A Ugandan engineer with experience in drilling boreholes has spoken out against the trend of politicians and other individuals publicly criticizing engineers when boreholes fail to meet expectations. The engineer, who worked in Tororo district in 1996, says that drilling a borehole is a complex process that requires skill and technical ingenuity. It involves using a resistivity machine to test rocks and identifying aquifer rocks that hold water.
The engineer notes that many people think that water is readily available everywhere, but in most of Uganda, water does not live in soil, it lives in rocks underneath. Drilling in pure clay or hard rock with no cracks can result in failure, wasting millions of shillings. The engineer emphasizes that constructing a borehole is not just about drilling and putting in a plastic pipe, but a process that requires careful planning and execution.
The engineer expresses concern that engineering professional bodies have been quiet in the face of public criticism, allowing misinformation to spread. He notes that while there are corrupt individuals within the engineering profession, this does not justify the public humiliation of engineers. The engineer calls on professional bodies, including the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, to defend science and protect young engineers from unfair criticism.
The engineer recalls his experience working in Eastern Uganda, where he enjoyed local food and worked with communities to provide access to clean water. He emphasizes that water is not a simple issue, and that engineers need to be able to explain technical issues to ordinary people. However, he notes that engineers often have no time to respond to criticism on social media, leaving them defenseless.
The engineer praises Eng Peterson Mwesiga, the president of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers, and calls on him to defend science publicly. He suggests that the institution should clear up misconceptions about boreholes on social media and take action against engineers who engage in negligence or corruption.
The engineer emphasizes the importance of protecting young engineers who are often unfairly criticized by politicians and other individuals. He notes that if young engineers are not protected, they will be reluctant to speak out against bad practices, and the quality of boreholes will suffer. He calls on professional bodies to give young engineers cover and support.
The engineer concludes by urging professional bodies to communicate effectively with the public, using local languages to explain complex technical issues. He notes that if engineers do not speak out, misinformation will spread, and the public will lose trust in the engineering profession. He calls on engineers to engage with the public and explain the science behind borehole drilling.
Key points
- The engineer emphasizes that drilling a borehole is a complex process that requires skill and technical ingenuity.
- Engineering professional bodies have been quiet in the face of public criticism, allowing misinformation to spread.
- The engineer calls on professional bodies to defend science and protect young engineers from unfair criticism.
