Makerere Engineering Society

History

MES, as it is commonly referred to, traces its roots back to 1971, a time when most engineering  disciplines were introduced in the University and Uganda as a whole. Founded by Mr. Turyamureeba in  1971, the club has played a big role in shaping the lives and the attitudes of several great men and  women in the country by equipping them with interpersonal, leadership and social skills indispensable  in the development of successful careers which has promoted both national and global development.
It is the pioneer students’ organisation in the College Of Engineering, Design Art and Technology and  boasts of a rich vein of products over the years in terms of well placed engineers and professors as well  as other professionals.

 

Aims & Objectives

The activities and programs of the society evolve around the following aims and objectives as stipulated in the society constitution.

  • To create a medium of communication between the staff and students.
  • To create a worthy relationship between the students and industry and thus facilitate industrial placement of students.
  • To get in touch with practicing engineers in the field to help students broaden their technical skills through seminars and workshops hence providing free mentorship programs.
  • Create, encourage and perpetuate a sense and spirit of togetherness amongst engineering students and students of the College of Engineering, Design Art and Technology as a whole.
  • To protect and defend engineering students’ interests, rights and freedoms.
  • To instill a sense of discipline, appreciation, love and pride for the engineering profession.
  • To help recommend students to different institutions for scholarships, training and mentorship and employment where possible.

Why An Engineering Career?

A very rewarding, exciting and challenging stable career that has stood the test of time, accompanied with diversification, redesigned to meet daily society needs; the Engineering field has continued to promote livelihood of many. For hundreds of decades now, the world has looked up to Engineering for solutions to many of its afflictions. Driven by a strong commitment to respond to society’s changing needs and challenges, very little is left to doubt that graduates in the Engineering field readily find employment in government, banks, consulting firms, international organizations, NGOs or by self amidst soaring levels of unemployment in Uganda and World-over. By virtue of the skills attained in this field of study, you will not only find employment along your field of specialization, but in many diverse areas of the human endeavor.  Upon such healthy background, the Engineering field is undoubtedly the rightmost place to start your long career plan.

Careers In Engineering

Traditionally, the Engineering career comprised three fields i.e. Civil, Mechanical and Electrical engineering but resulting from several advances in research, innovations and technology; it called for more specialized technical manpower and over time scientists thought it right to spilt up the traditional engineering disciplines to meet the increasing expectations and demand from the career. In effect to these technological advancements, other engineering fields like telecommunications, computer, chemical, automobile, petroleum, textile, agricultural, aero-space, bio-chemical, genetic, irrigation, environmental, water, software engineering have emerged to meet the growing demand of engineering services. However, a lot is in the pipeline to foster further transformation and development of these Engineering options.

Depending on your choice of degree, your personal skills, values and preferences will give you an edge in the competitive open world making you a more efficient,  effective and competitive engineer.

MES Activities

Most of its activities are intertwined with those of the other students’ bodies at the faculty, though we do carry out our own activities.

  1. The Annual Technology Conference
  2. The Annual Technology Dinner
  3. Open Day and Exhibition day
  4. The International Study Tour
  5. The Freshers’ Ball
  6. The Technology Sports’ Gala
  7. The Annual UIPE Outreach Conference
  8. Industrial tours

Recent Trends In Engineering At CEDAT, Makerere University

Following the progressive shift in the teaching paradigm at the CEDAT from traditional classroom based instruction style to more student engaging experimental learning formulas that focus on closer interactions between instructors and students combined vigorous involvement of undergraduate students in research studies, lots of exciting projects have been accomplished top of which is an electric vehicle (Kiira EV), the Bomb Detector Robot by the ilabs@MAK group, all designed by CEDAT students and staff. More to note is that there is a number of many other projects at CEDAT like the Makapads project, the Community Wireless Resource project, sustainable energy use and conservation (CREEC) and many others.

I take this once in a lifetime opportunity to welcome you all to the mighty CEDAT……**the home of innovation**

Future Prospects

  1. The annual international tour and an academic tour to Western Uganda in January; Hima Cement, Kilembe Cobalt Mines, the Hydropower dams, and the Albertine region.
  2. Increased and regular local industrial trips to various companies, factories and sites.
  3. Facilitation and promotion of students’ research led projects
  4. Signing memoranda of understanding with different institutions and companies both locally and internationally to take on more students for industrial training and internship placement and possible retainment at their jobs.
  5. Establishment of an E-learning facility.
  6. More UIPE involvement in MES activities and vice versa through different conferences, workshops and community programs.
  7. To come into partnership with different engineering societies and various schools both nationally and  internationally so as to help broaden our professional network in the nearby future.

Contact Us

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, MES.
Bamboo Project  House.
Outside Technology New Building
Makerere University
Email: mespresident@CEDAT.mak.ac.ug