CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, A NEEDED SKILL. Skilling and learning, especially in the engineering sector never ends. It is a continuous process that grounds professionals in what they do. Therefore, it is for this reason that the Contract Administration Local and International CPD was held on 25th to 27th September 2019 at Eureka Hotel, Ntinda. The training, which attracted 127 participants, discussed a number of topics including Introduction to contract management, national and international forms of contracts, types of contracts for engineering works, dispute avoidance and resolution, which are in line with Contract Administration Local and International. Eng Michael Daka and Eng Patrick Batumbya, who are well grounded in Contract Administration Local and International facilitated the training which engaged both start up and experienced engineers. In his opening remarks, Eng. Vincent Ochwo Olie the President UIPE urged participants to engage facilitators to tap into their wealth of experience in the field of engineering. “I argue you all to engage them to extract knowledge from them,” he said. The CPD, according to Eng. Batumbya, sought to equip participants with contract management skills as well as updating them on activities within the industry. “This training isn’t meant for only first timers. It is meant for everyone interested in gaining knowledge and clarity from people who are in the field and have obtained some level of knowledge through practice and international interactions,” he said. . This specific training, he said, seeks to make a manager out of a professional, instead of being a project engineer. Apart from becoming better at contract management, Eng. Batumbya said participants would be able to have better and credible references on any particular contract as well as having advanced knowledge on how to interpret conditions on PPDA and in the red book on FIDIC contract. The knowledge gained, he said, would allow them to have practical application when dealing with contracts. Eng. Batumbya also indicated that the training is a continuing professional development event and gives an opportunity to those seeking registration in the country with ERB and UIPE to have an added advantage that will be considered during registration. UGANDA INSTITUTION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS 2019 ROUND UP NEWSLETTER September –December 2019 V004 Participants with trainers Eng. Michael Daka and Eng. Patrick Batumbya
Transcript
CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, A NEEDED SKILL.
Skilling and learning, especially in the engineering sector never ends. It is
a continuous process that grounds professionals in what they do.
Therefore, it is for this reason that the Contract Administration Local and
International CPD was held on 25th to 27th September 2019 at Eureka
Hotel, Ntinda.
The training, which attracted 127 participants, discussed a number of
topics including Introduction to contract management, national and
international forms of contracts, types of contracts for engineering works,
dispute avoidance and resolution, which are in line with Contract
Administration Local and International.
Eng Michael Daka and Eng Patrick Batumbya, who are well grounded in
Contract Administration Local and International facilitated the training
which engaged both start up and experienced engineers.
In his opening remarks, Eng. Vincent Ochwo Olie the President UIPE urged
participants to engage facilitators to tap into their wealth of experience in
the field of engineering.
“I argue you all to engage them to extract knowledge from them,” he said.
The CPD, according to Eng. Batumbya, sought to equip participants with
contract management skills as well as updating them on activities within
the industry.
“This training isn’t meant for only first timers. It is meant for everyone
interested in gaining knowledge and clarity from people who are in the
field and have obtained some level of knowledge through practice and
international interactions,” he said.
.
This specific training, he said, seeks to make
a manager out of a professional, instead of
being a project engineer.
Apart from becoming better at contract
management, Eng. Batumbya said
participants would be able to have better
and credible references on any particular
contract as well as having advanced
knowledge on how to interpret conditions
on PPDA and in the red book on FIDIC
contract.
The knowledge gained, he said, would allow
them to have practical application when
dealing with contracts.
Eng. Batumbya also
indicated that the training is
a continuing professional
development event and
gives an opportunity to
those seeking registration in
the country with ERB and
UIPE to have an added
advantage that will be
considered during
registration.
UGANDA INSTITUTION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
2019 ROUND UP NEWSLETTER
September –December 2019 V004
Participants with trainers Eng. Michael Daka and Eng.
Patrick Batumbya
MANY TURN UP FOR FIRST ADJUDICATION TRAINING
Conflicts and disputes are very inevitable in the everyday work place. This is because you are dealing with people from different
walks of life. The disputes are usually internal and external. The external disputes however affect the organization negatively for
companies end up losing clients or money when the disputes escalate to litigation.
