Ntambi leads Makerere team to next generation car
AT the age of five, he dismantled his father’s radio set and reassembled it in just a few hours. The old man was so bitter, but little did he know that 25 years down the road, his son would lead a team that has built the first ever environment friendly
By Conan Businge
AT the age of five, he dismantled his father’s radio set and reassembled it in just a few hours. The old man was so bitter, but little did he know that 25 years down the road, his son would lead a team that has built the first ever environment friendly and most cost-effective vehicle in the country!
It is not just like the other vehicles that you see on the roads. It is a special vehicle that is not yet on any road, all over the world.
Dreams come true. Steven Jeremy Ntambi who will be graduating today with a first class degree in electrical engineering, at Makerere University has achieved his dream with the support of eleven other colleagues. He wanted to become an aerotical engineer, but the tides changed.
“He is a bright and composed man. He has made us proud of the innovation, and creativity,†the university chancellor, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, says.
The low-fuel consuming car also reduces gas emissions. For every 80km, the car uses one litre of fuel compared to the 10 kilometres many saloon cars cover on average.
While consuming the little fuel, it charges a battery that runs the vehicle for the rest of the distance.
Ntambi says a normal car uses about five to 10% of the fuel for movement, but their new model–Vision 200, is expected to reverse this by making use of 95% of the fuel and yet offer extra power options.
After manufacturing their car late last year in Italy, they presented it for exposition at the World Design Capital, Torino in Italy. Next year, commercial manufacturing of their model will commence.
It is not only a vehicle that is on his name in the technology development history books of this country. He also designed and developed electronics that improve energy use while reducing energy wastage and models for the communication of radio signals.
Who is Ntambi
Ntambi is a son of Anthony George, an architect and Mary Sozi, an accountant with the Public Procurement and Disposal Authority.
He has gone through some of the top schools and institutions in this country.
From Lohana primary, he joined King’s College Budo, Mengo secondary and later Makerere University.
His mother says: “Ntambi is hardworking and tolerant. He cares so much for his siblings. He is a comforter.â€
His father says Ntambi is a practical man. “For all the years I have known him, he is a practical, creative, inquisitive, innovative and curious son; always trying to learn.â€
Ntambi comes from a family of lawyers, accountants, architects and economists. He really does not look professionally an odd-man out in the family, but he is very outstanding. He has built his own legacy, which more youth may want to pick a leaf from.
Who knew one of the engineers that may have to be quoted in future publications was to be born in the Pearl of Africa? Yes. It is possible!
He is humble. Take his handshake and this left-handed man will bring his left hand to support the right. But there is more to that. Body language reads that he is a respectful man. His friends know him as composed, intelligent and a loving man.
His dream looks wide and tough. But who says he cannot achieve his dream? You cannot tell how long a man’s stride will be especially if he is being chased by his enemy? Poverty, corruption and unemployment are eating up graduates. Ntambi is not ready to be one of these monsters’ prey.
He is nationalistic and not excited about staying abroad, like a number of other graduates. After designing the vehicle with some students from 21 universities, he got an opportunity to stay in Italy but turned it down.
“There is a lot that I still want to do for my country. Why should I stay abroad? I even do not enjoy their food. We are far better than the other countries abroad–because there are better opportunities here than those peanuts abroad,†Ntambi says.
Success rings in Ntambi’s head daily. “It is not only in the Bible where success comes before work,†goes his saying, which drives him everyday. He believes that success comes even before work. Challenge that if you wish, but that is him.
It is your belief that drives you to success or failure. His, has driven him to success.
Ntambi’s body physique has a lot to explain about his past. He was the captain of Mengo secondary school’s rugby team from 2002 to 2003. He had a hand in the formation of this sport in the school.
He also swims, plays the piano and chess; an astonishing combination of leisure time spending.
His love for environmental protection, in the building of an environmentally friendly vehicle, is rooted in his secondary school days. He was a member of the wildlife club.
His vision
With his team of colleagues he has been studying with at Makerere University, he is planning to set up a $1.7m (about 3.1bn) general transportation research centre in Uganda.
But much as he has the brains, it will cost his team a fortune to bring this dream into reality. He hopes that someone out there could be ready to lend a hand in this great dream.
Prof. Kagonyera says their plan holds water, and he has already contributed sh3m.
Ntambi is one of the young people that are vital to this country’s industrial development, but says those who have succeeded in anything and do not mention luck are kidding. Ntambi could be right. Success has brought him to his dream.
