Introduction
Structural engineering in Uganda follows both British Standards and the Eurocodes. For example, engineers apply BS 8110 and EN 1992 for concrete, EN 1993 for steel, and EN 1991 for actions. These standards guide residential, commercial, and institutional projects across the country. KAHL Consults Limited works within this framework. Based in Kampala, the firm is a multidisciplinary consultancy. Its team includes architects, engineers, surveyors, environmental specialists, and real estate consultants. Together, they deliver innovative, sustainable, and value-driven solutions.
Eng. Happy Moses Were leads the practice. He is a registered Civil and Structural Engineering Practitioner in Uganda, and the firm’s Managing Partner. Over the years, KAHL Consults has supported several Turkish-led developments in Uganda. In these projects, the team reviews designs prepared to Turkish engineering standards. Then it adapts them to Ugandan and Eurocode requirements. The team relies on ProtaStructure — a Turkish-built solution — for the modelling and verification. As a result, clients gain extra confidence from the shared standards between the two countries.
Discovery of ProtaStructure
KAHL Consults first encountered ProtaStructure in 2012. Back then, engineers still called it Orion. Before that, the team had used ETABS, SAP2000, and SAFE. However, they wanted one connected workflow. Specifically, they needed modelling, analysis, design, reinforcement detailing, and documentation in a single environment.
At first, the firm simply explored the software. Soon, its potential became clear. Therefore, KAHL Consults purchased a genuine licence in 2019. That decision transformed the practice. In turn, the team gained technical support, regular updates, structured training, and access to the Prota community. Today, ProtaStructure serves as the firm’s primary structural design platform. In fact, Eng. Were calls it one of his best professional investments.
“I have grown professionally alongside ProtaStructure. Watching the software evolve while applying it to increasingly complex projects has been a rewarding journey, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to shape the future of structural engineering.”
Useful Features
For KAHL Consults, the biggest strength of ProtaStructure is its integrated workflow. The team models, analyses, designs, and details from a single model. Moreover, it generates every drawing and report from that same model. When a design changes, ProtaStructure updates the whole project automatically. As a result, drafting time drops, coordination errors shrink, and productivity rises.
This single environment also speeds up decisions. For example, the team compares several design options quickly. It then optimises each structural system with confidence. Meanwhile, the models stay compliant with Eurocode requirements. In addition, automated detailing and documentation lift both quality and speed.
A few capabilities stand out:
- One integrated model for modelling, analysis, design, detailing, and documentation
- Automatic updates whenever a design revision changes the project
- Automated reinforcement detailing and drawing generation
- Shorter drafting time and fewer coordination errors
- Fast comparison and optimisation of alternative structural systems
Project Case Studies: Kampala Developments
With the clients’ permission, KAHL Consults has shared several Kampala projects. The team designed and verified each one with ProtaStructure Suite. Notably, every project uses a different structural system. Together, they show the range the platform supports:
- Condominium Apartments – Kololo, Kampala: composite (ribbed) slab systems with wide beams
- Condominium Apartments – Bugolobi, Kampala: flat slab systems with patch panels
- Nursing School – Mengo Hospital, Kampala: composite (ribbed) and solid slab systems with drop beams
Across these developments, the workflow stayed smooth. The team moved from modelling to analysis, detailing, and documentation without switching tools. As a result, coordination stayed efficient and manual drafting stayed low. Even so, each project still called for its own slab and beam configuration.
Resources and Demonstrations
First, explore the tutorials and demonstrations on our YouTube channel. They walk through the modelling, analysis, and detailing features described here. In addition, the Prota Help Center offers in-depth articles and support options. Finally, follow us on social media for recent events and new feature releases.
Real-World Applications
Browse our Project Gallery to explore real-world structures modeled with ProtaStructure Suite — including KAHL Consults’ recent Kampala developments.
