Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 54
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    4 pupils electrocuted as concerns grow over power theft in Sironko
    (Daily Monitor, 2018-05-01) Kitunzi, Yahudu
    Most victims either touch live wires or attempt to tap power directly from the high voltage lines overhead.
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    Assessing required upgrades on electricity distribution network in Tororo to adopt e-mobility charging infrastructure : case study Town Ring 11Kv feeder.
    (Busitema University, 2026-06-29) Opio, Paul; Okello, Oscar
    Uganda's growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), driven by the National E-Mobility Strategy, presents both opportunities and challenges for the existing electricity distribution infrastructure. This study assesses the required upgrades on the electricity distribution network in Tororo to support e-mobility charging infrastructure, using the Town Ring 11 kV feeder supplied from Tororo Rock Substation as a case study. Primary data was collected through field visits, interviews with electric motorcycle operators from Spiro and Gogo, and site visits to battery swapping stations. Secondary data was obtained from the Uganda E-Mobility Report and MEMD publications. Energy demand was estimated using the formula E = N × S × Es, and EV growth was projected from a baseline of 300 electric motorcycles in 2025 to 4,000 by 2030, with electric cars growing from 0 to 50 over the same period. Network simulation was carried out under three scenarios: baseline with no EVs, 10% EV penetration, and 30% EV penetration. Results show that the feeder's peak demand of 1,820 kW already exceeds its thermal limit of 1,800 kW before any EV load is added. At 30% EV penetration, five out of eleven transformers enter overload conditions. The integration of EV charging infrastructure significantly reshapes the load profile, with the evening peak increasing from 1,820 kW to a projected total of 6,010 kW by 2030. The study recommends upgrading overloaded transformers, increasing cable capacity, and deploying smart charging strategies to shift EV demand to off-peak hours, ensuring reliable and stable grid operation as e-mobility adoption accelerates in Tororo.
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    Design an Automatic Forward and Reverse starter for a three Phase Induction Motor
    (Busitema University, 2026) Mugwe, Simon
    This project designs and implements an automated forward and reverses starter system for a three phase induction motor to replace high risk manual switching mechanisms. Industrial and workshop environments heavily rely on these motors for conveyor belts, cranes, and machining equipment where directional changes are constantly required. Traditional manual phase reversal switches expose operators to high voltages and introduce severe mechanical and electrical stress to the motor due to abrupt directional changes. By integrating magnetic contactors, overload relays, and time delay mechanisms, this design ensures smooth transitions between forward, stop, and reverse states. Crucially, the system features both hardware and electrical interlocking mechanisms to prevent the forward and reverse contactors from engaging simultaneously, effectively eliminating the risk of catastrophic line to line short circuits. To enhance precision and monitoring, the system integrates an Arduino microcontroller platform for sensor based automation. The Arduino acts as the central control unit, processing inputs from operational switches or position sensors and managing output signals to the relay modules that drive the heavy duty contactors. Thermal overload relays are embedded within the power circuit to continuously monitor current draw, immediately cutting power if an overcurrent or fault condition is detected. Furthermore, the microcontroller enforces programmed time delays during direction switches, ensuring the motor rotor comes to a complete rest before reversing. The resulting prototype offers a highly reliable, safe, and cost-effective motor control solution that significantly reduces maintenance downtime and improves operator safety in small-scale industrial and micro workshops.
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    Design and construction of a protection system for three phase loads against single phasing and over heating.
    (Busitema University, 2026-08) Wanasolo, Harvey; Washibuku, Martin
    Industrial manufacturing plants rely heavily on three-phase induction motors to drive critical processes such as pumping, conveying, refrigeration, and packaging. At Elgon bottling company Limited, continuous production operations depend on the reliable performance of these motors. However, recurring motor failures attributed to single phasing and overheating have resulted in production downtime, increased maintenance costs, and reduced equipment lifespan. Single phasing occurs when one of the three supply phases is lost while the motor continues operating, causing excessive current in the remaining phases, torque imbalance, and rapid thermal build-up. If not detected promptly, this condition leads to insulation degradation and eventual motor burnout. Overheating, whether caused by electrical imbalance, overload, or poor ventilation, further accelerates insulation aging and increases the risk of catastrophic failure. This project presents the design and construction of a microcontroller-based monitoring and protection system aimed at preventing such failures. The proposed system continuously monitors phase voltages and motor temperature using appropriate sensing circuits. The measured parameters are processed by a programmable controller that implements fault detection algorithms capable of identifying phase loss, current imbalance, and excessive temperature rise. Upon detection of abnormal conditions, the system automatically disconnects the affected motor through a contactor control mechanism while providing real-time status indication via a display and alert system. The methodology includes system design, hardware construction, software development, and experimental validation under simulated fault conditions. The expected outcome is a cost-effective, reliable, and intelligent protection system suitable for industrial environments such as Elgon bottling company Limited. The implementation of this system is anticipated to reduce motor failure rates, minimize production downtime, enhance safety, and improve overall operational efficiency.