One day, this country may be able to produce its own special vehicles. What a dream!
AT the age of five, he dismantled his father’s radio set and reassembled it in just a few hours. The old man was so bitter, but little did he know that 25 years down the road, his son would lead a team that has built the first ever environment friendly and most cost-effective vehicle in the country!
It is not just like the other vehicles that you see on the roads. It is a special vehicle that is not yet on any road, all over the world.
Dreams come true. Steven Jeremy Ntambi who will be graduating today with a first class degree in electrical engineering, at Makerere University has achieved his dream with the support of eleven other colleagues. He wanted to become an aerotical engineer, but the tides changed.
“He is a bright and composed man. He has made us proud of the innovation, and creativity,†the university chancellor, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, says.
The low-fuel consuming car also reduces gas emissions. For every 80km, the car uses one litre of fuel compared to the 10 kilometres many saloon cars cover on average.
While consuming the little fuel, it charges a battery that runs the vehicle for the rest of the distance.
Ntambi says a normal car uses about five to 10% of the fuel for movement, but their new model–Vision 200, is expected to reverse this by making use of 95% of the fuel and yet offer extra power options.
After manufacturing their car late last year in Italy, they presented it for exposition at the World Design Capital, Torino in Italy. Next year, commercial manufacturing of their model will commence.
It is not only a vehicle that is on his name in the technology development history books of this country. He also designed and developed electronics that improve energy use while reducing energy wastage and models for the communication of radio signals.
Who is Ntambi
Ntambi is a son of Anthony George, an architect and Mary Sozi, an accountant with the Public Procurement and Disposal Authority.
He has gone through some of the top schools and institutions in this country.
From Lohana primary, he joined King’s College Budo, Mengo secondary and later Makerere University.
His mother says: “Ntambi is hardworking and tolerant. He cares so much for his siblings. He is a comforter.â€
His father says Ntambi is a practical man. “For all the years I have known him, he is a practical, creative, inquisitive, innovative and curious son; always trying to learn.â€
Ntambi comes from a family of lawyers, accountants, architects and economists. He really does not look professionally an odd-man out in the family, but he is very outstanding. He has built his own legacy, which more youth may want to pick a leaf from.
Who knew one of the engineers that may have to be quoted in future publications was to be born in the Pearl of Africa? Yes. It is possible!
He is humble. Take his handshake and this left-handed man will bring his left hand to support the right. But there is more to that. Body language reads that he is a respectful man. His friends know him as composed, intelligent and a loving man.
His dream looks wide and tough. But who says he cannot achieve his dream? You cannot tell how long a man’s stride will be especially if he is being chased by his enemy? Poverty, corruption and unemployment are eating up graduates. Ntambi is not ready to be one of these monsters’ prey.
He is nationalistic and not excited about staying abroad, like a number of other graduates. After designing the vehicle with some students from 21 universities, he got an opportunity to stay in Italy but turned it down.
“There is a lot that I still want to do for my country. Why should I stay abroad? I even do not enjoy their food. We are far better than the other countries abroad–because there are better opportunities here than those peanuts abroad,†Ntambi says.
Success rings in Ntambi’s head daily. “It is not only in the Bible where success comes before work,†goes his saying, which drives him everyday. He believes that success comes even before work. Challenge that if you wish, but that is him.
It is your belief that drives you to success or failure. His, has driven him to success.
Ntambi’s body physique has a lot to explain about his past. He was the captain of Mengo secondary school’s rugby team from 2002 to 2003. He had a hand in the formation of this sport in the school.
He also swims, plays the piano and chess; an astonishing combination of leisure time spending.
His love for environmental protection, in the building of an environmentally friendly vehicle, is rooted in his secondary school days. He was a member of the wildlife club.
His vision
With his team of colleagues he has been studying with at Makerere University, he is planning to set up a $1.7m (about 3.1bn) general transportation research centre in Uganda.
But much as he has the brains, it will cost his team a fortune to bring this dream into reality. He hopes that someone out there could be ready to lend a hand in this great dream.
Prof. Kagonyera says their plan holds water, and he has already contributed sh3m.
Ntambi is one of the young people that are vital to this country’s industrial development, but says those who have succeeded in anything and do not mention luck are kidding. Ntambi could be right. Success has brought him to his dream.
One day, this country may be able to produce its own special vehicles. What a dream!