KAMPALA – The Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) has launched The UIPE Voice, a monthly press briefing platform aimed at strengthening the role of engineers in national discourse and ensuring technical expertise informs policy decisions on infrastructure, energy, industrialisation, and digital transformation.
The platform was unveiled on Thursday at Hotel Africana in Kampala under the theme, “Engineering Matters: Strengthening the Voice of Engineers in National Development.” The event brought together government officials, engineers, industry leaders, contractors, academics, and members of the media.
Speaking as the chief guest, Hon. Eng. Hillary Onek, Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, said the government is committed to working closely with engineers to advance Uganda’s development agenda.
“The government is committed to partnering with UIPE. Together, we are building a future where engineering expertise guides national priorities. Engineers are stepping forward, not just to solve technical problems, but to communicate clearly and shape policy,” Onek said.
He noted that the new platform should serve not only engineers but also government, industry, academia, the media and ordinary citizens seeking informed perspectives on infrastructure and development challenges.
“As announced, the platform is not only for engineers, but for government, industry, academia, media, and citizens to receive informed perspectives on infrastructure development and challenges facing our country,” he said.
Onek emphasised that the government now places greater value on professional engineering expertise. “The government now fully appreciates the importance of professional engineers. No more employing ‘anybody’; only registered, qualified engineers are now being hired in ministries and at the district level,” he said.
He added that the appointment of a professional engineer as Minister for Science and Technology demonstrates the government’s growing recognition of engineers as key contributors to policy-making.
“Government increasingly recognises that engineers are not only implementers of projects, but strategic contributors to national policy formulation and development planning. From roads and energy systems to water infrastructure and urban development, engineering expertise is central to ensuring that Uganda’s investments are efficient, sustainable, and impactful for citizens,” Onek said.
Conveying greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Onek stressed that science, technology and engineering remain at the heart of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
“Science, technology, and engineering remain the backbone of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation agenda. These are not just technical disciplines, but the very foundation upon which national policy, planning, and development decisions must be built,” he said.
He challenged engineers to actively engage the public, noting that “professionals who do not communicate risk being misunderstood.”
UIPE President Eng. Peterson Mwesiga described the launch as a turning point for Uganda’s engineering profession, arguing that engineers have for years remained absent from conversations surrounding projects they design and implement.
“For too long, engineers have been absent from the conversations their work shapes. When infrastructure fails, we hear politicians. When projects delay, we blame bureaucrats. When systems raise concern, we turn to activists. Yet the engineering voice has remained in the background,” Mwesiga said.
He said The UIPE Voice seeks to change that reality. “The UIPE Voice changes that. It is a structured platform to communicate engineering clearly to the public, share updates within the profession, explain technical issues in simple language, and engage government, media, and communities on critical infrastructure decisions,” he said.
Mwesiga challenged attendees to consider how little the public understands about engineering decisions despite their impact on everyday life. “When was the last time a Ugandan truly understood why a bridge was built where it was built, or why a road was designed the way it was?” he asked.
He added that Uganda’s growing investments in infrastructure, energy expansion, industrialisation and digital transformation require stronger engagement between engineers and the public.
“Engineering is stepping out of the technical corridors and into the public conversation. We have built the roads that connect communities, the hospitals that save lives, the energy systems that power homes, and the water systems that sustain families. Engineers deserve a seat at the national table,” Mwesiga said.
“Engineering is not a background profession. It is a nation-building profession. Yet for too long, the public has rarely heard from us directly. Today, that changes,” he added.
Former UIPE President and Buliiro County MP Eng. Bernard Kimeze Ssebbuga highlighted the critical role of journalists in shaping public understanding of engineering and infrastructure.
“With the launch of #TheUIPEVoice, engineering will no longer be hidden work done behind technical reports and closed rooms. Through this platform, engineers will actively engage communities, explaining what is being done, why it is being done, and ensuring the public understands and witnesses the work behind national development,” Ssebbuga said.
He called on journalists to become ambassadors of the profession by helping the public appreciate the contribution of infrastructure and technology to national development.
Transport policy scholar and Chairman of CISCOT Uganda, Dr Sam Stuart Mutabazi, said one of the biggest challenges facing the profession is a lack of confidence among local engineers.
“Engineering in Uganda has great potential, but one of the biggest challenges is confidence. Too many engineers underestimate what they can achieve compared to engineers in places like the UK or the US. The truth is, Ugandan engineers can deliver the same quality of bridges, roads, highways, and infrastructure if given the opportunity and if confidence is strengthened,” Mutabazi said.
He also urged policymakers to ensure construction materials remain affordable. “We must ensure construction materials like cement remain affordable. Taxing cement risks slowing down infrastructure growth and undermining the construction industry,” he said.
Mutabazi added that engineers should take a more active role in public policy discussions. “The engineering profession must guide public debate on infrastructure decisions that shape national development and economic transformation,” he said.
Real estate expert and Credo Management Limited CEO, Eng. Wilberforce Nsamba welcomed the initiative, saying the public increasingly wants engineers to explain developments in the built environment.
“Ugandans are appreciating that engineers are finally coming out to speak. The public needs clarity on what is happening in the built environment, and engineers are best placed to provide those answers,” Nsamba said.
The launch was also attended by representatives of the Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (UNABSEC), led by President Kiara Binta Nkuranga, who praised UIPE for creating a platform that promotes collaboration, innovation, and professional excellence in Uganda’s construction and infrastructure sectors.
UIPE said The UIPE Voice will be held monthly and will serve as a national platform for dialogue, thought leadership, public engagement and professional visibility as the engineering fraternity seeks a more prominent role in shaping Uganda’s development agenda.
