By Our Reporters
At exactly 6pm, senior engineers Rugumayo and Alex Gisagara who served as electoral commissioners took to the podium to announce Eng Vincent Ochwo Olie as the new President for Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE) for 2018-2020. Polling 396 out of the 535 votes cast (inclusive of the 26 invalid ones), Eng Ochwo floored his only competitor Eng Dr. Mark Henry Rubarenzya who garnered 113 votes. To the credit of outgoing UIPE President Eng Dr. Dorothy Okello, the very credible polling exercise had started weeks earlier with many of the members voting electronically from their respective work places. Indeed as expected at the end of any credible electoral process, there was no cries of foul play and Rubarenzya, as widely expected, conceded defeat without fuss. Ochwo was as graceful in his victory speech promising to closely work with both his predecessor and competitor. Established in 1972, UIPE is statutorily charged with bringing together members of the engineering fraternity besides working with Eng Micheal Odongo’s Engineers Registration Board (ERB) to enforce high ethical and professional standards. Leadership changes every after two years which is why, however popular she was, Eng Dorothy Okello couldn’t stay on after the expiry of her two year term. If she so wished, which has never happened, Eng Okello (the first female to serve as UIPE President) can only seek re-election later and not immediately after current term. Notwithstanding the many benefits, membership is voluntary and UIPE slightly has over 4,000 registered members. Some are practicing engineers and others are students still pursuing their 4 year engineering course at the University. Being UIPE member (especially of corporate status) is a good step towards acquiring ERB certification/registration which many engineers have lately been failing to qualify for, making Eng Odongo (the ERB chairman) very disturbed.
BACK TO OCHWO;
Eng Vincent Ochwo’s win must be one many saw coming given his prolific participation in the UIPE activities for a longer period than his competitor Rubarenzya whose experience has mostly been abroad than locally in Uganda. Whereas Ochwo works with Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) as the head/manager Surveillance Department, Rubarenzya works with UNRA where he serves as Director Research & Development. In the UIPE, Ochwo has over the years been many things-making his election one that was highly anticipated. Besides being a registered member (No.PE650 & No. 662 for ERB purposes), he has been governing council member holding the position of Vice President (Mechanical) under Dorothy Okello’s presidency. He has also been chairman for the Membership, Education & Training (MET) committee, the very capacity in which he has mobilized many members to join UIPE. He is also a member of the Joint Assessment Committee (JAC) which considers ERB registration-seeking engineers’ applications, career and technical reports. He was also heavily involved in the conceptualization and rolling out of the Engineers Registration Enhancement Program (EREP) which seeks to build capacity for younger upcoming engineers’ capabilities to successfully apply for ERB registration and certification. He is also heavily involved in rolling out the CPD program that harnesses engineers’ career and technical report writing capabilities.
He has been honorary secretary for UIPE and was also secretary to the UIPE Constitutional Review process as recent as 2016. He has been a long serving member on the UIPE Finance & Administration committee. He greatly influenced the decision to get UIPE and ERB come together to have a one stop center for purposes or admission and registration of membership (for corporate UIPE members). His campaign promise was into 4 components namely; increasing membership, enhancing professional development opportunities for UIPE members, increasing advocacy for professional engagement and capacity building for UIPE members. He doesn’t come off as a man of very many words implying his electors voted him for his action-oriented approach. Having been a council member under Dorothy Okello’s tenure, its expected Ochwo will ensure continuity of all the good programs his predecessor left in place on top of introducing his own ideas as a leader. Much revered ERB Chairman Eng Micheal Odongo, who is like a father figure for the engineering fraternity in Uganda, urged Ochwo to carry on his predecessor’s good legacy especially those aspects regarding the Joint Assessment Committee between UIPE and ERB. The beauty of it all is that Eng Dr. Dorothy Okello and many other old council members are staying on to serve along with their colleague Eng Vincent Ochwo Olie for the next two years. Other council members to serve under new UIPE President Eng Vincent Ochwo are as follows; Eng Ruth Apolot, Daniel Isabirye, Eng Daniel Kisira, Eng Dr. Florence Kiyimba, Eng Ben Kyemba, Eng Andrew Muhwezi, Eng Geoffrey Ogwang, Eng Dr. Dorothy Okello (IPP/Electrical), Eng Albert Oleja, Eng Dr. Henry Mark Rubarenzya, Eng Dr. Sarah Semyano, Eng Steven Serunjogi, Eng Fabiano Wanjusi and Mr. Nathan Wasswa Mukasa. It’s a council of 15 well accomplished men and women representing the different engineering disciplines. See more in pictures taken at the hand over event. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755!
