Members of the Makerere University Council led by the Chairperson Mrs. Lorna Magara (5th Left) during their visit to the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), on 1st March 2023.
Members of the Makerere University Council under the leadership of Mrs. Lorna Magara reached out to the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) with a view of getting acquainted with the college and how it operates especially for the new members on the Council.
Mrs. Lorna Magara in the middle, the Chairperson Makerere University Council with Mr. Karugire Edwin, the Chairperson of the Appointments Board (Right), and the Principal CEDAT, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe (Left).
The team had an interface with the CEDAT leadership and staff on Wednesday 1st March, 2023 during which issues of mutual interest were discussed. Key among these was the need to quicken the accreditation process of programs offered by the college.
‘The purpose of our visit is to get to know you, know what you are bringing on the table of the University and the nation’, said Mrs. Lorna Magara during the meeting held in the college Boardroom, attended by the Principal, Heads of Departments, Deans and other staff of the college.
The entourage of members of the Council included Mr. Karugire Edwin, the Chairperson of the Appointments Board, Dr. Sarah Ssali, Chairperson Quality Assurance, Gender & ICT Committee, Mr. Ssenngonzi Ddamulira, a Council member, Mr. George Bamugemereire, the Chair Chairperson – Legal, Rules, Privileges & Estates Committee, Mr. Bruce Kabaasa, Chairperson of the Finance, Planning, Administration & Investment Committee.
The Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology Prof. Henry Alinaitwe while welcoming the delegation to the college extended his congratulations to the Chairperson and other members of Council for their election to the University’s top governing body. He informed the meeting that by June 2023, he was leaving the office of Principal and also took off a moment to extend his appreciation to his constituents in the college that gave him the mandate to serve two years term.
Prof. Eng. Henry Mwanaki Alinaitwe, The Principal College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University.
Prof. Alinaitwe highlighted a number of programs and activities ongoing in the College, citing some programs that were getting phased out namely Computer Engineering and the Bachelor of Fine Art that was replaced by three individual programs including Visual Communication, Design and Multi Media, Industrial Art and Applied Design and Fine Art.
Prof. Alinaitwe introduced the Council members to the International Centers operating at the College such as the African Center of Excellence in Materials, Product Development and Nano-Technology, MAPRONANO, the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) among others.
The Principal also highlighted staffing issues at the College noting that the high staff turnover coupled with the big number of part time staff needed urgent attention. He appealed to Council to render all the necessary support to ensure that the staff matters are handled with the urgency they deserve. The low number of technicians and support staff that left a serious challenge in the administrative functioning of the college was also noted.
In the area of research,Members of Council were informed that the college benefited greatly from Government of Uganda support through PRESIDE, as well as the MakRIF project that continues to support the ever increasing research output by staff. He noted that until recently when it came to a close, CEDAT benefited greatly from SIDA support which helped address the area of staff training and research. The Principal further informed the Council members of the need to increase the laboratory spaces as well as equipping them with modern equipment and software.
Members of the College leadership listen to proceedings.
During the deliberations, it was revealed that majority of the challenges were cutting across colleges and CEDAT as the home of Engineering programs was encouraged to support the University by coming up with solutions to some of the challenges faced by the University for instance infrastructure. It was proposed that CEDAT was well placed to design a staff performance monitoring system as well as come up with measures to curb the dropout rates in programs like Architecture.
On Friday 13th February 2026, Makerere University was honored to host Prof. Daniel Branch, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Warwick. This visit marked a significant follow-up to a 2025 delegation from Makerere to Warwick, emphasizing a growing and reciprocal relationship between the two prestigious institutions. Organized by the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF), the day began with a strategic meeting in the office of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, alongside key university leadership including Prof. Fred Masagazi Masaazi chairperson of Mak-RIF and Mr. Simon Kizito the Deputy University Secretary.
During the initial discussions, Mr. Simon Kizito, reflected on the eye-opening experience of visiting Warwick, specifically praising their forward-thinking approach to industry collaboration and innovation. These observations set the stage for exploring new possibilities for student exchange programs. Such initiatives are envisioned to allow students from both universities to share valuable experiences in research and technology, fostering a global academic environment.
Prof. Nawangwe provided Prof. Branch with an overview of Makerere’s historical significance as the oldest university in East Africa and its immense research capacity, supported by an academic staff holding approximately 1,390 PhDs. He highlighted Makerere’s leadership in technological advancements, citing the design and production of Africa’s first electric car, the Kiira EV. Prof. Nawangwe also addressed the global knowledge gap, noting that Africa currently contributes only 3% of the world’s knowledge. He emphasized that collaborating with institutions like the University of Warwick is essential to increasing this percentage by improving supervision capacity and research impact.
From February 11th to 12th, 2026, the CEDAT conference hall became a hub of innovation as it hosted the Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems Conference. This two-day event marked a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between BOKU University and Makerere University, a collaboration that has consistently driven major advancements in renewable energy research. The conference served as a platform to celebrate these achievements while charting a course for future technological breakthroughs.
The event was officially opened by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, who emphasized the critical role of electricity in national development. Drawing a comparison to his observations in Austria, where electricity is universally accessible, Prof. Nawangwe noted that the lack of widespread energy access in Uganda remains a significant barrier to technological learning. He reaffirmed Makerere University’s commitment to being at the forefront of solving these energy and technological challenges to better serve the nation.
Makerere University placed art at the heart of its Narrative Practices Conference, unveiling an exhibition from the Margret Trowel School of Industrial and Fine Art (MTSIFA) that reimagines myths and everyday life. The showcase highlighted how visual creativity can act as a catalyst for decolonisation, inviting audiences to engage with African realities through images that challenge, inspire, and transform.
The Second Biennial Narrative Practices Conference was convened on December 10–11 at the Public Health Auditorium, under the theme Beyond the Ivory Tower: Our Stories, Our Spaces, and Decolonial Visions at Makerere University. The event hosted by the Department of Fine Art (DFA), College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), was organized in collaboration with Smith College School for Social Work (USA), The Makula Fund for Children, Peer Nation, Geruka Healing Centre, St. Lucia Children’s Home (Tanzania), and Save the Disabled Children Gaba.