning, studies on reforms in STEM education, and investigations into barriers limiting business growth for entrepreneurs. He stressed that the core mission is to bring researchers and policymakers together to address pressing policy challenges with robust, reliable evidence and innovative solutions.
The event, held on 27th August 2025, was attended by several dignitaries including Dr. Richard Newfarmer, Country Director for Uganda and Rwanda (IGC); Dr. Nhial Kuch, Senior Country Economist (IGC); and Mary Teddy Nakyejwe, IGC Programme Officer. Also present were the Director of Research, Dr. Ibrahim Kasirye and other members of EPRC leadership.
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