By Harriet Musinguzi
The China-Africa Symposium on Urban Water held at the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University, on Friday, 8th August, 2025, proposed the establishment of a dedicated laboratory in Uganda to support collaborative research and innovation in urban water systems. The symposium was organized under an ongoing research exchange between Ningbo University’s Institute of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering and Makerere University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, aiming to strengthen academic ties and address pressing water environment challenges through joint initiatives.
The symposium sought to foster meaningful dialogue and strengthen collaboration on urban water challenges and solutions within African and Chinese contexts. Centered on reviewing ongoing research efforts between Makerere University and Ningbo University, the primary objective was to foster the establishment of a joint research laboratory in Uganda. This envisioned facility would serve as a vibrant hub for collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and capacity development in water engineering and environmental sustainability, driving innovation and shared expertise to address critical water issues across both regions.
Eng. Dr. Assoc. Prof. Dorothy Okello, Dean of the School of Engineering, officially welcomed the delegation from Ningbo University, led by Prof. David Zhu, during the opening of the China-Africa Symposium on Urban Water. In her remarks, she expressed that the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) was privileged to host the visiting team and shared her enthusiasm for the promising partnership between the two institutions. She extended her sincere appreciation to the People’s Republic of China for its continued support to Uganda, particularly following the successful completion of the three-year CFIT project, which played a pivotal role in supporting the faculty’s curriculum review initiatives and support to student innovation.
Eng. Okello emphasized that water resources are one of the college’s strategic research areas. She recognized Dr. Robinah Kulabako, Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, as a leading expert in the field, noting her extensive research contributions and the impactful work carried out by her team.
She noted that the symposium presented a valuable opportunity to strengthen the existing partnerships between Makerere University and the People’s Republic of China, and that the emerging collaboration would further advance the College’s research agenda. Eng. Okello emphasized that the School of Engineering continues to be a leader in terms of research output and described the relationship with Ningbo University as a strategic step forward.
She welcomed the symposium’s focus on urban water, highlighting its relevance to Uganda’s rapidly growing urban areas. Expressing optimism about the potential impact of the joint research, she cited the example of perennial flooding in Bwaise, a neighborhood near Makerere University. She underscored the importance of addressing such challenges through collaborative innovation, noting Makerere’s standing as a leading research university in Africa and beyond.
The Dean encouraged the team to engage closely with key stakeholders such as the Uganda Electricity Generation Company, as well as partners involved in road infrastructure development and other relevant industries. Their collaboration, she noted, would be instrumental in the successful establishment and operationalization of the proposed joint research laboratory.
Prof. David Zhu, the team leader from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Ningbo University, emphasized the potential for student and staff exchanges through their partnership with Makerere University. In his update, Prof. Zhu highlighted his extensive background as a renowned expert in hydrotechnical engineering. He also shared some background about the Institute of Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering at Ningbo University, China, which he said is emerging as a leading center for research and innovation in water-related sciences. The institute focuses on key areas such as urban drainage, hydraulic structures, coastal engineering, and river dynamics. He said the institute was leading the way in advancing projects on flood modeling, sediment transport, and sustainable water systems. Through such international collaboration and interdisciplinary research, the institute plays an important role in addressing complex water environment challenges and strengthening China’s scientific leadership in hydraulic and ocean engineering.
Dr. Robinah Kulabako, Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CEDAT, briefed the visiting delegation from Ningbo University on the department’s history and academic offerings. She noted that the department has been in existence for 55 years, with a strong focus on delivering quality education in civil engineering and advancing academic research.
Dr. Kulabako shared that the department currently has 30 academic staff and offers a range of graduate programs, including PhD, Master’s, and Postgraduate Diploma degrees. Among these are the Bachelor’s and Master of Science in Civil Engineering programs. She also highlighted the launch of new programs in 2025, namely the Master of Science in Sanitation and a Postgraduate Diploma in Sanitation, aimed at addressing emerging challenges in urban water and sanitation management.
She highlighted a wide array of ongoing research within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, spanning areas such as hydrology and hydrometrics, urban water systems, river engineering, and water resource hydrolytes. She also emphasized the department’s adoption of cutting-edge technologies, including computer modeling, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and GIS-based spatial analysis.She noted that this research is purposefully designed to be applied and impactful, aiming to address complex water-related challenges and contribute to the creation of a safe, sustainable environment. These initiatives are supported by a robust network of partners, includingUNESCO, Africa Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (MakRIF), Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Office of the Prime Minister, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Water for People, National Environment Research Council (UK), Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, among others.
Dr. Kulabako reported that the laboratories within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering are partially equipped, with several essential facilities already in place. She emphasized the need for further investment to fully realize the department’s research potential and support innovation in environmental engineering.
The department is actively engaged in a wide range of research projects that address both environmental sustainability and national development priorities. Highlights include: Early Adoption of Blue-Green Infrastructure, focused on promoting sustainable urban water systems across East Africa.
Modeling Urban Flooding from Lake Victoria Water Level Rise, Investigating the impact of rising lake levels on urban flood risks, and contributing to regional climate resilience strategies.
Transitional Management of Water and Sanitation in Informal Settlements explores innovative approaches to service delivery in underserved communities. Includes training and knowledge transfer in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Beyond the Networked City developed decentralized systems for water, sanitation, and energy delivery in urban areas, aiming to improve service access and efficiency.
Water Behavior Change and Environmental Sanitation, which aims to develop sustainable sanitation solutions and promote professionalization in the sector.
Urine Stabilization and Fertilizer Production, which explores the transformation of human waste into slow-release fertilizer through dehydration and stabilization techniques.
City-Wide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS), a collaborative initiative between Makerere University and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to develop scalable sanitation technologies. Its capacity-building component has on board 20 undergraduate students, 6 master’s students,1 PhD candidate, and 1 postdoctoral researcher.
The Pathogen Hazard Estimation from Sanitation Technologies, conducted in partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, assesses health risks associated with sanitation systems in Africa.
The Bio Digester Technology Research, funded by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, this project investigates the use of bio digesters for sustainable waste management.
The upcoming partnership with Ningbo University will be a sure way to step up the research efforts in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology.