Quarterly

Newsletter
January - March 2023
Kampala Branch

U I P E K A M P A L A B R A N C H M E M B E R S H IP W IT H T H E U C A A T E A M ( IN C L U D IN G D E P U T Y D IRE C T O R
G E N E R A L ) I N T H E N E W P A S S E N G E R T E R M IN A L
ISSUE 3  •  APRIL 2023

UIPE KAMPALA
Official Quarterly Newsletter of UIPE Kampala Branch

Chairperson's note
ENG KEESIGA DIANA
Welcome to our third issue of the UIPE Kampala Branch
Quarterly Newsletter. It's been an exciting nine months
since you gave us your mandate to serve the institution and

This issue:
we are proud of the achievements we have made together.
On Friday 7th April, we lost two of our UIPE members and
some of their family members. We condole with the families
and pray God continues to comfort you.
Chairpersons Note
PAGE 01
Three major achievements over the past three months:
We held a strategy development session to redefine and
shape the Engineering Student Scholarship Program. Engineering Student Scholarship
Read more about this on page 2-4. Program
We held a fruitful outreach to International University of PAGE 02 - 04
East Africa. This was graced by the UIPE President, and an
MoU has been signed with UIPE to guide the relationship. Pictures from Trip to EIA and CBL
We conducted an informative field trip to Entebbe PAGE 05
International Airport and Crown Beverages Limited
Kakungulu Plant. See pictures on page 5. Outreach to IUEA
Interested in aerodrome design? We have started a
PAGE 06
series to demystify the process. Read more on pages 7-9.
Student feauture article of the quarter on page 10-11.
Demystifying the Aerodrome
Design Process
Next quarter, in alignment with UIPE strategic plan 2025, we
shall focus on: PAGE 07 - 09
1. Conducting outreaches to higher institutions of learning
2. Organizing and conducting informative trips Engineering Students and the
Future of Africa
3. Intensive fundraising towards ESSP
4. Virtual events with Toastmasters to improve Engineers PAGE 10 - 11
public speaking skills.
5. Physical social evening Fare Thee Well Friends
PAGE 12
I invite you to read on for more details about the branch
achievements January through end of March 2022 as well as
highlights for 2023. 2023 Workplan

Eng Diana Keesiga

PAGE 13
Thank you

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 01

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
 Engineering Student Scholarship Program (ESSP)

How Ugandan Engineers are choosing to light candles instead of cursing

the darkness.
BY DR. APOLLO BUREGYEYA,

In 2021, UIPE Kampala Branch launched ESSP

to support innovations and research by Nations like
Germany that
engineering students at universities and other
tertiary institutions in Uganda. ESSP was
established to work in the frame of promote technology
cooperative education where the engineering
community contribute resources to support
and knowledge
final year students conducting innovative, ownership are more
scalable and bankable academic research of
high relevance to the local commerce and
prosperous than
contributing to economic development of those that rely on
Uganda. Contributions take on various forms minerals and
primary materials
including materials, money, mentorship,
special industrial supervision, relevant guest
lectures, private workspaces, and research for trade.
tools/equipment.

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 02

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
 The Engineer in Africa still bears an
enormous task of addressing society’s
traditional problems of energy poverty,
technology poverty, knowledge poverty,
industry poverty, infrastructure poverty,
nutrition poverty, trade poverty,
dependence on low value commodities, on
top of the more recent problems of climate
change and environmental degradation.
Everything of value either comes from
a mine or is grown as a plant, and the
engineer is potentially the primary
resource in the process of conversion
of the primary materials into high-
value products and their trade and
maximum benefit retention at source.
A lot has been advanced on the challenges
of our engineering education, mainly in the
areas of the relevance of the content of
learning, and whether it is equipping
learners with the skills that the industry
needs. The challenges are founded in our
perception of the process of education, a
perception that excludes the world of work
and the greater society and hopes that the
academic institutions will process a
graduate that is neatly finished and
packaged like a product from a factory.
Education delivers knowledge and
knowledge is a social construct that
demands all its beneficiaries to take part in
its development. The ESSP program is one
such efforts of UIPE Kampala branch to
support engineering education and bring
the industry closer to research institutions
and the academia. The fund had a humble
target of raising 20 million Uganda shillings
in the 2022/23 academic cycle to support
four students which it successfully
By Dr. Apollo Buregyeya,
Chairperson, UIPE Kampala ESSP Committee,
Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Also, Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), Makerere University.
UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH
Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
implemented, painfully leaving out an
interesting number of applicants that were
well deserving.
We have now increased our
fundraising target to 100 million
Uganda shillings to scale our
support to at least 20 students.
The ESSP fund has a vision of increasing
visibility of selected research by students
through the UIPE annual magazines and
other media, and to support paring of
students with strategic industrial players in
a cooperative education framework to
accelerate application of students’ research
products and transition of talented students
and their supported experiences from the
laboratory to industry.
As Confucius states, “It is better to light a
candle than curse the darkness”. The ESSP is
a great initiative that will bring different
industry players together to address gaps
between the world of work and what is
taught at our universities. ESSP offers the
platform for the industry to engage with
research and academic institutions in order
to address the gaps found in graduates and
fresh employees. And, as they say, you can’t
turn a vehicle that is not moving.
Tusimbudde” with ESSP and we hope to use
the partnerships with the academic
institutions to support curriculum
improvement until we have graduates that
are what the industry desires. Instead of
cursing the darkness, we can all choose to
do something about the challenges of our
society. Partner with ESSP and light a candle
for the development of our nation.
PAGE 03
 ENGINEERING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
2023/2024

