Tag Archives: UCU Faculty of Engineering

Mwanje Tom More is an academic with UCU’s Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology

Mwanje: Doctor in dream, engineer in practice

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Mwanje Tom More is an academic with UCU’s Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology
Mwanje Tom More is an academic with UCU’s Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology

By Kefa Senoga
During his entire childhood, Tom More Mwanje saw himself as a doctor. However, that desire remained a pipe dream. At A’level, Mwanje’s Chemistry marks for the final national examinations did not meet the requirements for him to join the medical school in Uganda. 

A friend who discovered how distraught Mwanje was convinced him to pursue another science course – engineering. He reluctantly obliged.  What seemed like a dead end soon turned into an opportunity that would define his career trajectory. 

“I never imagined I would end up in engineering,” says Mwanje, currently a staff member in the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

However, he recalls that by the time his friend advised him to pursue engineering, university admissions for undergraduate courses had already closed. As a result, he enrolled for a diploma course in a technical school – Uganda Technical College Bushenyi in western Uganda. From Bushenyi, Mwanje proceeded to Uganda Technical College Kichwamba, also in western Uganda, where he attained a higher diploma in civil engineering.

Mwanje’s early career saw him work as a technician on major infrastructure projects, including the construction of the 21-mile (34km)-Gayaza-Zirobwe road in central Uganda and also during the construction of the 83MW Agago Hydropower Plant in Zombo, northern Uganda. 

In order to become a fully-fledged engineer, Mwanje enrolled for a Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Kyambogo University, graduating in 2015. Soon after his graduation, the Enargo construction firm tasked him with the role of engineer in the construction of the Mpigi-Kibibi-Gomba road in central Uganda.

Recognizing the need for broader knowledge in project management, Mwanje again returned to school, this time to pursue Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management at Uganda Management Institute (UMI) in Kampala. 

With his expertise, Mwanje says he was able to move beyond Uganda’s borders to Tanzania, where he worked on the construction of Terminal Three at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport under BAM International. During his four-year tenure in Tanzania, he says he also used it as a chance to pursue a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering at the University of Dar es Salaam. He completed the course in 2022.

Upon returning to Uganda, Mwanje established Postract Structural Engineering Consults, a firm specializing in structural engineering solutions. All the professional work he did was alongside a teaching job. He has taught at institutions such as Buganda Royal Institute, Kampala Polytechnic Mengo, and the International University of East Africa, where he was an academic before he joined UCU.

In November 2024, two months into his service at UCU, Mwanje was appointed Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Environment in the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology.

Mwanje says he’s committed to enhancing the civil engineering curriculum at UCU. Noting that much of the focus has been on environmental studies, he aims to strengthen practical training in civil and building construction. 

“This university has given me a platform to exercise my management skills. I want to improve our civil engineering area, ensuring that our students are not just theoretically equipped, but also practically competent.”

His vision also includes integrating hands-on training in computer-aided design programs, introducing short courses in painting, welding, and structural design, and also promoting inclusivity in engineering education.

“I want to champion girl-child education in engineering,” Mwanje notes. “Currently, the majority of our students are male. I will start by inviting prominent female engineers to speak to students, boost their confidence, and encourage more women to take up the course.”

According to Mwanje, his passion for education is deeply rooted in his own journey. He was born to Wasswa Francis Kabugu, a former primary school teacher, and Namujju Teddy Nansumba in Nsumba village, Mpigi district in central Uganda. Mwanje says he began his academic path at St. Anthony Nsumba Primary School. He later attended St. Mary’s Senior Secondary School in Mpigi district before advancing to Highway College Makerere for his A’level studies.

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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.

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Bruce Amanya Mugisha

Former UCU guild president eyes Ugandan national politics

Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, UCU Alumni, ,


Bruce Amanya Mugisha
Bruce Amanya Mugisha

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Bruce Amanya Mugisha is a man on a mission. He is on a mission to solve the infrastructural challenges faced by his native district – Sheema – in western Uganda. He is also on a mission to join the country’s legislature, and contribute to its lawmaking function. Amanya also wants to give back to his alma mater – Uganda Christian University – where he served as the institution’s guild president from 2018-2019.