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    Design and development of an automatic dust extraction system for electrical panels.
    (Busitema University, 2026-07-09) Mulondo, Brian; Kavuma, Hakim; Ajolo, Mercy; Kabanda, Adam; Akadapau, Pollin Faith
    Electrical panels are critical components in industrial, commercial, and residential power systems, but their reliability is often compromised by the accumulation of dust, which leads to overheating, corrosion and potential fire hazards. Traditional manual cleaning methods are inefficient, necessitate system downtime, and pose safety risks personnel. This project designed, built, and programmed an Automatic Dust Extraction System for electrical panels. The system utilizes an Arduino microcontroller, operating on a programmed schedule to trigger a cleaning cycle autonomously. The dual fan and ducting system create positive airflow to evacuate dust into a sealed collector with a filter. The entire mechanism operates on a low voltage DC supply, ensuring isolation from the panel’s high voltage components. In controlled tests, the prototype successfully extracted approximately 85% of accumulated dust particles within 5- minutes second cycle. The system enhances operational safety, reduces maintenance frequency, and protects sensitive components, offering a significant improvement over reactive maintenance practice.
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    Design and implementation of a bidirectional vehicle-to- house (V2h) energy management and charging system.
    (Busitema University, 2026-09) Katete, Ivan
    This report presents the design and implementation of a low-cost, bidirectional Vehicleto-House (V2H) energy management and charging system, developed as a final year project prototype at Busitema University. The system was built around an ESP32-S3 micro controller, IR2104 MOSFET gate drivers, IRF3205 power MOSFETS forming an H-bridge converter, an ACS712 current sensor, and a 12 V, 7 Ah sealed lead-acid (SLA) battery as the energy storage unit. The primary motivation for this project is Uganda's persistent power-supply unreliability, rising electricity costs, and the growing adoption of electric motorcycles without corresponding bidirectional charging capabilities. Existing Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and V2H commercial systems are designed for high-capacity electric cars in developed economies and are inaccessible in the Ugandan context. This project addresses that gap by demonstrating, at low voltage and laboratory scale, that bidirectional energy transfer from a motorcycle-scale battery to a household load is technically feasible using locally sourced components. The implemented system demonstrated successful directional control of DC energy flow, with the ESP32-S3 firmware providing PWM-based switching of the H-bridge converter at a frequency of 20 kHz. The ACS712 sensor enabled real-time current monitoring for both charging and discharging modes. Voltage regulation and modeswitching logic were validated under resistive loads representative of small household appliances.
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    Design and implementation of a prepaid unit sharing management systemin UEDCL light meters.
    (Busitema university, 2026-07) Muhangi, Raymond; Kabakumba, Desire Bengina
    Light metering system includes a customer interface unit (CIU) that is easily accessible on the user premises. Upon any payment, a 20-digit token MUST be entered to have units loaded into the meter. This project proposes the design and implementation of a secure, reliable, and user-friendly prepaid electricity unit-sharing platform that enables LIGHT (formerly Yaka) customers under Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to share or transfer purchased prepaid electricity units between meters. The system will provide a mobile and web-based interface for initiating, approving, and tracking unit transfers, while ensuring compliance with meter token formats and vendor workflows. The platform aims to improve customer flexibility, reduce wasted units, and increase user satisfaction while preserving utility revenue protection and data integrity.
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    Design and implementation of a seat occupancy detection and weight monitoring system for road transportation vehicles.
