Engineering diplomacy: A strategic path for Uganda's development

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OPINION

By Joseph Tagane

In an increasingly interconnected world, diplomacy has evolved beyond traditional statecraft and international relations into multifaceted domains like economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and science diplomacy.

A newer but critical subset, engineering diplomacy, Griffiths (2018) defines it as the application of engineering capabilities and international technical cooperation to support diplomacy, advance foreign policy objectives, and promote global stability and peace.

Salama and Elsharkawy (2021) conceptualizes it as “a form of soft power where engineers engage in global issues such as climate change, infrastructure development, and disaster response, thereby reinforcing diplomatic ties and enhancing mutual understanding among nations” ‘’Engineering diplomacy’’ is emerging as a strategic tool for countries seeking to leverage their technological and infrastructural capabilities to enhance international influence and national development.

For a developing country like Uganda, embracing engineering diplomacy is not only timely but necessary to address domestic challenges and assert its regional and global relevance. As the country positions itself for industrialisation and sustainable infrastructure development under Vision 2040 and NDP IV, engineering diplomacy emerges as a strategic force capable of transforming Uganda’s engineering sector from a reactive service to a proactive driver of national development.

"One can look and see whenever you may be around you, it must be engineered either by a craftsman or woman, artisan, Technician, Technologists, software engineer, an Engineer, to mention but a few or engineered by God’’

Why engineering diplomacy is a way to go for Uganda

Bridging Infrastructure Gaps through International Collaboration: Uganda faces significant infrastructure deficits, especially in transportation, water management, energy, and urban planning. According to the World Bank, only 19% of rural Ugandans have access to electricity, and road density remains low compared to global standards.

Engineering diplomacy can enable Uganda to partner with countries and multinational engineering firms for knowledge exchange and joint ventures. By engaging diplomatically through engineering expertise and collaborative infrastructure projects, Uganda can attract foreign direct investment and development assistance.

Positioning Uganda as a Regional Leader in Technical Cooperation: Uganda is strategically located in East Africa, bordered by five countries. By investing in engineering capacity and exporting that expertise to neighbours in the form of technical assistance and cross-border infrastructure projects (like energy grids, roads, and dams), Uganda can solidify its leadership in the East African Community. Initiatives like constructing the Standard Gauge Railway and regional hydropower plants could be diplomatically positioned as regional integration tools rather than just national projects.

Engineering for Peace and Disaster Response: Engineering diplomacy plays a crucial role in peacebuilding and disaster response areas in which Uganda is often involved through peacekeeping and refugee management. Uganda can deploy its engineers in post-conflict or disaster-hit zones across the region, enhancing its soft power while addressing humanitarian needs. Engineering Corps in the military, for example, could play a larger role in regional peace support operations, as seen with India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in South Asia.

Global lessons in engineering diplomacy

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China has been the most prominent user of engineering diplomacy through the BRI. By funding and building roads, bridges, ports, and railways in over 140 countries, China has expanded its global influence, created markets for its companies, and fostered diplomatic ties. This model demonstrates how engineering projects can serve as instruments of strategic interest.

USAID and American Engineering NGOs, organisations like Engineers Without Borders and USAID deploy American engineers globally to build water systems, schools, and health facilities. These efforts enhance the US’s image as a development partner and support broader diplomatic objectives.

Germany’s GIZ and Technical Diplomacy; Germany’s development agency (GIZ) incorporates engineering diplomacy into its technical cooperation strategy, particularly in energy and environmental projects. Through vocational training programs in Africa and Asia, Germany promotes sustainable development while securing diplomatic goodwill.

India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) India uses engineering and technical training programs to strengthen ties with African and Asian nations. ITEC has trained thousands of engineers from developing countries, including Uganda, thus building long-term partnerships and fostering regional cooperation.

However, in Uganda today, engineers are often absent at the negotiation table, leaving technical matters to non-technical bureaucrats. Engineering diplomacy bridges this gap by ensuring that national infrastructure interests are guided by technical competence. While Uganda benefits from foreign engineering services, it rarely exports its own.

Engineering diplomacy can elevate Ugandan engineering firms and the most qualified graduate engineers to compete in international tenders and consortia. Unlike legal or medical associations, engineering institutions in Uganda often lack global visibility. Engineering diplomacy will provide a platform for engineers to showcase national achievements and influence international funding decisions.

To operationalize engineering diplomacy, the Government of Uganda should consider, appointing Technical Attachés in key foreign missions (especially in Asians tigers like China and Japan, Germany, UK, and UAE among others), more collaboration or support to the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) as regulator of engineering professionals in Uganda by the Government under Ministry of Works and Transport (MOWT) will be a key to engineering diplomacy.

While the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) the association for all professional engineers in Uganda should develop diplomatic skills and international programs for its members, a deliberate strategic National Engineering Diplomacy Strategy under the Ministry of Works and Transport in collaboration with Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) should be encouraged and lastly encouraging universities to embed engineering diplomacy into their curricula.

Uganda is blessed with a youthful and increasingly educated population. Many young engineers are already working on international projects in Africa and the Middle East, while others are jobless. However, the President of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for a long time has been significantly singing infrastructure Development, industrialisation, Security Capability, etc., all of these is engineering diplomacy.

Therefore, appointing ambassadors with knowledge in engineering diplomacy will serve the interests of the country Uganda, not only bringing home remittances but innovations, standards, partnerships and linking Uganda to the rest of the world through engineering diplomacy, a tool of soft power.

More so, Engineering diplomacy is not a luxury; it is a strategic necessity for Uganda’s economic sovereignty, regional leadership, and technological advancement.  In conclusion, the future of Uganda’s engineering sector depends not only on concrete and steel but also on dialogue, diplomacy, and vision.

The writer attended his ‘’O and A’’ at Namasagali College, holds a diploma in Hotel Management (DHM) from Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI), Degree (Hon) of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy (BIRD), Nkumba University, final year Master Student of a Master of arts in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies (MAIRD) at Makerere University