Sheema, known for its significant contributions to Uganda’s agricultural sector, particularly in tea and coffee production, faces a critical challenge: the poor state of the road network. 

Bruce Amanya Mugisha during his recent Master’s graduation in Civil Engineering at Makerere University.
Bruce Amanya Mugisha during his recent Master’s graduation in Civil Engineering at Makerere University.

Amanya says farmers in the district struggle to transport their goods, hindering economic growth and development. And his is a voice joining the many, urging the Ugandan government to intervene and address the critical issue of road network, to enable easy and faster access of markets by farmers.  

In fact, he believes that to have a bigger say, he should voice his concerns where decision makers are at Fora. And it’s one of the reasons, he says, why he is joining the Ugandan Parliament. In addition to contributing to the country’s legislative agenda, Amanya thinks he will push for the needs of his constituents.

Amanya’s desire to contribute to addressing Uganda’s pressing infrastructure challenges, particularly the roads, is not something he’s just woken up to. In fact, because of that desire, he carefully chose his university course, one which he felt would give him the opportunity to push that agenda. At UCU, which he joined in 2016, Amanya pursued Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. His master’s degree at Makerere University was also in the same field – civil engineering. 

After completing his undergraduate degree, Amanya worked on several high-impact projects. As a pavement engineer, he worked closely with the National Enterprise Corporation to ensure the paving of the Entebbe Pediatric Hospital Road. 

The paving of the road, which had been plagued by potholes, has improved access to emergency surgical services at the hospital. Amanya has also worked on the rehabilitation of 62.5 km Olwiyo-Pakwach road in Nwoya district, northern Uganda. The route connects northwestern Uganda to South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The road is also a tourist route leading to Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. 

These experiences not only honed his technical expertise but also deepened his understanding of the critical role that infrastructure plays in driving economic growth and improving livelihoods.

Currently, Amanya works as a pavement engineer with the Ugandan government. His ambitions extend far beyond his current role. With a keen interest in politics and public service, he is still building his career. In September this year, Amanya plans to enroll for a PhD. 

Amanya attributes his desire for politics and making the world a better place to what he learned while at UCU. He fondly remembers the friendships he made and the invaluable support he received from the faculty. 

The upgraded Entebbe Pediatric Hospital Access Road.
The upgraded Entebbe Pediatric Hospital Access Road.

“UCU is more than just an institution; it is a community that fosters growth, excellence, and integrity,” he explained, adding: “I am proud to be an alumnus, and I am committed to giving back to my alma mater.”

Among the many mentors from UCU, Amanya singles out Mr. David Mugawe, who still performs that role to date.

He plans to provide internship opportunities for UCU students at his company, Machbolt Engineering Limited, an engineering firm in Uganda that provides services such as project costing, contracting, consulting, and rehabilitation.  

One of the hurdles he says he encountered as a student was securing an internship placement. Now, he wants to mitigate such challenges for as many students as possible by collaborating with the UCU Faculty of Engineering to provide internship opportunities for the students. 

Amanya had his early education at Paragon Boarding Primary School and secondary education at Ntare School, after which he joined UCU. Paragon and Ntare are in western Uganda. In addition to Master’s in Civil Engineering, Amanya also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management.

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To support UCU programs, students, activities and services, go to  www.ugandapartners.org  and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at  m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.

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UCU Code Buddy mentors and mentees share a joyful moment at the official launch of the program

UCU launches computing and technology peer mentorship

Faculty of Engineering, Design & Technology, News, Students, , , ,


UCU Code Buddy mentors and mentees share a joyful moment at the official launch of the program
UCU Code Buddy mentors and mentees share a joyful moment at the official launch of the program

By Irene Best Nyapendi
Whenever Peace Mercy Mirembe was assigned a task, she wished she had a machine to simplify most of the work. This desire for efficiency drove her to dream of inventing machines that could ease the workload. And it could possibly be the reason she opted for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Uganda Christian University (UCU).

Her fascination with technology began during childhood, upon hearing stories of inventors who created life-changing devices.

Now in her first year studying in the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology at UCU, Mirembe believes coding holds endless possibilities.

