President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to officially open the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and the 9th African Engineering Conference, as Uganda prepares to host Africa’s largest gathering of engineering professionals and innovators next month.
Set to take place from September 14–20, 2025 at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, the high-level summit is being hailed as a major milestone for Uganda’s science and innovation agenda.
It will bring together over 1,000 delegates from across Africa and the globe including engineers, scientists, policymakers, youth leaders, and innovators—to explore how engineering and technology can drive socio-economic transformation across the continent.
Themed “Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Socio-Economic Transformation,” the event will be co-hosted by the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) in partnership with global and continental organizations such as UNESCO, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), and the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO).
In a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre, Uganda’s Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, underscored the significance of the President’s involvement and the country’s role as host.
“In an era defined by rapid change and complex global challenges, it is engineering that provides the bedrock for sustainable solutions,” she said. “This event will not only shine a spotlight on engineering’s role in solving Africa’s critical problems but will also inspire young people to embrace impactful careers in this indispensable field.”
Dr. Musenero emphasized that engineering lies at the heart of Uganda’s long-term development strategy, particularly as the country strives to reach a GDP of USD 500 billion by 2040 through science, technology, and innovation (STI).
“STI—including ICTs and the Creative Industry—has been positioned as the engine of Uganda’s ten-fold growth strategy,” she said. “We’re investing in STI not just to modernize Uganda but to help Africa reimagine its development trajectory.”
President Museveni’s expected presence at the conference’s official opening signals Uganda’s top-level political commitment to supporting engineering-led growth and innovation. His participation will further spotlight Uganda as a rising continental hub for engineering excellence.
Throughout the week, participants will engage in ministerial panels, CEO roundtables, and specialized forums for Women in Engineering and Young Engineers.
Technical tours are also planned to strategic sites including national infrastructure projects, hydropower installations, and Uganda’s renowned national parks.
An innovation exhibition, open to the public, will showcase Uganda’s progress in areas such as AI, electronics manufacturing, materials engineering, mobility, and mineral value addition.
“You will see the progress we have made in electric artificial intelligence, value addition to our minerals, and human capital development,” Dr. Musenero noted. “This is an opportunity to show the world what African ingenuity looks like—and to turn innovation into real economic value.”
The event will also feature a High-Level Ministerial Forum for African ministers to align on science and technology policy and foster collaborative frameworks that support engineering ecosystems across the continent.
“This is where the vision for a technologically advanced Africa will truly take shape,” Dr. Musenero added, encouraging broad participation from engineers, students, educators, innovators, and policymakers alike.
UIPE President Eng. Bosco Lepi echoed the call for involvement and support:
“As Ugandans, we are excited to host this historic event. We call on stakeholders to register, sponsor, and support this initiative to ensure its success.”
With President Museveni’s attendance and Uganda’s growing emphasis on STI, the country is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s innovation frontier.
“Uganda is ready to lead. We are ready to innovate, collaborate, and drive Africa’s socio-economic transformation through the power of engineering,” Dr. Musenero concluded.
