National engineering body to be introduced by Mininfra

National engineering body to be introduced by Mininfra

BY GEORGE KAGAME

Engineers in the country will soon be required to register their activities and specialization with the Ministry of Infrastructure according to new government regulations.

This was revealed on Friday by Albert Butare State minister in charge of Energy and water said in a telephone interview. "the Institution of Engineers in Rwanda will be inaugurated soon and will register all professionals in the field so as to be able to ensure that quality of work and standards are adhered to by engineers in all domains." Butare however added that the Infrastructural Ministry is not taking over the role of Rwandan Bureau of Standards but said that the ministry is working with RBS to set the necessary framework where the quality supervising body will be able to check engineers approved by the ministry.

He emphasized that there will be no duplication of roles between the RBS and Mininfra adding that the decision to form an engineers body was already enacted into law after passing cabinet approval and is only awaiting official inauguration he however didnot clarify when the body would be launched.

The registration of engineers comes at a time when the construction sector in the country is in boom and fears abound about the quality of especially high rise buildings mushrooming throughout the country especially in urban places. It also comes at a time when the national skills audit report which was used to scrap certain conditions of particular skills identified engineering as one of the fields in the country that needs to attract more labour in the country.
"All engineers in the country in all their domains will be required to subscribe with us. We have set up basic qualifications standards. body will be allowed to practice engineering without registering", Butare said.

Robert Muganga a Kacyiru based engineer welcomed the initiative saying that it will help to ensure that it will simplify their work as contracts will be awarded according to proven qualification and competence.