Ugandan Engineers Decry Government Favoritism Towards Foreign Firms

Professional engineers in Uganda have voiced strong concerns that the government is consistently overlooking local engineering companies in favor of foreign firms when awarding contracts for significant infrastructure projects. This practice, they argue, is stunting the development and capability of Uganda’s own engineering sector.

The Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), Mbarara Branch, raised these issues during a recent tour of development projects in the Kigezi region, including Kabale and Rubanda districts. The engineers emphasized that local companies require practical experience, substantial investment, and dedicated government support to effectively compete on a level playing field.

Eng. Peter Nkurunungi, Director of Gesis Uganda, highlighted the disadvantages local firms face, including differing tax obligations and operational conditions compared to their international counterparts. He urged the government to actively promote fair competition and adopt a “Buy Uganda, Build Uganda” approach in its policy-making for the engineering field. Supporting domestic companies, he stated, would foster their technical capacity, provide crucial experience from large-scale projects, and ultimately create more jobs for Ugandan engineers.

During their visit, the UIPE delegation also engaged with engineering students at Kabale University, aiming to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application. UIPE Vice President Denis Twesigomwe stressed the need for increased government investment in engineering education, specifically through enhanced support for interns and the expansion of facilities at institutions like Kabale University. He noted that the growing number of engineering students necessitates corresponding investments in laboratories and equipment to ensure they acquire adequate practical skills.

The engineers also addressed public safety concerns, particularly regarding electricity infrastructure. UEDCL engineer Kyabaggu Caesar pointed out that trees growing into power lines are a primary cause of power interruptions and warned residents against the dangers of attempting to trim trees near live electrical lines, a practice that tragically results in several deaths annually.

The UIPE’s tour underscored critical challenges within the sector: inadequate training infrastructure, limited internship opportunities, unfair competition from foreign entities, and vital public safety issues. The consensus among the engineers was that greater involvement of local firms in government projects, combined with improved educational support, is essential for building a robust domestic engineering industry in Uganda.