O u r f u n d r a i s i n g t a r g e t i s 1 0 0 m i l l io n U g a n d a s h il l in g s t o s c a l e ou r s u p p o r t t o at l eas t
2 0 s t u d e n t s . T h e E S S P f u n d h a s a vis io n o f in c r e a s in g vis ib il it y o f s el ect ed r es ear ch
b y s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h t h e U I P E m a g a z in e s a n d o t h e r m e d ia , a n d t o s u p p o r t p ar i ng o f
s t u d e n t s w i t h s t r a t e g i c i n d u s t r i a l p l a y e r s in a c o o p e r a t ive e d u c a t i o n f r am ew o r k t o
a c c e l e r a t e a p p l i c a t i o n o f s t u d e n t s ’ r e s e a r c h p r o d u c t s a n d t r a n s it i o n o f t al ent ed
s t u d e n t s a n d t h e i r s u p p o r t e d e x p e r ie n c e s f r o m t h e l a b o r a t o r y t o i nd u s t r y .
Thank you for your contribution.

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 04

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page XXXX
 Visit to Entebbe International Airport and Crown Beverages
Limited Kakungulu Plant in Pictures

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 05

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
 Outreach to International University of East Africa
BY KIDDU ANDREW KAWUKI
Kampala Branch Executive led by Kiddu
Andrew Kawuki and Eng Magembe Kenneth
in collaboration with Council led by the
UIPE President visited IUEA and the
following aspects were discussed. It was
agreed to formalise the relationship through
an MoU that was signed on 20th April 2023.
Collaboration between UIPE and IUEA
can lead to mutual benefits such as
knowledge sharing, joint research
projects, and increased exposure for
both organizations. Collaboration in
research can help to address pressing
engineering challenges and produce
impactful research that can benefit
society.
With consultations between IUEA and
UIPE, new and relevant-to-the-market
innovations will lead to the development
of new technologies, products, and
services.
UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH
Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
Workshops will provide opportunities
for hands-on learning and networking
and can be used to develop new
skills and enhance existing ones.
Regular syllabus assessments can
help to ensure that the curriculum
remains up-to-date, relevant, and
aligned with industry needs.
Registering lecturers with UIPE will
help to ensure that students are
learning from Field Certified experts,
it will also enhance credibility for
both the lecturers and the institution.
Hosting UIPE functions/activities can
raise the profile of IUEA and provide
opportunities for students and faculty
to interact with industry experts.
PAGE 06
 DEMYSTIFYING THE AERODROME
DESIGN PROCESS
BY ENG. ANDREW AMBAZIMANA

Uganda Airlines’ Bombardier CRJ 900 holds as the other lands on Runway 35 at Entebbe International Airport

The International Civil Aviation training at undergraduate studies and lack

Organization (ICAO) defines an of exposure to the industry. This was
aerodrome as “A defined area on land or evidenced when a group of engineers from
water (including any buildings, UIPE Kampala Branch visited Entebbe
installations and equipment) intended to International Airport in March 2023 and
be used either wholly or in part for the most of them were not conversant with the
arrival, departure and surface movement basic airport design parameters.
of aircraft.” There are over 50 aerodromes
in Uganda most of which are small The situation has to change
airstrips. Currently the country has one given that the aviation industry
international airport (Entebbe in Uganda is growing and the
International Airport) and the second need for consultancy services in
international Airport (Kabalega airport engineering is on the
International Airport) is currently under rise. It is high time that
construction. Universities gave this subject
area attention just like other
It has been noted that most airport areas like Water Resources
designs are done by foreigners leaving Engineering, Structural
the airport design process a “Myth” to Engineering, Highway
many Ugandan Engineers. This could be Engineering and Public Health
attributed to lack of Engineering.

