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Engineering, Art & Tech

MAPRONANO ACE wins UGX 5 billion in Research Grants

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The Africa Center of Excellence in Materials Product Development and Nanotechnology (MAPRONANO ACE), Makerere University has attracted grant funding to the tune of UGX 5,348,380,719 towards research and post doctoral studies for students.

  • MAPRONANO ACE received UGX 2,812,803,300 funding under Presidential scientific initiative for Evaluation of nanoscale materials as candidate adjuvants and delivery systems for SARS Cov-2 (COVID-19) sub-unit vaccine. These funds will also support the purchase of the first of its kind state-of the art Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • MAPRONANO ACE received UGX 1,031,939,998 funding under Presidential scientific initiative for development of saliva test kit for COVID-19. This will solve the issue of lack of cheap testing services in Uganda and hence facilitating massive testing hence effective Covid-19 surveillance and patient management.
  • Nanobody based point of care diagnostic kit for cervical cancer – UGX 194,770,000
  • Volkswagen foundation Post doctoral fellowship for African researchers in the Engineering sciences UGX 795,999,500
  • Antibacterial and antiviral nanocoated cloth mask to limit the spread of Covid-19 – UGX 75,000,000
  • Green synthesis of graphene from coffee husks and other agro-wastes for energy storage applications – UGX 156,445,850
  • Development and validation of lateral flow based multiplex test device to detect and differentiate SARS CoV-2 from other human coronaviruses – UGX 157,130,071
  • Determination and characterisation of viral load and antibody profiles in samples from multiple sites of Covid-19 patients in Uganda – UGX 60,000,000. This is in partnership with Makerere University College of Health Sciences and Uganda Virus Research Institute.
  • Perfecting the design and testing the feasibility of Disinfecting Gloves (D-Gloves) – UGX 60,000,000
  • Multimorbidity and lifestyle prevention in low and middle income countries – UGX 4,292,000

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Mark Wamai

Engineering, Art & Tech

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

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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, 25th June 2025.

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Alex Isemaghendera

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Engineering, Art & Tech

Uganda Urged to Strengthen OSHE Enforcement Amid Rising Workplace Injuries

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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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Alex Isemaghendera

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Engineering, Art & Tech

Makerere University and Nile Basin Discourse Partner on Water Resource Management Initiative

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The NBD team and their hosts led by Dr. Robinah Kulabako pose for a picture at the CEDAT Block

Makerere University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has partnered with the Nile Basin Discourse (NBD) to collaborate on a World Bank-funded, two-year project aimed at improving transboundary water resource management in East Africa.

During a meeting held on 5th June 2025 at CEDAT, Eng. Sylvesta Matemu, head of NBD, engaged with Makerere University representatives, including Dr. Philip Nyenje and Dr. Seith Mugume, to discuss strategies for effective implementation. The project seeks to employ citizen science approaches to involve local communities in water governance, data collection, and policy formulation.

The team also met with Prof. Dorothy Okello, Dean of the School of Engineering, and Dr. Robinah Kulabako, Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, to explore key areas of collaboration. Experts stressed the importance of regional cooperation in water management, citing growing concerns over resource sustainability and environmental challenges.

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Alex Isemaghendera

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