Engineering, Art & Tech

Land Tenure System: A Challenge for Urban Development and Service Delivery in GKMA

Published

5 years ago

December 18, 2020

Mark Wamai

A group photo of participants at the Public Dialogue on the Land Tenure System and Urban Development in GKMA organised by the Department of Geomatics and Land Management, CEDAT, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

The opening remarks were given by Dr. Lydia Mazzi Kayondo who represented Professor Moses Musinguzi, the Dean School of the Built Environment, Makerere University. Dr. Mazzi Kayondo is the Chair, Department of Geomatics and Land Management, a senior lecturer and a Geographical Information System (GIS) specialist. She welcomed the participants and appreciated them for making it for the dialogue.

Dr. Kayondo also acknowledged her Department’s influence in training and churning out planners to both private and government organisations. 60% of the urban development in Kampala is informal and land tenure is one of the key factors affecting it. “Tenure of land defines the relationship of how rights are accessed and how to influence development,” she said.

Ms. Amanda Ngabirano, the Acting Chair National Physical Planning Board and also a Senior Lecturer at Makerere University was the guest speaker at the public dialogue. In her presentation she referred to the land tenure system as a ‘white elephant’. “We are stuck with it” she emphasized. She said that land tenure system is the reason why planners are not delivering. Ms Ngabirano also added that urban development is not only glamorous but is about balanced growth, that is to say equity and distribution of services and amenities.

Ms. Ngabirano emphasised the fact that land tenure is bigger than we can imagine. She called upon the participants to identify and open discussions with people on the land, identify areas with partnerships and opportunities and be able to work with them. Ms. Ngabirano said funding and compensation were also affecting development. She, however, pointed out that the land tenure system may not be the only thing affecting development. She challenged participants to identify all the factors and find solutions to them.

To further address the theme , the panel comprised of urban development experts, specialists and researchers such as Mrs. Rehema Nanvuma an urban planner currently working with the Buganda Land Board, Mr. Samuel Mabala, a representative from Cities Alliance and a senior urban development expert, Ms. Anitah Kusiima, a physical planner working with KCCA and Dr. Fredrick Omolo Okalebo, an urban planner and researcher at Makerere University shared their thoughts.

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Engineering, Art & Tech

Uganda Engineering Sector Takes Bold Steps toward Reform and Collaboration

Published

2 weeks ago

July 4, 2025

Alex Isemaghendera

Makerere University’s School of Engineering is leading a transformative initiative to reshape Uganda’s engineering landscape through legislative engagement, academic collaboration, and industry integration.

The School, headed by Prof. Dorothy Okello, at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), recently presented a comprehensive memorandum to Parliament on the proposed Engineering Professionals Bill 2024. The document, developed through extensive consultations with academia and industry, reflects the collective voice of Uganda’s engineering stakeholders.

Following the submission, a high-level meeting was convened on Thursday, July 3^rd, 2025 at Makerere University’s CEDAT Boardroom. The gathering brought together officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport, university deans, and representatives from the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) to address key recommendations and matters arising from the parliamentary presentation. The Deans of Various Engineering Schools that were at the meeting included the Universities of Gulu, Muni, Busitema, Kyambogo, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda Christian University, together with the host, Makerere.

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Engineering, Art & Tech

CEDAT and KOICA Partner to Advance E-Learning at Makerere University

Published

3 weeks ago

June 26, 2025

Alex Isemaghendera

A selection of the newly installed micro studio equipment on display during the official handover ceremony held at CEDAT on Wednesday, 25th June 2025.

The College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) at Makerere University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Project Management Committee of the “Enhancing the Distance Education Environment at Makerere University” initiative. This agreement formalizes the operational and managerial framework for the newly installed micro studio at CEDAT, aimed at strengthening the university’s digital learning infrastructure.

Assoc. Prof. Kizito Maria Kasule, Deputy Principal of CEDAT, signed on behalf of the college, while Dr. Shon JinGon, Project Manager at the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS), represented the implementing partner during an event held on Wednesday, 25^th June 2025.

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Engineering, Art & Tech

Uganda Urged to Strengthen OSHE Enforcement Amid Rising Workplace Injuries

Published

1 month ago

June 10, 2025

Alex Isemaghendera

Dr. Abubaker Waswa Matovu (R) Head of the Department of Computer and Electronics Engineering at Makerere University, emphasized the importance of the training in promoting workplace safety.

In response to Uganda’s growing workplace safety concerns, staff at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) participated in an Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) training session aimed at increasing awareness and improving adherence to safety standards in professional and academic environments.

The workshop, organized by the School of Engineering, was part of a larger effort led by the OSHE Centers of Excellence, an initiative launched at Makerere, Kyambogo, and Busitema Universities on May 4, 2023. This program seeks to enhance workplace safety education, with a focus on hazard prevention, PPE usage, risk mitigation, and integrating OSHE principles into engineering curricula and industrial practices.

Speaking at the training, Dr. Abubaker Waswa Matovu, Head of the Department of Computer and Electronics Engineering at Makerere University, emphasized the importance of the training which was aimed at creating awareness about the need for the College, the university and the industry to proactively plan for safety at the place of work. It was indicated that Uganda was faced by alarming workplace injury rates, with over 25,000 workers suffering from job-related injuries annually, yet fatality statistics remain largely unreported.

Dr. Matovu highlighted the urgent need for OSHE integration in higher education, pointing out that 99% of engineering and science graduates enter the workforce without formal safety training. This lack of preparedness has led industries to withdraw internship placements, fearing liability if trainees suffer injuries or fatalities while on the job, he noted.

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