The Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER) on Friday March 4, 2022 joined the global engineers’ fraternity to celebrate the World Engineering Day. 

In Rwanda, the day was celebrated through a guided study tour by a delegation comprising members of the engineers’ body to Kicukiro Centre where a modern flyover is being constructed as part of the ongoing Kicukiro Sonatubes-Gahanga-Akagera highway.

During the tour, engineers and officials stressed the need for knowledge transfer between Rwandan and foreign engineers practicing in the country.

Steven Sabiti, the Executive Secretary of the Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER) said that the institution promotes knowledge transfer through workshops, internships and other exchange programs provided by the engineers’ body.

"Foreign companies operating in Rwanda provide internships for fresh graduates, and as the students work with them, they also acquire more knowledge from them so that Rwandans can also be able to take up the projects in the future,” he expressed.

The engineers’ body aims at having 30 percent of national mega construction projects contracted to Rwandans.

A segment of a modern flyover that  is being constructed as part of the ongoing Kicukiro Sonatubes-Gahanga-Akagera highway.

"Remember that after construction works these expatriates will go home, but we will need maintenance after some time, so we need to train our own people who will be able to intervene and take up the projects in such circumstances,” he said. 

Over 200 engineers were provided with internships and work opportunities in the last two years.  

Venkata Madhavarao Adusumilli, the team leader of the multi-billion flyover project commended Rwandan engineers’ passion and zeal to learn.

Some members of the body in group photo at the head office of Institution at Kimihurura.So far,over 2,500 registered professional engineers licensed to operate in Rwanda, of which 230 are women.

He said he is currently working with 10 Rwandan engineers through different assistantship duties in supervising projects, who he said are always open to learn.

"I’ve worked in different countries like Ethiopia, Zambia and Rwanda before, but Rwandan engineers are very smart and capture the concepts easily. I hope that in other few years coming, they will be team leaders of the same projects,”

Venkata also testified that his company has worked with many Rwandans, who ended up building a good experience and secured more offers to grow their careers.

A-delegation-for-the-institution-during-a-tour-at-Kicukiro-Center-where-a-modern-flyover-is-being-constructed-as-part-of-the-ongoing-Kicukiro-Sonatubes-Gahanga-Akagera-highway.

Peace Liliose Buto, one of the engineers who participated in the guided study tour acknowledged that there are a lot of lessons to pick from foreign engineers.

Eng. Peace L. Buto speaks to members of the press during the study visit at the Kicukiro Centre flyover bridge and roundabout, under construction by a Chinese firm. She emphasised that knowledge transfer is greatly beneficial to Rwanda's young engineers.

"Working together with foreigners helps us to learn from them. The sharing of techniques and expertise is beneficial to Rwanda now and in the future," she said.

Currently, the IER has over 2,500 registered professional engineers licensed to operate in Rwanda, of which 230 are women.

Workers on duties  where a modern flyover is being constructed as part of the ongoing Kicukiro Sonatubes-Gahanga-Akagera highway. Craish Bahizi

The Chinese engineer speaks to local engineers about the project during the tour at Kicukiro -Gahanga -Akagera Highway