UCU Code Buddy members engage in a tug-of-war during the program’s launch
UCU Code Buddy members engage in a tug-of-war during the program’s launch

“I can create whatever I need, it’s just a matter of time,” said the 20-year-old who aspires to be an inventor and software engineer.

A week into the course, reality dawned on Mirembe that the journey would not be all rosy. When she was introduced to Discrete Mathematics, a course unit offered in the first year, she found the subject difficult to comprehend.  She wanted to give up on the course.

Opportunely, at the Department of Computing and Technology at UCU, through a program named “Code Buddy,” every new student is assigned a mentor to walk the journey with them. That is how Mirembe met Daniel Wavamuno as her mentor. Fortunately, Wavamuno, a second-year Computer Science student, scored an A in Discrete Mathematics during his first year, which gave Mirembe reason to believe that it was possible to excel in the discipline.

While executing his mentor role, Wavamuno helped simplify concepts for Mirembe. He also provided her with resources and tutorials.

“I could have failed Mathematics if I had not met Wavamuno as my mentor,” Mirembe said. In addition to teaching her, he also guided Mirembe on which areas to pay more attention.

Tirzah Atwine receives a mentorship certificate from Assoc. Prof. Angella Napakol, the Director of Academic Affairs, and the chief guest at the program launch.
Tirzah Atwine receives a mentorship certificate from Assoc. Prof. Angella Napakol, the Director of Academic Affairs, and the chief guest at the program launch.

UCU’s Department of Computing and Technology launched its Code Buddy Mentorship Program on September 20, 2024, at the main campus. During the launch, attended by the Director of Academic Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Angela Napakol and the Director of Human Resources, Ms Florence Nakiyingi, students played fun games with their mentors, creating meaningful relationships and networking opportunities.

Dr. Innocent Ndibatya, the Head of the Computing and Technology Department, said: “We have found that students typically excel in their second and third years, but some are let down by poor grades acquired during the first year.”

The mentorship program, Ndibatya noted, will ensure a strong foundation from the start and quicken the transition from high school to campus life.

The Code Buddy mentors are selected based on their character and academic performance. 

Tirzah Atwine, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Computational Science at UCU, knows firsthand the challenges of navigating university life alone as a new student. To prevent others from facing similar struggles, she dedicated herself to mentor six students through the code buddy program.

“I don’t want new students to make the mistakes I did,” Atwine explains, noting that she has been able to learn more, by teaching others. “I’ve discovered that when I explain concepts to my mentees, I find it hard to forget the same concepts.”

Nathaniel Mugenyi, a first-year student pursuing Bachelor of Computer Science, testifies to the impact of the mentorship program. He noted that having someone to walk the journey with smoothened his transition into campus life.

Paired with Tobit (Tobby) Bushenyula Kabuya, a third-year student, Mugenyi found not only a mentor, but also a friend. 

Kabuya helped Mugenyi simplify difficult concepts, taught him effective time management and helped him avoid pitfalls like missing classes.

“I wasn’t planning to miss class, but when Tobby told me not to, I knew it was something I shouldn’t think of,” Mugenyi said. 

Theophile Shebakanga Bushenyula receives a mentorship certificate from Assoc. Prof. Angella Napakol.
Theophile Shebakanga Bushenyula receives a mentorship certificate from Assoc. Prof. Angella Napakol.

Mugenyi initially planned to keep a low profile on campus, focusing solely on classes and his room. However, the mentorship program changed that.

“If not for the program, I would have engaged less,” Mugenyi said. “I’m glad my campus life didn’t turn out as I had envisioned. Without Code Buddy, I would have missed out on valuable resources and opportunities.”

As a mentor, Theophile Shebakanga Bushenyula, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Information Technology at UCU, has developed strong leadership and communication skills. 

“My goal is to equip new students, get them academically on track, and make them independent,” he said. “It is rewarding to see mentees older than me become self-sufficient.”

Bushenyula’s passion for mentorship stems from his desire to share knowledge and become a teacher. “I enjoy guiding my mentees and seeing them succeed independently,” he said. 

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To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org  and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org .

Also, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.