ENTEBBE, Uganda — A group of 20 young Ugandan engineers, the first cohort supported by a presidential initiative for science development, returned home Wednesday after completing advanced studies in Malaysia, pledging to transform their country’s technological landscape.
The engineers, who departed for Malaysia two years ago, arrived at Entebbe International Airport and were welcomed by Dr. Hillary Emmanuel Musoke, a senior presidential advisor on agribusiness and special duties. The initiative aims to bolster Uganda’s science and technology sectors by providing opportunities for young Ugandans to pursue higher education in related fields.
“I have been studying Masters of Engineering in mechatronics and automatic control in Malaysia. We are about 20 students who went on this journey, and we are equipped engineers now back to improve on technological advancements,” said team leader Joshua Kasirye.
Kasirye emphasized the significance of the opportunity provided by President Yoweri Museveni’s government, noting that they were selected from thousands of applicants. “We are here to build the nation,” he said. “We are coming back home knowing that this is a heavy task, but we are not scared. We are here to move the country because we know what we’ve learned and experienced in other nations. We are coming to implement systems for our universities and different agencies, working as a team to create technology innovations that we can scale across Uganda.”
The returning engineers specialized in various fields, including mechanical engineering and automatic control, cyber security, industrial engineering, information technology, power systems, and mechatronics. The group included two female engineers, Lynette Nazziwa and Chanda Galabuzi, and 18 males.
Galabuzi, who earned a Master of Science in systems engineering, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. “Most of us have been able to complete the program successfully and get various skills that we believe will be very beneficial to the country in the specific areas of technology and development,” she said. She also encouraged young girls to pursue STEM fields, emphasizing the crucial role women play in these areas.
Nazziwa, with a master’s in mechatronics and automatic control, highlighted the knowledge and skills gained. “We have learned quite a number of techniques, technologies, skills, and benchmarked against other countries,” she said. “We are open to learning as engineers, and we shall continue with the heart to build the nation and practice the different skills we’ve learned.” She thanked the government for the opportunity and expressed hope that their experiences would inspire other Ugandans to advance technology and science in the country.
Anthony Tumusiime, who completed a master’s in cybersecurity, stressed the urgent need to strengthen Uganda’s digital defenses. He pointed to the Bank of Uganda cyber incident as an example of the growing risks and called for the formulation of cybersecurity laws and frameworks. “As a country, we don’t have cyber laws, so we need them in place,” he said, emphasizing the difficulty in prosecuting cybercrimes without clear legal procedures.
Dr. Musoke lauded the return of the engineers as a step towards President Museveni’s vision of a science-driven Uganda. He mentioned the establishment of a national technological demonstration center in Gundu, Entebbe, aimed at fostering homegrown technological solutions. “You cannot develop any country without science,” Dr. Musoke stated, urging Ugandans to support the president’s initiatives in science and technology.
He also criticized politicians in Wakiso district who have opposed the establishment of the technology demonstration center, emphasizing the importance of such projects for national development. Dr. Musoke reiterated that the returning engineers were selected on merit, highlighting the transparent and competitive nature of the presidential initiative.
