Prof. Charles Kwesiga, the Executive Director of the Uganda Industrial Research Institute, has urged universities to encourage students to be resilient and determined, “for with that, we will change our communities.” He also emphasised that as a nation, “We have all it takes; we should stop blaming colonialism and get rid of the colonial mindset after over sixty years of independence,” he said, before adding, “This is our country, and we have the responsibility to build it.” He charged universities to integrate new technologies into their curricula and teach them to university graduates. Prof. Kwesiga made this remark as the Chief Guest at the Women in Engineering Conference, held at Kyambogo University on 12 September 2025.

Prof. Kwesiga addressing conference participants
Prof. Kwesiga addressing conference participants

At the event, Prof Bua Bosco, Director of the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training, representing Prof. Maria Musoke, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, remarked that the number of women in engineering remains too low. Therefore, there is an ongoing need to encourage more women to enter the field. “Our focus must be on developing the next generation of leaders, as current leaders step down, we need to ensure others are prepared. We have trained successful women in engineering, and we should collaborate with them to mentor young engineers. When involved in this revolution, contribute what you can, and when AI replaces you, others will be ready to take over.

He said that universities train students to become better people than even the professors who taught them, adding that “We now have to work hard to ensure academia-industry collaboration.” He appreciated the industry’s role in shaping graduates. He said that “Part of your activities should involve visiting villages and mentoring young engineers to pursue engineering careers. They are there, they are clever, but their environment does not allow them to succeed.” He noted that every profession contributes, “but we are all sustained by the environment, which we must all protect”, thereby encouraging participants to live responsible lives by planting more trees and not cutting them because “they give us the air we breathe”.

Under the theme: Sustainable Engineering: Unlocking the Potential of Engineers in Driving the Green Revolution in Industry 4, he challenged engineers to come up with technology that improves agriculture beyond using a hoe because “as long as we still rely on the hoe, there will still not be enough food production.”

At the same event, Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, the Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Regulation Authority and an alumna of Kyambogo University, stated that success and growth are choices that must be made. “Life is a choice, and you will have to make that choice,” she added, noting that determination, resilience, and hard work can break the hardest of barriers. She stressed that engineers are not developed at university; they’re made in secondary schools. She further explained that “If we want Engineers, we must harvest them while they are on their lower journey.” She mentioned that the Authority offers graduate development programmes and internship schemes that students can utilise. She encouraged students to conduct research into areas that meet the needs of the people, to access funding, and to consider topics that address society’s problems.

Sponsors of the event included Uganda Breweries Ltd, Quality Chemicals Ltd, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, UECTL, UECDL, UECGL, ERA, Crown Beverages, Women in Climate Change, UPDF, Engineering Brigade, and Airtel Uganda.

 

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