    (Busitema University, 2026) Atwala, Godfrey; Nkoko,Joshua
    This project presents the design and implementation of an automatic seat occupancy and weight monitoring system for road transportation vehicles in Uganda. A single-seat prototype is developed using a 20 kg load cell, HX711 signal amplifier, Arduino Uno microcontroller, 16×4 I2C LCD display, and an active buzzer. The system detects whether a seat is occupied based on a calibrated weight threshold, displays the measured weight and occupancy status in real time, and triggers an alarm when the measured load exceeds a set maximum. Beyond seated passengers, the project also addresses the broader problem of unmonitored weight contributors in public transport — specifically standing passengers and passenger luggage — both of which significantly increase total vehicle load yet remain invisible to existing passenger counting systems. The prototype demonstrates the fundamental sensing principle for a full vehicle deployment and contributes toward solving the persistent problems of overcrowding, overloading, and the absence of automated weight data in Uganda’s public transport sector. Testing covers accuracy, repeatability, and threshold boundary behaviour under static loading conditions.
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    Energy ministry secures $200m for electricity
    (New Vision, 2018-04-11) Karugaba, Mary; Agaba, Vivian
    The Exim bank of China has approved a loan request of $200m (about sh738b) for the Government of Uganda to finance the extension of electricity to 285 sub-counties which are not yet connected to the national electricity grid.
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    Energy PS cancels contract.
    (New Vision, 2017-08-17) Karugaba, Mary
    A row has erupted between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) over the proposed construction of the 330MW Kiba hydropower project across River Nile in Nwoya and Kiryandongo districts.
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    Experts make final checks on Isimba
    (New Vision, 2018-04-04) Ojiambo, Benon
    As the construction of the 183MW Isimba hydro project nears completion, an independent panel of experts has embarked on final checks on the project.
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    Financier pulls out of Nyagak III power dam
    (New Vision, 2018-04-10) Agaba, Vivian; Karugaba, Mary
    Following complaints of incompetence, KIW cancelled the grant funding of Euro 6m (about sh27b).
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    Governement to connect 287 centres to power grid
    (Daily Monitor, 2018-05-07) Draku, Franklin
    The Rural Electrification Agency is in the final stages of rolling out connection of all the 287sub-county head quarters across the country to the main power grid.
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    Government must cut electricity price for benefit of citizens
    (Daily Monitor, 2018-05-01) Natasha, Mariam
    In Uganda the government has tried to ensure that every household has electricity through programmes like rural electrification yet many people still don't have it. Why?
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    Government seeks sh780b for rural electrification
    (New Vision, 2018-04-18) Bwambale, Taddeo
    The Government is set to acquire a loan of $212m ( about sh780b) from Exim bank of China for a new rural electrification programme through which 170,000 persons will be connected to the national power grid.
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    Govt must cut electricity price for benefit of citizens
    (Daily Monitor., 2018-03-01) Natasha, Mariam
    I recently attended the 19th summit of East African Community presidents retreat on infrastructure and health financing and development. The retreat aimed at harnessing resources by different member states in regards to infrastructure and health development.
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    Investor to manufacture transformers, flat irons
    (New Vision, 2018-05-11) Vision, Reporter
    A Chinese entrepreneur, Pengfei Zhang, has expressed interest in investing in a multi-manufacturing factory for the production of an assortment of electrical equipment in Uganda.
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    Isimba:
    (New Vision, 2017-08-16) Bwambale, Taddeo
    When the first turbine of the 183-megawatt Isimba hydropower dam is switched on in August next year, residents of Busaana sub-county in Kayunga district will be looking for much more than light. Four years ago, much of the area, located on the lower banks of the River Nile,
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    Karuma dam supervisor to be replaced.
    (New Vision, 2017-12-01) Odyek, John
    The Government is looking for a new supervisor for the construction of the sh6 trillion Karuma dam. This follows concerns about the quality of supervision of the project owner's engineer, Energy Infratech PYT Ltd, the Indian-based company. This was revealed by Margaret Proscovia Njuki,
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    Karuma engineers lay down tools over pay
    (Daily Monitor, 2017-10-13) Owiny, Jolly Tobias
    Works at Karuma Hydro-power plant has stalled after engineers supervising construction went on strike over pay.