UMEC was commissioned by the Commander-in-Chief of Uganda Armed Forces, Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, on 29 January 2009 at Magamaga in Mayuge District. When Ministry of Defence purchased the defunct Lugazi University premises, a section of the facility was allotted to UMEC and in October 2010 the college relocated to Lugazi cantonment. UMEC shares the Lugazi cantonment with UPDF Engineers Brigade, School of Communication and Information Technology (SOCIT) and the School of Information Tech and Office Management (SITOM).
The core objective of establishing UMEC was to progressively develop engineering, technology and any other scientific capabilities in the UPDF designed to facilitate its operations as well as contribute to national and regional strategic development.