Eng Dr. Francis Frederick Tusubira, a renowned Ugandan academic and international ICT consultant, has asked women engineers to fight off the “fear” that may hold them back from fulfilling their full potential in a largely male-dominated space, and instead go all out and dominate.
Tusubira was speaking on a panel, at the 8th African Women Engineers (AWE) Forum, in Kampala, under the theme: “Inclusive Engineering: Women Leading Innovation for Africa’s Sustainable Future.”
The Makerere University professor blamed long-held cultural traditions for holding back women from pursuing careers in engineering, despite being naturally gifted to excel in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields like their male counterparts.
Over the years, he noted, he had shed off these societal biases to acknowledge this reality.
Eng Dr. FF Tusubira
Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and guest of honor, shared similar sentiments.
She recalled how, as a fresh Chemical Engineering graduate, her ambitions to work at a leading beverage company were squashed after the head of the interview panel wondered whether she had the stamina to withstand the long hours expected of any Production Engineer.
“He said the role was masculine-oriented and involved working with machines for long hours. Of course, although taken aback, I endeavored to explain my rigorous university training that had involved fitting, machining, and welding, and that I had undertaken practical training in almost similar roles. He seemed unconvinced. Even now this remains the predicament of many female engineers,” Bateebe noted.
Today, with a successful career working for the government of Uganda, in various roles under the former Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD), serving on the first board of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), before raising to her current position, Bateebe had words of encouragement for the young women pursuing STEM careers and courses at university.
“Your place in engineering is not a matter of chance but a matter of necessity and purpose. Your ideas, your creativity, your boldness these are not just welcome in engineering; they are essential to its future,” she said.
Women represent about 16.7% of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers’ (UIPE) membership, with the highest percentage in student membership at 25% (and 47% in African universities).
At the employment level, however, the number of women engineers reduces significantly, an anomaly that needed to be addressed, Bateebe noted.
“As women engineers in Africa, we must step up and intentionally mentor the girls and young women to increase our footprint in the engineering sector,” she said.
She added: “Let us continue to build a future where the engineer in the field, in the lab, in the boardroom, or at the policy table is just as likely to be a woman as it is a man. Do not shy away from taking leadership positions that inform decision making.”
Bateebe also implored women to play their part in Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy, which centres on the sectors of Agro-industrialization, Tourism, Minerals (plus oil), and Science, Technology, and Innovation (ATMS).
In her keynote speaker address, Eng. Ester Christopher, a telecommunication engineer and Managing Director, Meritch Ltd in Tanzania, noted that women brought unique insights to engineering, shaped by their lived experiences.
Dr Patricia Litho, the Energy Ministry spokesperson, made a case for engaging storytelling as a tool to attract more girls and young women to engineering.
Other panelists and speakers included Eng. Dr. Enyonam Kpekpena, chair of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO, Ing. Naa Lamkai Quaye-Ballard chair of the Federation of African Engineers (FAEO), Eng. Aboth Yakoba, chairperson of Uganda’s Women in Engineering and Technology (WETT) committee, Eng. Refilwe Buthelezi, President of the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO), Eng Dr. Alice Isibika and Eng Agnes M. Mwansa (FAEO)
Others were Eng Joan Nweke (Nigeria), Eng Berverly Nyakutsikwa (Zimbabwe), Eng. Angela Mutebi Kirabi (Uganda), Ing Sophia Tijani (Ghana), Eng Tshiamo Nthebolang (South Africa), Eng Tshego Cornelius (FAEO), Eng. Dr. Anne Nakagiri (Uganda), Eng Prudence Madiba (South Africa) and Eng. Dr. Zainab Katima (Tanzania).
Among the various awardees, Bateebe was recognized with a special award for women engineers leading a country’s institution.
Dr Litho (L) picked Bateebe’s plaque
The AWE was part of this year’s 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week hosted by Uganda from September 8-20, 2025.
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