No doubt that civil engineering is now one of the most lucrative professions in Uganda and the the entire world at large. Have you ever imagined who the first engineer in the world was? Or what the first school of civil engineering was and where it was located? Well I will briefly address this in the passage below

Engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginning of human existence. The earliest practices of Civil engineering may have commenced between 4000 and 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia (Ancient Iraq) when humans started to abandon a nomadic existence, thus causing a need for the construction of shelter. During this time, transportation became increasingly important and it led to the development of the wheel and sailing. The construction of Pyramids in Egypt (2700-2500 BC) is also considered to be the first instances of large structure constructions.

Around 2550 BC, Imhotep, the first documented engineer, built a famous stepped pyramid for King Djoser located at Saqqara Necropolis. With simple tools and mathematics he created a monument that stands to this day. His greatest contribution to engineering was his discovery of the art of building with shaped stones and those who followed him carried engineering to remarkable heights using skill and imagination.

Ancient historic civil engineering constructions include the Qanat water management system (the oldest older than 3000 years and longer than 71 km,) the Parthenon by Iktinos in Ancient Greece (447-438 BC), the Appian Way by Roman engineers (c. 312 BC), the Great Wall of China by General Meng T’ien under orders from Ch’in Emperor Shih Huang Ti (c. 220 BC) etc

A treatise on Architecture, Book called Vitruvius' De Archiecture, was published at 1AD in Rome and survived to give us a look at engineering education in ancient times. It was probably written around 15 BC by the Roman architect Vitruvius and dedicated to his patron, the emperor Caesar Augustus, as a guide for building projects.

Throughout ancient and medieval history most architectural design and construction was carried out by artisans, such as stonemasons and carpenters, who later rose to the role of master builders. Knowledge was retained in guilds and seldom supplanted by advances. Structures, roads and infrastructure that existed were repetitive, and increases in scale were incremental.

One of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to physical and mathematical problems applicable to civil engineering was the work of Archimedes in the 3rd century BC. Using Archimedes Principle, which underpins our understanding of buoyancy, and practical solutions such as Archimedes’ screw. Brahmagupta, an Indian mathematician, used arithmetic in the 7th century AD, based on Hindu-Arabic numerals, for excavation (volume) computations.

However there is need to also take a look at the educational & Institutional history of studying  civil engineering

 The first engineering school, The National School of Bridges and Highways was opened in France in the year 1747. The first self-proclaimed civil engineer was John Smeaton who constructed the Eddystone Lighthouse. In 1771, Smeaton and some of his colleagues formed the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a group of leaders of the profession who met informally over dinner.

In 1818, world’s first engineering society, the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in London, and in 1820 the eminent engineer Thomas Telford became its first president. The institution received a Royal Charter in 1828, formally recognizing civil engineering as a profession. Its charter defined civil engineering as: “Civil engineering is the application of physical and scientific principles, and its history is intricately linked to advances in understanding of physics and mathematics throughout history.

Civil Engineering is now being taught in various Universities in Uganda the most common one being the Country's oldest "Makere University" under the college of Engineering, Design Art and Technology. It is a four year course that leads to the award of a degree in Civil Engineering. For one to be enrolled for the course there are three different entry points namely direct entry, mature entry or diploma entry where such a person is a holder of a diploma in civil engineering. However such persons must have offered at least Mathematics, Physics or any related subjects like technical drawing at their lower levels.

Kantono Abel

Student MUK College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.