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 07

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
 Critical Aircraft
The very first step in designing an airport
is to determine the critical aircraft for the
proposed aerodrome. Critical aircraft
means the aircraft identified as having the
most demanding operational requirements
with respect to the determination of the
aerodrome physical characteristics.
Aerodrome Reference Code
The other important parameter in the
aerodrome design is the aerodrome
reference code which is a two-part
categorization of aircraft types which
simplifies the process of establishing
whether a particular aircraft is able to use
a particular aerodrome.
The intent of the reference code is to
provide a simple method for interrelating
the numerous specifications concerning
the characteristics of aerodromes so as to
provide a series of aerodrome facilities
that are suitable for the aero planes
that are intended to operate at the
aerodrome. The code is composed of
two elements which are related to the
aero plane performance characteristics
and dimensions. Element 1 is a number
based on the aero plane reference field
length and Element 2 is a letter based
on the aero plane wingspan and outer
main gear wheel span.
Aerodrome reference field length is
defined as the minimum field length
required for take-off at maximum
certificated take-off mass, sea level,
standard atmospheric conditions, still
air and zero runway slope, as shown in
the appropriate aeroplane flight manual
prescribed by the certificating authority
or equivalent data from the aeroplane
manufacturer.

The aircraft wingspan

and outer main gear
wheel span are
aircraft
characteristics best
illustrated in Figure
to the left.

The Wingspan is the

distance between the
two wing tips and the
outer main gear
wheel span is the
distance between the
outside edges of the
main gear wheels.

Figure: Illustration of the Outer Main Gear Wheel

Span and the Wingspan

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 08

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
 An aerodrome reference code (code number and letter) which is selected for
aerodrome planning purposes is determined in accordance with the characteristics
of the aeroplane for which an aerodrome facility is intended (Critical Aircraft). The
aerodrome reference code numbers and letters are determined using Table 1 below;
Table: Aerodrome Reference Code Determination

Source: ICAO Annex 14: Airport Design and Operations

For example, the critical aircraft for Entebbe is a BOEING 777-300ER with an
aeroplane reference field length of 3,120m, wingspan of 64.8m and outer main gear
wheel span of 12.9m. Using Table 1, it can be determined that the aerodrome
reference code for Entebbe International Airport is “4E”. 4 representing Code
Element 1 and E representing Code Element 2. The Aerodrome Reference Code is
used to design different aerodrome elements as will be discussed in subsequent
articles.
REFERENCES
1. ICAO Annex 14; Aerodromes; Volume 1-Aerodrome Design and Operations;
Eighth Edition, July 2018
2. The Civil Aviation(Aerodromes) Regulations,2022
3. ICAO Document 9157; Aerodrome Design Manual; Part 1 — Runways; Fourth
Edition, 2020

By Eng. Andrew Ambazimana

He is a Corporate Member of UIPE and Registered
Engineer with ERB-Uganda. He is employed as a
Principal Aerodrome Inspector-Standards at
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority(UCAA).

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 09

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
 Engineering Students and the Future of Africa:
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence, Green
Energy, and Ecosystems
BY BWAMBALE JOAB

As an engineering student, it is imperative to recognize the significance of our

field in shaping the future of our world and the impact that our work can have
on society. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Green Energy, and Ecosystems are three
areas that are not only highly relevant to our future, but also have the potential
to revolutionize the way we live, work, and interact with each other.

Africa is faced with numerous challenges,
including poverty, limited access to
resources, and underdeveloped
infrastructure, which have hindered its
growth and development. However, the
continent also holds immense potential
and resources, including a young and
growing population, abundant natural
resources, and a rich cultural heritage. To
fully harness this potential, it is crucial
to invest in technology and research,
especially in the areas of AI, Green
Energy, and Ecosystems.
AI has the power to change the way we
live, work, and connect, and Africa is no
exception. AI can help address some of
the continent's most pressing challenges,
such as enhancing healthcare, increasing
agricultural productivity, and providing
access to financial services. By
conducting research and developing new
AI applications, engineering students in
Africa can play a critical role in
advancing the field and finding
innovative solutions to real-world
problems. To conduct research in AI,
students should start by acquiring a solid
foundation in the core concepts and
theories of the field through taking
courses in machine learning, data
science, and computer vision and
participating in hands-on projects.
Green Energy is another critical area
for Africa's future, and engineering
students have a unique opportunity to
contribute to the transition to a more
sustainable future. Climate change is
already having a profound impact on
the continent and transitioning to
renewable energy sources is crucial to
mitigating its effects.
The development of green energy
technologies, such as wind and solar
power, is critical to reducing Africa's
dependence on finite resources, such
as fossil fuels, and building a more
sustainable future. Engineering
students in Africa can play a critical
role in this transition by conducting
research and developing new green
energy technologies that can be used
to generate clean, renewable energy. To
conduct research in Green Energy,
students should start by acquiring a
strong foundation in the fundamentals
of energy and power systems. This can
be achieved through taking courses in
thermodynamics, electrical engineering,
and renewable energy, as well as

