An investigation into the design of the existing workshops for heavy duty equipment.
Abstract
The training of indigenous specialists like ironworkers, potters, and craftsmen was done in the
apprenticeship Centres and the workshop was by then the classroom for the early man and as of
now. The modern mechanical workshop started in the nineteenth century with the introduction of
steam machines and machine tools. Inside a mechanical workshop, we can find workbenches,
measuring instruments, tools, and hand tools (Modern Mechanical Workshops, 2020).
However, the history of auto mechanics and auto workshops began in Europe, around 1800, with
the creation of the first cars (Kroof, 2021). But the formal workshop in Uganda started in 1897 by
Alexander Mackey with a small technical workshop near Kabaka’s palace and taught Baganda
boys skills like building, carpentry and joinery, shoe making, boat building, tailoring, and motor
mechanics (Okello, 2014).
In Uganda, the most beneficiary of heavy-duty equipment is the Ministry of Works and Transport.
There are four regional workshops in the country. The central mechanical workshop, serves the
central region and doubles as the headquarters of the mechanical stations in the country, the
Bugembe mechanical workshop, serves the eastern region, Mbarara regional workshop serves the
western region, and Gulu regional workshop serves the northern region. These workshops have a
very wide scope and this leaves a backlog of new equipment of about 1425 for repair and
maintenance country-wide (BMAU briefing paper, 2017).