UIPE as a way of empowering its members to handle disputes, organized a first adjudication training on 24th and 25th October 2019
at Eureka hotel with facilitators Eng. Michael Daka a managing Director Proess Limited Consulting Engineers and an Adjudicator
with UIPE and Advocate David Kaggwa a senior partner of Kaggwa &Kaggwa Advocates with specialization in Arbitration,
Construction law & Commercial Litigation.
When asked to give his take home from the participants as a facilitator, Eng. Daka said that there was interest for the subject and
this was evidenced from the 120 participants that turned up on both days. He said that from the questions asked, he noticed an
unswerving desire to learn more.
Participants in attendance were compelled to understand that going to court isn’t the best way of resolving construction disputes,
they would also understand the differences between adjudication and arbitration, litigation among others.
Eng. Yosia Deng an employee of Ministry of Education with Implementing Uganda Development skills program said his reason for
attending was to get equipped with the different dispute resolution methods and the training according to him served its purpose.
“I feel not cheated, am getting what I came here to receive.” he said.
The knowledge attained according to Eng. Michael Daka can be used internationally. “The principles attained apply across board
“he said. He encouraged UIPE to do more of these trainings however he expressed a need to improve trainer trainee ratio to at
least 1:25.
Participants during the adjudication training at Eureka Hotel Ntinda on 24th and 25th October 2019
According to Eng. Michael Daka, the main purpose for the training was to raise awareness
about the alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in construction sector as opposed to
going to court. (Litigation). He added that the training was met for all level people in the
construction sector as client organizations, Contractors and Consultants. “Any Engineer in
construction sector should understand these concepts. You cannot effectively run a
construction business without understanding construction contracts and disputes.” He
explained.
STARTING FROM THE ROOTS
Maintaining Professionalism in the Engineering Fraternity is one
of the core functions of UIPE. Achieving this doesn’t happen
overnight. For one to understand the view of a professional body,
work needs to be done starting from the grass roots. With this in
mind, UIPE with a grant from Royal Academy of Engineering UK
carried out outreaches to Uganda Christian University Mukono
and Kampala International University on the 22nd November and
10th December 2019 respectively.
The love for the profession from students was evident in
attendance records as students from both universities turned up
in big numbers. The outreach in Mukono attracted 119 students
and KIU 96 students.
The main purpose was to expose students to a number of career
development skills as they prepare to venture into the working
environment. During the outreaches, students were taken
through the advantages of joining UIPE, Expectations of
employers from employees, Professionalism and Career
Development in Engineering among others.
In his presentation on the value of UIPE as a professional body at
large, the President of UIPE, Eng. Vincent Ochwo Olie told
students that UIPE nurtures its members throughout the entire
engineering career. He added that this is done through career
development programs like Continuous Professional
Development organized by the institution on a subsided fee for
members.
Eng. Andrew Muhwezi a Senior Manager Water production of
National Water and Sewerage Cooperation and a UIPE Council
member addressed the dos and don’ts of the Engineering
work place.
He educated students about the 4Qs which were the
Intelligence, Emotional, Social and Adversarial Quotient. In
addition he told students that practicability is very key in the
Engineering field “Engineering being a very practical field, it is
important for your problem solving skills to be seen.” He
added. Other presenters were Mr. Kibowa Danstan , Mr.
Godfrey Rwakafunjo, and Eng. Jimmy Ola.
The few students that UIPE had a chance to interact with were
very appreciative of the visit. Nadia Namuli a student of
Uganda Christian University said that the visit was very
beneficial to them. “We now know what is expected of
us when we go out there in the working field and
how we can become members of UIPE.”
Professionalism and career growth is a journey and with baby
steps a lot can be achieved.
Eng. Vincent Ochwo Olie , President Uganda Institution of Professional
Engineers
Eng. Andrew Muhwezi during his presentation at KIU
