Experts call for practical innovation to bridge engineering skills gap

Amid calls for increased innovation and practical application to address unemployment, experts have expressed concern over the dominance of theoretical practices in the higher learning institutions, which they say has led to a skills gap in the engineering profession.

This issue was highlighted during a transformative boot camp organized by the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) at Esella Country Hotel.

The four-day event brought together top engineering students from six universities to enhance their ability to tackle societal challenges through practical solutions.

Dr. Cathy Ikiror Mbidde, a lecturer at Makerere University's Innovation Pod, noted that while students’ academic projects were commendable, many lacked the practical orientation necessary to address real-world problems.

“Most students remain theoretical and have not engaged with the communities their innovations are meant to serve,” Dr. Ikiror observed.

She added that promising ideas often stall due to insufficient funding, expertise, and collaboration with stakeholders.

The training emphasized key areas, including community engagement, innovation readiness, intellectual property protection, team building, and aligning projects with national and global goals such as Vision 2040, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

One major gap identified was the lack of structured funding mechanisms for student innovations.

Dr. Ikiror called on the government and private sector to invest in these projects, emphasizing their potential to address challenges such as waste management, irrigation, and environmental conservation.

“Some of these ideas require significant funding, yet students struggle to secure even basic resources for developing prototypes,” she said.

“Their innovations should be government-funded or supported by private investors who recognize their potential.”

The lack of internship opportunities also emerged as a critical barrier.

Dr. Ikiror attributed this to organizational fears and resource constraints, which prevent young engineers from gaining hands-on industry experience.

Engineer Henry Mpuuga, Vice President for Membership, Education, and Training at UIPE, stressed the importance of equipping students with practical skills beyond academic qualifications.

“We must ensure that what they learn in school can be applied practically,” he said. “Students need to innovate, improve existing products and processes, and create business models to address community challenges.”

Mpuuga revealed that although approximately 700 engineering students graduate annually in Uganda, many struggle to find employment due to the limited focus on innovation during their education.

“Universities provide the science, but graduates lack the practical skills needed to create value,” he noted.

UIPE is addressing this gap by implementing programs that help students transition from conceptualizing ideas to creating market-ready products.

The initiative supports UIPE’s vision of “engineering excellence transforming the nation” and aims to nurture engineers who can generate employment rather than rely solely on government or private-sector jobs.

Mpuuga identified three critical areas of innovation for engineers: improving existing products to meet current needs, enhancing production methods for efficiency, and developing solutions to increase value propositions.

UIPE has collaborated with stakeholders such as the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat under the President's Office to integrate engineering education with real-world applications.

The institution also focuses on professional ethics, accountability, and integrity among its members.

Patrick Joram Mugisha, Managing Partner at Event Labs Africa, underscored the importance of harnessing local engineers' creative potential to align with Uganda’s socioeconomic goals.

“Engineering plays a central role in achieving Uganda’s Vision 2040, the East African Vision 2050, and the African Union Agenda 2063,” Mugisha said.

The program targets engineers at all levels, including students, graduates, and professionals, to transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses.

It also aligns with the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy by promoting the use of local resources in engineering projects.

However, Mugisha highlighted financial challenges as a key obstacle for local engineers in securing major contracts, particularly in infrastructure and oil and gas sectors.

“It’s not necessarily about skills but financial capacity. Many local firms struggle to meet capital requirements to compete with foreign companies,” he explained.

Despite these challenges, Mugisha commended government efforts to promote local content in sectors like oil, gas, and road construction. He called for increased collaboration among local firms to pool resources and enhance competitiveness.

Engineer Julius Caesar Kintu, UIPE’s Professional Development Manager, emphasized the importance of empowering young engineers to innovate using locally available materials.

“We are teaching students to add value to Uganda’s abundant raw materials to create cost-effective solutions for pressing community challenges,” Kintu said, adding that this aligns with the BUBU policy.