Uganda will host the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and the 9th African Engineering Conference in September 2025. The event, set to run from 14–20 September, will take place at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala.
The gathering is expected to attract hundreds of engineers, policymakers, academics and business leaders from across Africa and beyond. Its theme: “Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Socio‑Economic Transformation.”
The Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) jointly announced the win. They described it as a major step in efforts to position Uganda as a leading destination for international conferences.
“Delegates will come to debate the future of African engineering,” said Juliana Kagwa, the new Chief Executive Officer of UTB. “But they will also discover Uganda’s unrivalled scenery, culture and hospitality.”
Kagwa takes over from Lilly Ajarova, whose tenure saw several tourism initiatives aimed at building resilience and raising the country’s profile abroad.
“This is more than a conference,” Kagwa added. “It is Uganda’s opportunity to advance the African Union’s Agenda 2063, deepen cross-border innovation and celebrate the engineers who are shaping the continent’s future.”
The UNESCO Africa Engineering Week is seen as a flagship event. It combines technical sessions with exhibitions, mentorship programmes, and school outreach to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Kampala’s programme is expected to follow suit. It includes panel discussions on topics such as infrastructure resilience, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing. There will also be practical workshops, site visits to hydro-power plants and agro-processing centres, and business-to-business forums.
Vivian Lyazi, Uganda’s Tourism Commissioner, said hosting the event is an important step in the country’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) strategy.
“With venues like the Munyonyo Convention Centre and a reputation for peace and modern infrastructure,” Lyazi said, “Uganda can compete with destinations like South Africa, Egypt, Rwanda and Morocco.”
Recent international meetings held in Uganda—such as the Non-Aligned Movement summit and the G‑77 + China gathering—have strengthened that case, according to observers. Analysts point to improved air connectivity, upgraded facilities, security, and affordability as key advantages.
Preparations are underway. A national steering committee has been formed and the organisers are now seeking corporate sponsors. UTB and UIPE estimate the 2025 conference could inject over 35 billion Ugandan shillings into the economy through tourism and related spending.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority is also planning a showpiece. Steven Masaba, Commissioner of Tourism, said the event will coincide with a major new attraction at Murchison Falls National Park.
“With engineering perfection,” he said, “tourists will have a glimpse of aquatic life while in a glass. This will add to the appeal of the largest park in the country, which also boasts the largest fall along the River Nile.”
