Over 11,000 engineers 'operating illegally'

By Saudha Nakandha

Some 11,000 engineers are reported to be operating without the required standards to practice, according to records from the Engineers Registration Board (ERB).

This was revealed by ERB chairperson Eng. Michael Odongo, during a district water officers meeting organised by the ministry of water and environment under the rural water department at Bomah Hotel in Gulu.

He said of the 20,000 graduated engineers, only less than half that number are competent.

Odongo lamented that disaster could strike if contractors in the construction industry continue using incompetent engineers.

“To practice, all engineers are subjected to practical interviews and also produce an original report of work done in the past. Surprisingly many have failed, especially when asked on actual measurements and are disqualified,” he said.

The ERB official said that only those that are recognized are supposed to make decisions regarding construction.

Only those who go through this vetting system are the ones supposed to work across borders.

Odongo tasked the works ministry to always register foreign engineers in efforts to ensure efficiency of work.

On the issue of the ongoing Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA) probe, he advised the officials found guilty of corruption to carry their own cross instead of tarnishing the engineering profession.

“The public referring to the engineering profession as being rotten is unrealistic. Other professions are more rotten. We should not all be crucified because of individuals simply because we are engineers,” he said

Odongo also blamed the current problems such as shoddy works in the country in the engineering profession on the increasing masqueraders who operate so-called “briefcase offices”.

David Obongo, the ministry’s permanent secretary (PS) advised water engineers to ensure ethics in their daily work as the government struggles to achieve its objectives.

In the past, collapsed buildings have been blamed on incompetent engineers.