Uganda Moves to Slash Machinery Import Costs Through Local Engineering Talent Development
In a bold step toward industrial self reliance, Uganda has launched its first national engineering capacity development programme aimed at reducing the country’s heavy dependency on imported machinery and equipment.
The programme has been unveiled at the newly established Engineering Development and Innovation Centre (EDIC) in Rwebiteete, Kiruhura District, during a high profile event officiated by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza.
The flagship initiative, the Technology Innovation Enterprise Accelerator (TIER) Programme, is designed to build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation, local manufacturing, and smart industrialization.
Over the last eight weeks, 75 graduate trainees from universities and vocational institutes underwent intensive, hands on training focused on transforming theoretical engineering knowledge into practical skills. The trainees have been awarded certificates at the end of the programme.
Anthony Opolot, Head of EDIC Rwebiteete, hailed the launch as a significant milestone in EDIC’s strategic direction, notimg that the centre's work is aligned with national priorities, including commercialization of innovations, human capital development, sustainable financing, and service delivery.
“If a nation cannot engineer, it cannot manufacture and therefore it cannot profit. Most of the value in industrialization lies in building internal engineering capacity,” minister Monica Musenero emphasized.
She stressed that the EDIC facility is a hub for heavy engineering and smart manufacturing.
“We have built the machinery capacity. Now we are building the human capital. This facility transforms both practicing and non-practicing engineers into innovators capable of producing what we previously imported,” she said.
The TIER Programme aims to equip youth with employable skills, accelerate enterprise growth, and foster a national pipeline of problem solvers. The event also featured a showcase of student innovations, demonstrating the creativity and resilience of Uganda’s rising engineering talent.
EDIC has called upon partners from government, private sector, and academia to support the TIER Programme as it scales its transformative impact nationally and beyond
