Dr. Eng. Harrison Mutikanga’s election comes at a crucial juncture, as dam pattern within the nation and real by approach to Africa quickens to meet growing demands for hydropower, irrigation, flood control, and water offer
Chengdu, China | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s Dr. Harrison Mutikanga is the new Vice President of the Global Commission on Astronomical Dams (ICOLD).
His election as ICOLD vice president representing Africa on the organization’s board reflects Uganda’s and Africa’s rising prominence in water resource management and dam infrastructure pattern. Dr. Mutikanga is the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Electrical energy Technology Company Ltd (UEGCL).
“I envision elevating Africa’s sigh internal ICOLD and promoting the enhance of sustainable and safe dams real by approach to the continent,” Mutikanga mentioned after the elections at ICOLD’s twenty eighth Congress and 93rd Annual Assembly held Might well well also 20 in Chengdu, China.
Dr. Mutikanga emphasised the must abolish greater Africa’s representation internal ICOLD’s leadership constructions, technical committees, and resolution-making processes. He also pledged to nurture the next skills of dam professionals by approach to centered mentorship programs and funding alternatives, constructing a grand pipeline of future leaders within the hydropower and dams sector.
The Ugandan knowledgeable’s election comes at a crucial juncture, as dam pattern within the nation and real by approach to Africa quickens to meet growing demands for hydropower, irrigation, flood control, and water offer. Alternatively, the benefits of this infrastructure are extra and extra threatened by the escalating impacts of the climate crisis.
The catastrophic failure of the Wadi Derna dams in Libya in September 2023, prompted by wrong flooding, claimed greater than 6,000 lives and left hundreds lacking, marking among the deadliest dam mess ups in contemporary memory.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the must originate, abolish, and put collectively dams with security, resilience and sustainability at the core. As climate-associated dangers intensify, the engineering profession must adapt swiftly to give protection to lives and livelihoods.
Dr Mutikanga’s 6-level thought
Experts glean noticed that Uganda has bolstered its influence in worldwide hydropower and dams infrastructure governance with its election to the govt. of the Global Commission on Astronomical Dams (ICOLD).
ICOLD is the leading worldwide non-governmental organisation devoted to sharing ride among dam professionals. It fashions worldwide requirements and pointers to be obvious dams are built and operated safely, efficiently, and economically, on high of being environmentally sustainable and socially equitable. Established in 1928, ICOLD now represents 106 member worldwide locations, with Uganda joining the worldwide physique in 2019 as its a hundred and first member.
Dr Mutikanga has outlined a total six-level solution to manual his tenure, which accommodates fostering innovation and easiest practices in dam originate and management, bettering regional collaboration, and supporting environmentally and socially to blame projects that near water security, energy production, and climate resilience.
As a member of ICOLD’s Board, Dr. Mutikanga is successfully-positioned to champion Africa’s pursuits, promote facts alternate, and toughen regional cooperation within the governance and security of dams and water sources.
Dr. Mutikanga brings over 30 years of ride in civil engineering, water, and energy utility management. He holds a bachelor’s level in civil engineering from Makerere College, a master’s from IHE Delft within the Netherlands, and a PhD from Delft College of Technology within the Netherlands. He has also contributed widely to tutorial study, publishing over 15 papers on water sources and hydropower infrastructure, and is a member of Uganda’s Engineers Registration Board (ERB).
For Uganda, this election represents a possibility to toughen ties with the worldwide dam neighborhood and leverage worldwide ride to near the nation’s water infrastructure agenda.
Uganda’s engagement with ICOLD is facilitated by approach to the Uganda Committee on Astronomical Dams (UCOLD), established in accordance with the nation’s growing portfolio of dam projects for hydropower, agriculture, and water offer.
UCOLD’s founding members encompass the Directorate of Water Assets Management (DWRM) and UEGCL. The committee is led by Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner for Water Assets Planning and Regulation at the Ministry of Water and Ambiance, who serves as UCOLD’s president, with Mutikanga as vice president.
Other key UCOLD officials encompass Eng. Fredrick Wasike, UEGCL’s Dam Security and Water Assets Manager, who serves as the Secretary Traditional of UCOLD; Dr. Eng. Mary Akurut, UEGCL’s Chief Security, Health, Ambiance & Quality Officer, and Mr. John Berry (beforehand Traditional Manager of Bujagali Energy Puny).
Dr. Tindimugaya highlighted the worth of UCOLD’s ICOLD membership, which grants glean entry to to worldwide easiest practices and technical publications, fostering facts alternate for Ugandan dam professionals. “Thru ICOLD, our professionals can collaborate and learn from their friends worldwide, bettering Uganda’s dam pattern requirements,” he mentioned.
Eng. Wasike eminent that UCOLD serves as a famous platform uniting various stakeholders from authorities ministries and agencies to consultants, contractors, and researchers in facts sharing and adherence to worldwide dam requirements. UCOLD has already signed Memoranda of Working out (MoUs) with the Canadian Dam Association (CDA) and the China Nationwide Committee on Astronomical Dams (CHINCOLD)—strategic partnerships aimed at advancing technical alternate and capability constructing.
Dr. Akurut underscored UCOLD’s crucial role in making sure Uganda’s dams meet worldwide benchmarks for security and sustainability whereas addressing the challenges posed by climate alternate and hasty pattern. “UCOLD is pivotal in shaping the strategy in which forward for Uganda’s water infrastructure, balancing engineering excellence with neighborhood and environmental wants,” she explained.
