Engineering, Art & Tech

CEDAT Trains Fundis & Masons

Published

3 years ago

February 14, 2022

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe (3rd R) flanked by the Principal CEDAT-Prof. Henry Alinaitwe (2nd L), Head Department Architecture and Physical Planning-Dr. Tamale Kiggundu Amin (2nd R), Architects and Fundis inspects one of the exhibition stands at the launch of the two-day training on 9th February 2022, CEDAT, Makerere University.

The Department of Architecture and Physical planning, College of Engineering Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) convened a two day training and awareness session for Masons and Fundis as a way of sharing scientific knowledge, ideas and new ways of construction drawing from the research experiences in the college.

The event, the first of its kind attracted a number of stakeholders in the building industry that made an exhibition of the various building materials on the market. They included Uganda Clays Ltd, Hima Cement, steel and Tube, The National Building Review Board, the National Physical Planning Board, Simba Cement and Kansai Plascon Paint.

Prof Barnabas Nawangwe an Architect by profession officiated the opening of the training on Thursday 9^th February 2022 in the CEDAT Conference room. He said the training was timely because Fundis and Manson handle most of the construction in Uganda following a construction boon since the 1990s. He observed that on most of the construction sites, there were no engineers or architects and therefore it was important that frontline people in the building industry were equipped with extra skills.

Prof. Nawangwe advised the fundis and masons to learn to appreciate the drawings that show what needs to be done on sites and ensure that they are adhered unless advised otherwise.He said masons and fundis were every important people in the communities although they did not get the opportunity to get trained in technical institution but rather learnt on job. He argued the college and partners to devise means of extending the training country wide as one of the ways through which the University wouldtransfer knowledge and offer community service in line with objective of being responsive to the needs of the communities.

Prof. Nawangwe congratulated CEDAT for the initiative and the planned extension of similar sessions to other artisans that include Mechanics, Electricians and Plumbers. He said this was in line with the government objective of skilling the youth and thereby creating employment opportunities.

While speaking at the same event, The Principal CEDAT Prof Henry Alinaitwe said as the University celebrates 100 years, the College was working towards realizing the original objectives of the university which started as a technical college producing technicians. He said Makerere University was well established to offer training, research and knowledge transfer partnerships and that such trainings were some of the ways through which the university was reaching out to the people on the ground.

Related Topics:CEDAT Fundis knowledge Masons skills technology Training transfer

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

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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

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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.

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