The 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering conference has commenced in Uganda ‘s Capital Kampala under the theme; Engineering, Innovation and Sustainable Development in Africa. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to officially open the conference tomorrow morning .
This year’s theme, “Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Socio–Economic Transformation,” Uganda’s minister of Works and Transport ,Gen. Katumba Wamala said , resonates deeply with the country’s national strategic intents and Vision 2040.
“Africa is richly endowed with natural resources. What remains is to harness them through collaboration, ingenuity, innovation, and strategic engineering. This Conference provides an invaluable platform for sharing knowledge, showcasing technological advances, and fostering partnerships that can translate potent opportunities into tangible progress – in line with both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, “ he stated .
He said he was eager to see how the ideas exchanged during the conference deliberations will pan out to inspire practical, homegrown solutions to benefit the dynamic African economies.
Gen. Katumba Wamala commend the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) , UNESCO and the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO) – for their unwavering spirit and commitment to put the event together.
The minister of Science , technology and innovation , (STI) in the Office of the President , Dr. Monica Musenero said engineering is the backbone of development powering every bridge, road, energy grid, irrigation system, and digital breakthrough that improves lives.
“As Africa confronts climate change, rapid urbanization, food insecurity, and energy access challenges, it is engineering—anchored in science and driven by innovation—that will determine our future trajectory,” she noted.
Uganda has embraced a bold path under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), said adding that the target was to grow the country ‘s GDP from USD 60 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040, raising GDP per capita to USD 9,500 and ensuring 90% of Ugandans are fully integrated into the money economy.
“This is not merely a numerical expansion, but a qualitative transformation requiring new approaches to value creation, industrialization, and global competitiveness. STI is at the heart of this ambition, with a dual focus for creating the new economy to unlock and nurture sectors historically absent from Africa’s economic landscape.
She said that strategic STI investments are driving growth in mobility, the pathogen economy, industry 4.0+, infrastructure innovations, and aeronautics and space science.
The President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisation (FAEO),Eng. Refilwe Buthelezi, while reflecting on the conference’s these said that it projected a shared African vision — a belief that Africa’s future lies in the continent’s collective ingenuity to design the systems, infrastructure, and institutions that will drive transformation.
“We meet at a pivotal moment. On one hand, Africa faces widening infrastructure gaps, climate change, youth unemployment, and digital exclusion. On the other, new opportunities are emerging through clean energy, artificial intelligence, automation, and regional integration.,” stated adding that engineering stands as the bridge between these challenges and opportunities, enabling inclusive and sustainable development.
“Through collaboration with UNESCO, the African Union, and the AfCFTA Secretariat, we aim to build an integrated, industrialised Africa where engineers not only design but lead. “
