We thank The New Vision for identifying and highlighting the exceptional talent displayed by Aaron Tushabe, Joshua Okello and Josiah Kavuma, all students of the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), Makerere University.

The trio designed an application codenamed WinSenga that focuses on how to detect ectopic pregnancies in women as well as monitor baby movements and position in the womb during pregnancy.

However, we would like to clarify that WinSenga does not cost $3,000 (Sh7.3m) as was reported in the Sunday Vision of 13th May 2012. Currently, the WinSenga application is designed to run on smart phones with windows platforms.

These phones are increasingly getting cheaper on the market today. The other gadgets used in this application- the pinard horn and the microphone cost about sh5,000 ($2) and sh10,000 ($4) respectively.

In the future, with further adjustments we hope this application will also run on Android phones which are also very pocket-friendly. The College takes pride in coming up with innovations that address the needs of the common man.

For the fifth year running, students from the School of Computing and Informatics Technology (CIT) have won the Microsoft East and Southern Africa Imagine Cup competition and will go on to compete in the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals to be held in Sydney, Australia in July, 2012.

The Team, Cipher 256 designed an application codenamed WinSenga that focuses on how to detect ectopic pregnancies in women as well as monitor baby movements and position in the womb during pregnancy. The team, comprising of Aaron Tushabe, Joshua Okello, and Josiah Kavuma was also voted the best by facebook and twitter users who were following the competition online. In total, 14 teams from different universities participated in the finals held in Nairobi last weekend. The competition is aimed at inspiring the youth to use their imagination, creativity and technology to help solve the world’s toughest problem.

According to Aaron Tushabe, their application addresses the UN Millennium Development Goal 5 – Reducing Maternal Mortality by 2015. “Our inspiration to develop this application was drawn from prior visits to the Mulago Hospital Pediatric Ward. Mulago being a national referral hospital, has an ultrasound machine, but what about the midwives in the villages? They use a Pinard Horn but in some instances some might lack the adequate skills to appropriately interpret the sounds,” said Tushabe.

In this system, the Pinard Horn is connected it to a smart phone through an external microphone placed at the flat end of the Horn. The phone contains an application that has a sound recording module and sound analysis module which will produce a report detailing the position of the baby during the different trimesters, the age of the baby and the fetal heart rate.

This system, according to Tushabe gives a more accurate diagnosis compared to using only a Pinard Horn. “WinSenga is effective, faster and affordable and can even be used at home by a pregnant woman.”

WinSenga is being developed with the help of Dr. Davis Musinguzi from Mulago Hospital and a former finalist in the Project Inspire Africa session 1. The students are mentored by Joseph Kaizzi, a former CIT student and previous participant in Microsoft Imagine Cup competitions. More support is drawn from the Microsoft Innovation Center – Uganda.

By July, the application will be able to display cardiograph information and also employ cloud technology to make the patients’ records more accessible by different medical practitioners.

Find WinSenga on facebook at www.facebook.com/winsenga and follow them on twitter: @winsenga.

Students of Records and Archives Management (RAM) have reason to smile after it emerged that most government departments and agencies are now seeking to fill their records offices with RAM graduates. This move according to Ms. Lillian Ariso, the Ag. Commissioner, Records and Information Management, Ministry of Public Service is aimed at professionalizing records management in institutions.

Ms. Ariso was speaking during the EASLIS Field Attachment workshop held on Saturday May 5th, 2012 at the Pharmacy Conference Room, Makerere University.

The half-day workshop, organized by the East African School of Library and Information Sciences (EASLIS) was aimed at providing a platform for students, staff and potential employers to share the experiences, expectations and outcomes of field attachment.

Ariso called upon the students to be innovative and showcase exemplary behavior during their field attachment since some employers use this period to search for manpower for their organizations.

Mr. Bob Obetti Nzima, the Chief Training Manager, Kakira Sugar Works Ltd advised the students to cultivate a culture of reading so that they are knowledgeable and he also encouraged the university lecturers to devote more time spent supervising the students during filed attachment.

The Ag. Deputy Principal, Dr. John Ngubiri who officially opened the meeting observed that the workshop was a timely intervention which will enhance EASLIS’ capacity to identify mechanisms of improving the Field attachment exercise and their curriculum. He called upon the students to learn and contribute to the objectives of their host institutions. Dr. Constant Okello Obura, the Dean EASLIS urged the students to be good ambassadors of EASLIS and reflect the University’s image positively.

The function was also attended by the College Principal, Prod. Ikoja Odongo, other College staff members and EASLIS students.

Huawei, a leading global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) service provider today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the College of Computing and Information Technology, to offer scholarships and specialized ICT training to top performing students.

The partnership, according to the Huawei Managing Director for Uganda, Mr. Eric Yang, is part of Huawei’s global ‘Telecom Seed for the Future’ knowledge transfer programme which will be implemented in partnership with the College. Under this partnership, selected students will acquire specialized ICT skills in Huawei centers in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa including an opportunity to study at the Huawei University in China. In addition, the company will provide internship placements and fully funded scholarships to top performing students.

Yang said the company was committed to ensuring that young people pursuing ICT have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills that would make them competitive in today’s fast changing ICT sector. “Our aim is to work closely with Makerere University to help in training the next generation of ICT professionals whom we hope will in years to come, contribute positively to the development of the ICT sector in the country,” he added.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, His Excellency Zhao Ya Li, the Director of Communications and Broadcasting Infrastructure in the Ministry of ICT, Dr. Eng. Godfrey Kibuuka. The ambassador urged other Chinese companies to also incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as part of their management practices. Dr. Kibuuka commended the partnership and urged other key players to play a more active role in supporting capacity building in the ICT sector in Uganda.

The Makerere University Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba, commended Huawei for leading the way in building training capacity for future ICT professionals noting that innovations in ICT would be the key driver of the economy in the coming years.

The function was also attended by the Dean of the School of Computing and Informatics Technology (CIT), Dr. Josephine Nabukenya, staff and students leaders of the College.