Ag. Vice Chancellor, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (3rd R) with Left to Right: Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, Prof. Dorothy Okello, Prof. Moses Musinguzi, Canon Goddy Muhanguzi Muhumuza and another official at the handover of equipment by EACREEE on 14th August 2024.
Makerere University on 14th August 2024 received portable lighting test equipment from the East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE), the execution partner of the Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances (EELA) project in East and Southern Africa. The equipment was received on behalf of Makerere by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi from the Executive Director EACREEE, Canon Goddy Muhanguzi Muhumuza. On hand to witness the handover were the University Secretary, Mr. Yusuf Kiranda, Principal, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Prof. Moses Musinguzi, the Dean School of Engineering, Prof. Dorothy Okello and EACREEE/EELA officials.
The equipment which will be under the custody of CEDAT will according to the ED EACREEE allow for “screening of lighting products on the market in terms of their compliance with the country’s national regulatory framework as well as with the regional minimum energy performance standards developed in the EELA project.
“One of the objectives of the EELA project is to strengthen the capacity of national and regional institutions, testing centres and stakeholder groups in the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regions in order to drive a market transformation towards efficient and high-quality lighting and appliances” added Canon Muhumuza.
The EELA project which will bring regional support to private sector-led activities is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in collaboration with the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) and EACREEE.
Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi (2nd Right) hands over the equipment to CEDAT Principal-Prof. Moses Musinguzi and Dean School of Engineering, Prof. Dorothy Okello.
In his acceptance remarks, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi thanked Sida for funding the EELA project as well as the implementing partners UNIDO, SACREEE and EACREEE for enabling the project gain traction. He equally thanked the ED EACREEE Canon Muhumuza for ensuring that his Alma Mater Makerere University remains on the cutting edge of working with partners to monitor the standard of energy efficient lighting and appliances both domestically and regionally.
Notable among the projects being undertaken by EACREEE especially in the wake of mitigating the effects of climate change are the Energy Access and Green Transition Collaboratively Demonstrated in Urban and Rural Areas in Africa (ENERGICA) project funded the European Union with UNIDO, EAC, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and SADC as partners. To-date, ENERGICA has installed four (4) charging station demo sites and acquired over 200 electric motorbikes in Kenya.
EACREEE has also conducted; fourteen (14) trainings on SMART grids for 400 participants, three (3) trainings for small hydropower plants for 53 participants, as well as 4 trainings on solar PV for 175 technicians, students, operators, entrepreneurs and energy professionals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Canon Muhumuza concluded by sharing that EACREEE sees great potential of value addition to Makerere University in the form of internship positions for graduate students, mentorship and career talks for students, developing demonstration sites, jointly organizing events and contributing to topics of mutual interest.
From July 21st to 23rd, 2025, Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology proudly hosted two major international gatherings: the 2025 International Conference on the Cooperation and Integration of Industry, Education, Research and Application, and the2025 International Conference on Great Lakes Research.
During the Great Lakes Forum, Professor Moses Musinguzi, Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), underscored the critical importance of ongoing research into the Great Lakes, especiallyLake Victoria. He emphasized its ecological and socio-economic significance to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, while voicing concern over mounting threats from climate change and human activities particularly sedimentation and deteriorating water quality.
The forum served as a platform for scientists, policy makers, and regional stakeholders to collaborate on preserving the lake’s health and ensuring sustainable use of its resources for generations to come.
On Thursday, 17th July 2025, the studios at the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art-MTSIFA came alive with artistic expression and design innovations as the Department of Industrial Arts and Applied Design (DIAAD) unveiled their inaugural Year three students’ exhibition for the Bachelor of Industrial Arts and Applied Design (BIAAD) programme.
This landmark event was graced by Prof. Moses Musinguzi, Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, alongside Assoc. Prof. Kizito Maria Kasule, Deputy Principal of the college. Their presence underscored the College’s commitment to nurturing creative thinkers and industry-ready professionals equipped with hands-on artistic practical skills.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Kasozi Dorah, Head of DIAAD, hailed the exhibition as a historic milestone both for the students and the dedicated staff in the department and the school at large. “We are celebrating not only the creative and academic achievements of our pioneer class of the BIAAD program,” she remarked, “but also a significant milestone for us as academic staff, the realization of our vision: to train innovative, research-oriented designers who can address societal challenges through design and applied arts.
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 3rd, 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.