Speke Resort Convention Centre to host 2025 UNESCO Africa Engineering Week – Daily Express

Kampala, Uganda: Uganda has secured the rights to host the 2025 UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and the 9th African Engineering Conference at the iconic Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, further cementing its growing reputation as a leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination in Africa.

Scheduled for September 14–20, 2025, the prestigious event will bring together thousands of engineers, innovators, policymakers, educators, students, and researchers from across the continent. It will run under the theme “Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Socio–Economic Transformation.”

The Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) will organize the conference, with support from the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and other key stakeholders. The week-long programme will feature keynote addresses, technical sessions, exhibitions, and public engagement activities aimed at promoting engineering and STEM across Africa.

Uganda Tourism Board CEO Juliana Kagwa said the event’s award to Uganda highlights the country’s rising stature in the global conference tourism space.

“Hosting this prestigious event aligns with our efforts to position Uganda as a leading destination for conferences and events. We are confident that attendees will experience the beauty and hospitality of Uganda while contributing to important discussions in engineering,” Kagwa said.

MICE Sector on the Rise

Uganda’s successful bid comes amid a sharp upturn in its MICE sector. According to the 2025 Tourism Statistical Abstract, the country hosted 491 MICE events in 2024, attracting 32,693 international delegates and over 69,700 domestic participants. These generated an estimated USD 27.6 million—accounting for 6.1% of total tourism earnings.

UTB now targets 980 MICE events annually by 2026, over 60,000 foreign delegates, and revenue of up to USD 50 million from this niche. Uganda also aims to attract at least 15 high-level global conferences every year and increase international MICE arrivals to 10% of all tourist traffic.

The upcoming UNESCO conference is being positioned as a strategic step towards these goals and is expected to spark additional high-impact engagements in engineering, innovation, and infrastructure.

SRCC: Uganda’s World-Class Venue

The venue, Speke Resort Convention Centre (SRCC), is Uganda’s largest events facility and a major driver of the MICE strategy. Since its commissioning in January 2024, it has hosted several high-profile events, including: the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit, 3rd G77 + China South Summit, Uganda–EU Business Forum, 2024 ITU Global Symposium for Regulators and recently the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo (POATE 2024).

Set on the shores of Lake Victoria, the centre boasts over 56,000 square metres of event space, a 4,400-seat auditorium, 476 guest rooms, and multiple recreational and meeting facilities. Its international-standard infrastructure, combined with proximity to Entebbe International Airport and Kampala, makes it ideal for hosting global conferences.

About UNESCO Africa Engineering Week

The UNESCO Africa Engineering Week is an annual platform for promoting the role of engineering in Africa’s sustainable development. It brings together governments, academia, civil society, and the private sector to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.

Uganda’s hosting of the 2025 edition is expected to boost its innovation ecosystem, professional development platforms, and global visibility as a knowledge economy hub.

Preparations are now underway under the stewardship of UIPE, supported by UTB and other government agencies. Organizers expect a significant multiplier effect on tourism, education, infrastructure, and youth-focused initiatives.

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