Tycoon Sudhir, Ambassador Tiperu Unveil UIU’s $13.5M Engineering Faculty In West Nile

By Gad Masereka

A quiet but deeply symbolic moment unfolded in Arua this week as Ugandan business magnate Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia and Uganda’s Ambassador to Turkey, Nusurah Tiperu, toured the newly completed Faculty of Engineering at the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU). Standing tall on the edge of Arua’s rapidly growing academic hub, the facility represents far more than bricks and mortar—it’s a deliberate investment in the country’s future, and a signal that the West Nile region is no longer on the periphery of Uganda’s development agenda.

The sprawling complex, constructed by Vcon Construction, a subsidiary of the Ruparelia Group, is a modern marvel tailored for technical education. With lecture halls built to global standards, cutting-edge laboratories, and engineering workshops designed for practical learning, the faculty is set to host its first intake during the 2026/2027 academic year. A 500-bed hostel forms part of the infrastructure, easing accommodation concerns for students expected to travel from all corners of Uganda and beyond.

For Dr. Sudhir, whose business empire spans finance, real estate, education, and construction, the project speaks to a broader vision. “This is not just a building—it is a platform for transformation,” he told reporters during the site visit, flanked by his wife Jyotsna and daughter Sheena. “When we invest in education, we are investing in the structural integrity of our nation’s future. Engineers are the backbone of development, and this faculty will empower a new generation to shape Uganda’s destiny.”

Ambassador Tiperu, a native of the region and one of its most vocal advocates, underscored the significance of the moment. She applauded the collaboration between the Government of Uganda and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), which jointly facilitated the $13.5 million project through a concessional loan. “This is a story of partnership that puts equity at the center,” she said. “We are delivering not just a facility, but hope, opportunity, and dignity to a region that has long waited for its turn.”

The faculty will offer degree programs in civil, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, with curriculum tailored to the practical needs of Uganda’s industrial growth trajectory. According to IUIU Rector Dr. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, the development could not have come at a more critical time. “We have always wanted to expand into technical disciplines, but the lack of infrastructure was a major bottleneck. This facility changes everything,” he said. “Students from West Nile and northern Uganda no longer need to travel hundreds of kilometers to Kampala or Mbale for a quality engineering education.”

Observers say the impact of the new faculty will extend beyond academics. With hundreds of students expected to arrive in the coming years, the ripple effect on Arua’s local economy—through housing, services, and employment—could be significant. The institution is also expected to contribute to the national skills pipeline, with graduates feeding into sectors ranging from road construction and power generation to ICT and industrial automation.

The project marks another milestone for Vcon Construction, whose role in fast-tracking large-scale public infrastructure has grown steadily in recent years. Completed in just two years, the facility stands as a testament to the company’s reputation for efficiency and quality. “We build with purpose,” one Vcon site engineer remarked during the inspection. “This isn’t just about finishing on time—it’s about delivering something that matters.”

As the tour came to a close, there was a palpable sense that the symbolic unveiling of the engineering faculty was only the beginning. Plans are already underway to integrate research partnerships, innovation labs, and student exchange programs in the coming years. For now, the newly built facility gleams with the promise of what it will become—a center not only of learning but of transformation for a region long overdue for meaningful investment.