Uganda is preparing to host Africa’s largest engineering event, the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and the 9th African Engineering Conference.
Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero Masanza, has urged African nations to leverage engineering and innovation as key catalysts for socio-economic transformation.
Scheduled to take place from September 14–20, 2025 at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, the continental event will bring together over 1,000 delegates including engineers, scientists, policymakers, youth leaders, and innovators from across Africa and beyond. Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is expected to officially open the conference.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Uganda Media Centre, Dr. Musenero described engineering as “the backbone of any robust STI (Science, Technology, and Innovation) ecosystem,” adding that the upcoming summit will spotlight homegrown innovations and help position Uganda as a key player in Africa’s transformation agenda.
“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.”
Under the theme “Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Socio-Economic Transformation,” the event is backed by a coalition of continental and global partners including UNESCO, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO), and Uganda’s own Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE).
Musenero emphasized the strategic importance of the event to Uganda’s broader economic vision.
“STI—including ICTs and the Creative Industry—has been positioned as the engine of Uganda’s ten-fold growth strategy aimed at hitting a GDP of USD 500 billion by 2040,” she said. “We’re investing in STI not just to modernize Uganda but to help Africa reimagine its development trajectory.”
The week-long program will feature ministerial panels, CEO roundtables, Women in Engineering and Young Engineers forums, as well as technical tours to infrastructure sites, hydropower stations, and national parks.
It will also include an innovation exhibition showcasing breakthroughs in 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,” Musenero noted. “This is an opportunity to show the world what African ingenuity looks like—and to turn innovation into real economic value.”
A High-Level Ministerial Forum will also be held to foster dialogue among African ministers on aligning policies that support the continent’s science and engineering ecosystems.
“This is where the vision for a technologically advanced Africa will truly take shape,” Musenero said, urging all stakeholders to participate actively.
The call for public registration and sponsorship is now open, with UIPE President Eng. Bosco Lepi affirming Uganda’s readiness to host.
“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,” Lepi said.
The conference not only marks a milestone for Uganda’s science and innovation sector but also positions the country as a continental hub for engineering-led development. For Minister Musenero, the message is clear:
“Uganda is ready to lead. We are ready to innovate, collaborate, and drive Africa’s socio-economic transformation through the power of engineering.”
