Eng. Dr. Dorothy Okello recognized in Top 100 Women Fixing Uganda

In an article by the CEO Magazine, the Dean of the School of Engineering, Eng. Dr. Dorothy Okello has been recognized as one of the top 100 women fixing Uganda. The article is quoted below:

“Dorothy Okello is Dean, School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University since August 2019. She is also a Senior Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Researcher with netLabs!UG that seeks to be a leader in collaborative research, development and solutions on innovative telecommunication and networking technologies, strengthening the innovation ecosystem in Uganda and across East Africa and Adjunct Member of Faculty, Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland.

Since May 2013, Dorothy has been a Senior Lecturer at College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology at Makerere University where she is involved in teaching and research in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering specializing in Telecommunications. Courses taught include Introduction to Electrical Engineering, Telecommunication Systems, Wireless Propagation, and Wireless Technologies. Research interests include community wireless networks, cognitive radio, gender & ICT for Development, innovations for affordable and accessible ICTs (information and communication technologies).

She also serves as Adjunct Member of Faculty, Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland and Director of Innovation, Resilient Africa Network (RAN) hosted by Makerere University.

Supported by USAID, RAN is a multi-disciplinary network of 18 Sub-Saharan African universities that seek to identify, develop and scale innovative solutions to strengthen resilience of African communities.

Dorothy is a Member, Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), and registered by Engineers Registration Board (ERB). Served as UIPE President 2016-2018. Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and have served on 2017 – 2019 IEEE Ad Hoc Committee on Africa (AHCA).

Okello is the Founder, Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) whose mission is to promote and support the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by women and women organizations in Uganda.

WOUGNET is a non-governmental organization (NGO) initiated in May 2000 by several women’s organizations in Uganda to develop the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among women as tools to share information and address issues collectively.

WOUGNET’s vision is a society in which women are empowered through the use of ICTs for sustainable development. The mission is to promote and support the use of ICTs by women and women organizations in Uganda so that they can take advantage of the opportunities presented by ICTs in order to effectively address national and local problems of Sustainable National Development. Presently, WOUGNET has over 90 women organizations as members, the majority are in urban areas and/or district towns where there is some Internet access and a few in rural areas.


She was recognized with a number of international and national awards over the years including as ‘Top ICT Woman – Uganda ICT Excellence Awards 2009’ organized by the Uganda ICT Forum. Featured in 12 Top Technology People in East Africa who are technologists with a social twist by Enterprise Technology Magazine, September 2012.

Dorothy received the Women Achievers Award 2012 for enhancing women’s empowerment through Science & Technology presided over by Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda.

In November 2013, she was the first recipient of Africa’s first Digital Woman Award at ICT Days in Cameroon. In 2014, selected as Vital Voices Fellow for distinguished emerging and established women leaders who promote women and girls’ progress.”