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 10

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
 participating in hands-on projects related
to renewable energy systems, energy
storage, and grid integration.
Ecosystems play a critical role in Africa's
development, providing essential services
such as water purification, soil fertility,
and climate regulation. However,
ecosystems are under threat from human
activities such as deforestation,
overfishing, and pollution. As engineering
students, we can help address these
threats by conducting research and
developing innovative solutions that can
help preserve and protect.
In conclusion, engineering students in
Africa have a unique opportunity to
contribute to the future of the continent by
conducting research and innovation in the
fields of AI, Green Energy, and Ecosystems.
These areas hold the potential to
revolutionize the way we live, work, and
interact, and have the power to help
address some of Africa's most pressing
challenges. By acquiring a solid foundation
in the relevant theories and concepts,
connecting with other researchers and
professionals, and participating in research
collaborations, engineering students can
play a critical role in advancing these fields
and contributing to the sustainable
development of Africa.

Article by Bwambale Joab

Bachelor of Civil Engineering,
Ndejje University Kampala Uganda,
+ 2 5 6 7 7 5 1 3 6 9 7 9 , j o a b b w a m b a l e @ g m a i l .c o m

UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH PAGE 11

Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 6
Fare Thee Well
Friends
FATEFUL FRIDAY, 7TH APRIL 2023.
What was meant to be a good weekend turned out to be
tragic when we received the sad news of the passing of
our two UIPE members and some members of their
family. It was a difficult weekend for the engineering
fraternity and we still can't comprehend that our two
colleagues are no more.

The Late Ntege Christopher (GM 1339 - projects engineer

at UBL) and his family and Late Bbaale Francis (GM 1636 -
network manager with NWSC - Kampala Water) and his
wife - were our graduate members. They dedicated their
entire life to serving people, the country and God the
Almighty.

To the bereaved family, we have no doubt that our

sadness and sorrow are nothing compared to the pain
and agony that has visited you since the fateful Friday,
7th April 2023.

We convey our sincere condolences to the bereaved families. We also convey our
condolences to the employers - UBL and NWSC families.

We are proud of their accomplishments and outstanding achievements that very few
agemates can match. Theirs, was a life worth living, a life worth celebrating indeed!

Fare thee well Friends !

May the good Lord rest your cheerful souls in eternal peace.

PAGE 09
 UIPE Kampala Branch Planning Retreat at Ndere Cultural Centre - 13th Januay 2023
UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH 2023 WORKPLAN
Objective
Enhance UIPE Image and
reputation
Grow membership in all classes
and disciplines, from public and
private sectors
Improve & more widely
demonstrate ethical behaviour
amongst UIPE members
Introduce professional
development programmes that
give a structured route to
registration in all classes of UIPE
membership
UIPE KAMPALA BRANCH
Email: kampalabranch@uipe.co.ug
Page 8
Activities
1. Hold quarterly physical social events tuned to the stakeholder interests.
2. Publish quarterly newsletters - upload to the UIPE e-library.
3. Use social media to increase stakeholder engagement.
4. Publish articles in print media.
5. Collaborate with WETT for career days.
6. Use UIPE Letter Head for all the letters.
7. Establish a contact person at Secretariat for Kampala Branch; Purchase a filling
cabinet and have it in Information Officers Office.
8. Secure sponsorship and support four engineering students to complete their
degrees.
1. Undertake outreaches to institutions of learning - On-board more ladies in
engineering - conduct career events targeting females in institutions.
2. Undertake outreaches to places of work.
3. Support the student body to organise events tuned to their interests quarterly.
4. Undertake mentor - mentee matching.
5. Organize meet and greets for the Mentors.
6. Seek support from Council to allow attribution of credit points for the
mentorship program.
7. Support 50 students to get internship placement.
1. Disseminate content of the Engineering Code of Professional Practice and Ethics
and Displinary Procedures for UIPE.
2. Conduct bi-monthly field visits to a number of projects.
1. Seek clarification and support from Council to conduct a series of trainings for
branch members that will help them earn credit points
2. Identify subject matter experts (Japan, Marine, Eco Concrete etc)
3. Conduct trainings tuned to stakeholder intrests
PAGE 13