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The newly elected Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE) president, Eng. Bosco Lepi has outlined strategic areas anchored on three pillars to transform the institution in the field of engineering works in the country.

UIPE core functions include professional development, research, knowledge sharing, standard setting, advocacy and advisory to both government and private sector.

During his thanksgiving speech at Kyambogo offices in Kampala on Saturday, March 16, Eng. Lepi pledged to prioritise the development of the engineering profession and to work closely with government, industry, and other stakeholders to promote sustainable development and infrastructure growth.

"I am honoured to serve as the president of UIPE and I look forward to working with all our members and partners to advance the engineering profession in Uganda," he said.

Eng. Bosco Lepi who won as new president of UIPE president from 2024 -2026 pledged to work with local firms during development projects against foreign contractors. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

The UIPE is the national professional body for engineers in Uganda, established in 1972. Its mission is to promote the practice and development of engineering in Uganda and to enhance the role of engineers in society. The institute has over 1,000 members and offers training, networking, and advocacy services to its members.

Lepi's election comes at a time of rapid growth and development in Uganda, with infrastructure projects such as the Nelson Mandela National Stadium Namboole, the Kampala Flyover project, and the oil and gas sector expected to create significant opportunities for engineers in the coming years.

His various initiatives include expanding membership, providing targeted training programs, advocating for member interests, initiating technology-driven projects, diversifying financial resources, promoting engineering for socio-economic transformation, strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, and fostering local and international partnerships.

“We shall embark on an ambitious drive of increasing membership from the current about 5000 members to more than 10,000 members in the next two years,” Lepi promised.

A renowned civil engineer with over 15 years of experience working with the Ministry of Works and Transport has served in various leadership positions within UIPE, including as the vice president for the past two years. He is also a registered engineer with the Engineering Registration Board of Uganda (ERB) and has worked on several high-profile projects in the country.

Lepi expressed willingness to prioritize local firms in infrastructure projects as the only way to create more opportunities for Ugandans.

Lepi voiced willingness to undertake whatever it takes to ensure local firms increasingly win contracts for infrastructure projects which are currently dominated by foreign firms.

“Recognizing the challenges faced by local construction firms, I pledge to advocate for the enforcement of the National Construction Policy, emphasizing the importance of regulating the industry and providing support through credit advancement to bolster the capacity of local firms for larger projects,” he said after being announced the winner.

Lepi also underscored the importance of empowering local firms within the engineering sector by advocating for their classification to assess their capacity. He emphasized the need for government support to enable select local companies to compete effectively with foreign counterparts.

“I proposed during my campaigns measures to facilitate knowledge transfer through subcontracting arrangements and engineer training initiatives, ensuring the growth and development of Uganda's engineering talent pool especially when these foreign companies come on board,” he added.

Lepi who got the highest number of votes replaced the outgoing president Eng. Andrew Muhwezi after polling 977 votes (63%) against Eng. Annet Nsiimire who polled only 512 votes (37%) in a virtual election conducted between March 8, and March 15, 2024.

Eng. Vincent Ochwo, the electoral commission chairperson described Friday elections as transparent, free and fair elections that showed a proper representation of engineers after evaluating manifestos to take the institution forward.

“The number of registered voters was 3,077 and the number of votes cast was 1,549 votes representing 50.3% where Lepi emerged victorious,” he added.

UIPE brings together engineers from various strands of engineering including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunication engineering, environmental engineering, automotive and power engineering, industrial engineering and other categories of engineering including technicians and technologists.