Uganda to host 11th UNESCO Africa engineering week

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Uganda is set to host the 11th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Africa engineering week and the 9^th conference.

The event at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala city is expected to attract over 1,000 engineering professionals, researchers, policy makers, academics, innovators and youth leaders across the continent.

Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE) President Bosco Lepi has confirmed that event, which will run from September 14-20, 2025, features keynote addresses, plenary sessions such as ministerial panel, focused side-forums on women in engineering, young engineers, and chief executive officers (CEO’s) round tables.

It is also expected to feature technical tours, including visits to Uganda’s national parks, the Source of the Nile, hydropower installations and infrastructure sites, innovative exhibitions and the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO) engineering excellence awards.

L-R: Leah Alupo the public relations officer of UIPE, Dr Martin Manuhwa, the chairperson of Africa engineering conference, Bosco Lepi, the president of Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), Dennis Katungi official of Media Centre interacting after addressing a press conference at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on August 6, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

Addressing the media at the Uganda Media Center on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Lepi said, “as Ugandans, we are ready and excited to host this event. We officially call upon stakeholders to participate and support us through registration, sponsorship and promotion to make it a resounding success. Our expectation is that the whole world will be with us here in Uganda.”

He said President Yoweri Museveni would be the chief guest at the official opening and said the Government recognises the strategic importance of science and technology, innovation and engineering (STIE).

Lepi thanked the ministries of works and science (STI) for the support they have extended to UIPE.

Science and innovation minister Dr Monica Musenero said they were pleased to partner with UIPE, UNESCO and World Federation of Engineering Organisation and FAEO to host the engineering week and conference.

“This event has been themed: Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Socio-economic Transformation. This theme could not be best timed and suited for us, especially as Uganda, we are in our STI and the focus in engineering. In this era of a very rapid change and complex global challenges, its engineering that provides the bedrock of sustainable solutions,” Musenero said.

Musenero added that the event will serve as a powerful beacon and shining a spotlight on how cutting-edge engineering is not only addressing the critical issues facing our continent but is also unlocking unprecedented opportunities for social economic transformation in Uganda and all over Africa.

“Crucially, it is also meant to ignite imagination of our young people. You know Africa is a young continent and definitely Uganda is a young country. It has been proven that our young people have very active minds and are bringing such a big event will draw their attraction, inspire them to embrace impactful carriers in this indispensable field,” Musenero said.

“As you are aware, STI, which includes a lot of the ICT’s and creative industry has now been strategically placed in Uganda as the primary engine of Uganda’s ambitious national tenfold growth strategy. This bold vision is designed to propel our nation to a GDP of $500b by 2040 and we can achieve it before. Engineering is a backbone of any robust STI ecosystem for a nation that is ambitious to transform the way Uganda is,” he said.

The minister of science, technology and innovation Dr Monica Musenero (third right) front row poses for a group photo with Bosco Lepi (right) the president of Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), Refilwe Buthelezi (second right) the president of Federation of African Engineering Organisation (FAEO) and Dr Martin Manuhwa (fourth right) after addressing a pressing conference at Uganda Media Centre in lKampala on August 6, 2025. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

UNESCO Africa Engineering Week is celebrated across the African continent in September each year to raise the profile of the engineering profession, highlight its vital role in sustainable development, and inspire students to pursue engineering by integrating practical applications into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

UIPE is a professional engineering body established in 1972 to bring together engineers, technologists and technicians in Uganda.

The mandate of the institution is to promote engineering and facilitate the exchange of ideas amongst its members, nurture and develop engineers to take on professional responsibilities in Uganda and beyond and promote engineering professional ethics and guide policy matters of an engineering nature.

UIPE closely collaborates with the Engineers Registration Board (ERB), particularly in the evaluation and registration of Corporate Members who must meet specific professional standards by submitting their career and technical reports to the joint ERB/UIPE assessment panel. Once registered with ERB, individuals are granted professional recognition and can legally practice as engineers in Uganda.