Makerere University hosted a distinguished delegation of engineers from institutions across the globe, at the conclusion of the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and the 9th African Engineering Conference. The visit held on 19th September 2025 highlighted the University’s commitment to fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful partnerships across Africa and beyond.
The delegation engaged with faculty, students, and ongoing research initiatives driving the continent’s engineering future. They visited key centers of excellence at the College of Computing and Information Science (CoCIS), the Makerere University Innovation Pod (UniPod), and the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).
The delegation comprised esteemed representatives from leading engineering institutions around the world. Among them were Prof. Francis Davis from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana; Prof. Julian Cox from the University of New South Wales, Sydney; Ms. Catriona Macarthur and Eng. Wahid Azizi from the Royal Academy of Engineering, and Eng. Kazawadi Papias Dedeki, President of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO). Their presence underscored the global significance of the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and the 9th African Engineering Conference, and highlighted Makerere University’s role as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and leadership in engineering education across the continent.
At the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), they were received by Dr. Grace Kamulegeya and had an interaction with the Deputy Principal, Dr. Peter Nabende, who provided a concise overview of CoCIS, highlighting the different schools and departments, the scope of academic programs, and the college’s role in advancing computing and information science across the region. They later went on guided lab visits where students showcased ongoing projects, giving the delegation a hands-on sense of student-led innovation.
At the Makerere University Innovation Pod (UniPod), the visiting delegation was received by Dr. Cathy Ikiror Mbidde, the acting Manager of the Makerere University Technology and Innovations Centre (MUTIC). At UniPod the group toured specialized facilities, including the food lab and the fabrication room. Student teams presented practical projects developed at UniPod, illustrating applied research and prototype development. They also held conversations with Dr. Mbidde, who outlined UniPod’s vision for translating academic research into viable innovations and strengthening industry links.
At the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology, the delegation met with Prof. Dorothy Okello, Dean of Makerere University, School of Engineering. They toured critical facilities, including the mechanical laboratory, Makerere AI Lab, and the Makerere AI Health Lab, and several workshops that provide hands-on engineering education at CEDAT. They had a sit-down discussion with Prof. Dorothy focused on pathways for deeper institutional collaboration in research, curriculum co-design, and student exchange.
The visit concluded with an agreement to continue dialogue and to explore concrete collaborative activities. The delegation’s visit reaffirmed shared priorities and opened new avenues for partnership that will strengthen engineering education and practice across Africa and the world.