Engineering, Art & Tech

Uganda Urged to Strengthen OSHE Enforcement Amid Rising Workplace Injuries

Published

6 months ago

June 10, 2025

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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Engineering, Art & Tech

CEDAT’s OSHE Project Team Meet OSH Officials at Ministry of Gender to Strengthen National Safety Policies

Published

2 weeks ago

November 28, 2025

Alex Isemaghendera

Makerere University’s School of Engineering has taken a bold step toward reshaping national safety standards. On November 21, 2025, a team spearheading the project to advance Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) knowledge and skills paid a strategic visit to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, laying the foundation for stronger national frameworks in workplace safety and sustainability.

The engagement, supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering, marked a pivotal effort to align academic expertise with government policy and industrial practice. The initiative represents a significant moment in bridging academic research, industrial realities, and government priorities, setting the stage for stronger national frameworks that safeguard workers and promote sustainable development.

By Kikomeko Pius & Harriet Musinguzi

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Engineering, Art & Tech

Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs Conducts Stakeholder Consultation on Defense Research and Development Policy at Makerere University

Published

2 weeks ago

November 28, 2025

Alex Isemaghendera

On November 26th, 2025, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) held a stakeholder consultation at Makerere University as part of the ongoing development of Uganda’s Defence Research and Development Policy. Hosted at the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT), the meeting brought together defense officials, academics, and subject-matter experts to align national security priorities with advanced research and innovation.

Prof. Moses Musinguzi, Principal of the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), chaired the meeting on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. The engagement was convened to gather expert input in shaping Uganda’s Defense Research and Development Policy. According to MODVA, the consultation sought to strengthen partnerships between the ministry and Makerere University in advancing defense-related research. It also aimed to harness science, technology, and innovation to modernize Uganda’s defense capabilities, identify opportunities for training and knowledge exchange, and harmonize defense research initiatives with the country’s broader national security and development goals.

Written by Harriet Musinguzi, Principal Communication Officer, CEDAT

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Engineering, Art & Tech

Erasmus Exchange Prof.’s Mak Photo wins Poland National Prize

Published

2 weeks ago

November 24, 2025

Mak Editor

Dr. Tomasz Padło (Right) with the Dean Margaret Trowel School of Industrial and Fine Art (MTSIFA) Assoc. Prof. Amanda Tumusiime (Centre) and the International Relations Office's Ms. Betty Nabisubi (Left). Dr. Tomasz Padło, Erasmus Exchange Professor from UKEN, Poland won first prize in the prestigious Grand Press Photo 2025 competition in the Culture – Single category for a photo he took at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa during his exchange visit.

Dr. Tomasz Padło, an Erasmus Exchange Professor from the Institute of Painting and Artistic Education UKEN, Poland won first prize in the prestigious Grand Press Photo 2025 competition in the Culture – Single category for a photo he took at Makerere University during his exchange visit.

Dr. Tomasz Padło, Erasmus Exchange Professor from UKEN, Poland won first prize in the prestigious Grand Press Photo 2025 competition in the Culture – Single category for a photo he took at Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa during his exchange visit. — ***Dr. Tomasz Padło with students in class.***

He says this about the photo taken in May 2025 at CCE Hall:

“The very idea of this photograph is due to the fact that this place is very overwhelmed. I was running away from this hustle and bustle and I saw a photographer who almost ritualized the unfolding of this background. When he sat down with the newspaper, I didn’t want to disturb him. I felt like this photographer – when it’s not about the effect, but about the process of ritualizing photography.”

Full story at this link
https://www.uken.krakow.pl/uniwersytet/aktualnosci/6764-fotografia-jako-rytual-dr-tomasz-padlo-nagrodzony-w-konkursie-grand-press-photo