Uganda Christian University (UCU) proudly celebrated a landmark academic moment on Friday, May 2, 2025, as Prof. Eleanor Wozei, a Professor of Environmental Quality Management, delivered her Inaugural Professorial Lecture at Nkoyoyo Hall under the theme “Engineering Our Environmental Wellbeing.”
The event was attended by a wide cross-section of the university community, including deans, professors, heads of department, faculty members, students, and administrative staff. Among the notable attendees was Prof. Monica Chibita, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, who introduced and accompanied the new full professor during the lecture.
Representing the UCU Vice Chancellor, Mr. David Mugawe, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, emphasized the significance of the event in his remarks.
“This is a proud moment for us as an institution,” Mr. Mugawe said. “This event not only marks a formal conferment of the title of professor but also provides an opportunity for the academic community and the broader public to hear directly from a scholar about the journey, the ideas, and the impact of the work she has done.”
He commended Prof. Wozei for her academic leadership and dedicated service to the university since 2009, during which she has served in multiple roles including Senior Lecturer, Head of Department, and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology.
“We are proud that we have gained a lot from her distinguished scholarship. Your attainment of professorship is a call for academic mentorship,” Mr. Mugawe added. “It is our hope that you will support other young academicians to reach the level of professor and help grow academic excellence in this institution.”
Prof. Wozei currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in waste management and sanitation, integrated water resources management, and scientific and technical writing in the Department of Engineering and Environment. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Makerere University, and both Master’s of Science and PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
She has worked in academia and research for over 30 years, producing significant research, publishing widely, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams both nationally and internationally. A registered engineer with the Uganda Engineers Registration Board (on which she served two terms), Prof. Wozei is also a member of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda.
In her lecture, Prof. Wozei highlighted key lessons from her engineering research in water, sanitation, and hygiene.
“Often, engineering solutions may not last as we expect,” she noted. “Many times, there is a disconnect between the knowledge we have, our attitudes, behaviours, and practices.” She stressed that successful environmental engineering goes beyond technical knowledge.
“Environmental engineers must not only be grounded in mathematics and physics but also understand biology, chemistry, and living organisms,” she said. “The human aspect in the design, implementation, and sustainable use of solutions is significant.”
She called for engineering solutions to be designed, built, operated, and maintained in partnership with stakeholders, especially the communities they are meant to serve.
“Each one of us has a part to play in engineering our environmental wellbeing through our knowledge, attitudes, and practices,” she added.
Prof. Wozei also expressed her gratitude to UCU, particularly the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology, the Directorate of Research, Partnerships and Innovations, and the Directorate of Facilities and Capital Projects, for their support throughout her academic journey.
The Inaugural Professorial Lecture served not only as a formal celebration of Prof. Wozei’s achievement but also as an inspirational session for the entire academic community.
Watch the full lecture here: https://youtu.be/K0w8kNWPJWE
