Aiding Industrialization
China-funded technical training center imparts crucial skills to Ugandan engineering talents
Christine Kamugyisha has realized her dream of studying engineering through her exemplary academic hard work. Kamugyisha is among the 150 young engineers who recently graduated from the Chinese-funded Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI). Kamugyisha, 30, said it wasn’t easy to pursue a male-dominated course, and is upbeat about her prospects of building a career and being able to contribute to Uganda’s industrialization agenda.
The UIRI, a $30-million facility funded by the Chinese Government, was commissioned by President Yoweri Museveni recently. It’s designed to combine industrial skills training with apprenticeship to develop skills necessary for employment. A production facility attached to the institute is also intended to make high-quality precision machine parts and accessories.
“I am living my dream because engineering is the bedrock for any developing country’s socio-economic development. Therefore, any investment in industrial research institutes is vital to improve local capacity building and expand industrialization through talents like me,” Kamugyisha told Chinafrica.
Career advancement
Through its Machining Manufacturing Industrial Skilling Development Center, the UIRI recently hosted a career event dubbed China-uganda Technical Skills Development and Innovation Competition, which saw 150 young engineers awarded certificates and recognized for their outstanding performances.
In collaboration with the UIRI, the contest was organized by China’s Huanggang Polytechnic College and Sichuan College of Architectural Technology. The event is aimed at boosting engineers’ skill sets in the application of appropriate technology such as conventional lathe, computer numerical control machining, welding and automatic control with programmable logic controller.
As Africa pushes for industry-led economic growth, many countries on the continent have prioritized investment in industrial research institutes, so as to further their industrialization agenda.
For this reason, many locals in Uganda have enrolled at the UIRI, especially at the institute’s Namanve campus, which is a vocational training center. The institute has five manufacturing workshops and electronic, electrical and mechanical processing training facilities with the