The engineers council, the body which regulates engineers in the country, elected new leaders during the General Assembly of the Institute of Engineers in Rwanda.The seven-member council and 13 board members were elected on Tuesday.Speaking after the election, Eng. Dismas Arinaitwe Nkubana, the newly elected head of the Engineer’s Council appealed to government institutions and the private sector not to hire engineers who are not members of the institute for the sustainability, good working conditions and for good service deliverance.According to the law, adopted last year, establishing the Institute of Engineers in Rwanda, all engineers must be enrolled in this institute to make sure they fulfil the requirements to deliver a good professional service.Nkubana says some people may abuse the profession.“We are sensitising people to be aware of the new law governing the profession of engineering and establishing the institute of engineers in the country to understand that no engineer is allowed to be hired without getting certification from the Institute,” Nkubana said.Membership stanceHe warned that those who were hired but are not members of the institute may lose their jobs.According to Nkubana, some engineers come from outside the country claiming to be engineers without credible evidence.He said having a degree is not enough to deliver a good service in engineering, adding that interships and examinations should be used to ascertain the ability of fresh engineers.The Institute of Engineers is made up of Rwandan engineers and foreigners working in Rwanda.These engineers are registered upon presentation of at least a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and sound background activities in the domain.It was created in 2008.The law governing the profession of engineering and establishing the Institute of Engineers Rwanda was passed in 2012.With more than 140 members, the institute offers certificates to engineering professionals, who pay Rwf250,000 annual membership fee.
