The Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) successfully concluded its Special General Meeting (SGM) and the 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30th and 31st August 2024, held at the National ICT Innovation Hub Auditorium, Nakawa, and Hotel Africana (Katonga Hall), Kampala, respectively.

The Special General Meeting primarily focused on presenting the resolutions from a consent settlement and reviewing the audit findings of the election process. Meanwhile, the AGM marked the announcement of the presidential election results and the official swearing-in of Eng. Bosco Lepi as UIPE’s new President, alongside the inauguration of the incoming Council members.

These two significant meetings drew over 300 attendees, including key stakeholders such as UIPE Patron Eng. Dr. Francis Tusubira, Chairperson of the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) Eng. Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the UIPE Returning Officer, Scrutinisers, Outgoing and Incoming Council Members, UIPE Past Presidents, Members, Auditors, and Staff.

Following the presidential election, which took place from 8th - 15th March 2024, Eng. Bosco Lepi secured a total of 977 votes, surpassing Eng. Annet Nsiimire, who garnered 572 votes. The Returning Officer, Eng. Vincent Ochwo Olie, officially declared Eng. Lepi as the President-elect for the 2024–2026 term. Eng. Annet gracefully conceded, congratulating Eng. Bosco Lepi upon winning the elections and urged him to implement some of the ideas outlined in her manifesto.

Eng. Bosco Lepi, in his acceptance speech, called upon all UIPE members to unite and channel their efforts towards strengthening the institution and advancing the engineering profession across Uganda.

Initially scheduled for 26th April 2024, the AGM was postponed following a legal dispute in which one of the candidates, Eng. Annet Nsiimire, called for the nullification of the election results, citing concerns about the transparency of the process. A court injunction temporarily halted the AGM, pending the resolution of the matter. Mediation between the parties, led by ERB, resulted in a consent agreement and a comprehensive audit of the election process. The audit report, presented during the SGM on 30th August 2024, confirmed the integrity of the online voting system and endorsed the declared election results. Members overwhelmingly voted to uphold the results, thereby closing the matter.

The AGM that followed was a significant event, with Eng. Bosco Lepi and the newly elected Council members taking their oaths of office. The new leadership team includes,

Eng. Bosco Lepi, Eng. Andrew Muhwezi, Eng. Bosco Lepi, Eng Wilfred Okello, Eng. Alison Abenabo Twine, Eng. Teddy Okwi, Eng. Diana Keesiga, Eng Jimmy Byomotho, Eng. Isaac Serwadda, Eng. Merab Birungi, Eng. Prof. Peter Okidi Lating, Eng. Henry Mpuuga, Eng. Dr. Issa Kabenge, Eng. Joshua Enyetu and Eng. Dr. Michael Nkambo Mugerwa. With the swearing-in ceremony complete, UIPE’s leadership is fully constituted, and operations have resumed.

In his closing remarks, Eng. Lepi emphasized his commitment to fostering collaboration within UIPE and reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to advancing engineering in Uganda. He also outlined plans for future events and activities aimed at enhancing the role of engineers in national development.