These include careers in manufacturing and processing industries in both food and non-food related areas. They also include careers in the different areas of engineering, cutting across diverse fields including electrical, mechanical, civil, agricultural, chemical, environmental and computer engineering. These involves Planning, managing and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance and manufacturing/process engineering.

Uganda's Manufacturing Sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country with manufacturing output expanding by more than 10% annually over the last five years. Opportunities exist virtually in all areas ranging from beverages, leather, tobacco based processing, paper, textiles and garments to pharmaceuticals, fabrication, ceramics, glass, fertilizers, plastic or PVC, assembly of electronic goods, hi-tech and medical products.

The opportunities to market manufactured products from Uganda are not limited to the domestic market. Investors in the country can look to exporting to the neighboring countries within the Common Market of Eastern and Southern African Countries (COMESA) region of which

Uganda is a member. In addition to its labour force and abundant resources, Uganda offers attractive fiscal and physical export incentives that make it a favorable location for targeting the rest of the Sub-Saharan and Southern African region.

Jobs in the manufacturing career cluster involve planning, managing, and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities, such as production planning and control, maintenance, and manufacturing /process engineering.

Career Pathways in Manufacturing

Health, safety and environmental Assurance. Workers in this pathway ensure that equipment is being used safely in the work place, plan for safety in new production processes; conduct hazard investigations and inspection and implement health, safety and/or environmental programmes, projects, polices and procedures. Jobs include environmental engineer, environmental specialist, safety coordinator, safety engineer.

Logistics and Inventory Control

This pathway involves jobs that require the movement of raw materials, unloading of trucks, wrapping pallets for shipments and communication with traffic managers. Such jobs include dispatcher, freight and materials mover, logistical manager, materials handler, traffic managers, communication, transportation and utilities managers.

Maintenance, Installation and Repair

Workers in this pathway perform preventive maintenance procedures on machines, tools and equipment; troubleshoot and repair electrical, electronic and mechanical systems, install and repairs. Jobs include computer maintenance technicians, instrument control technician, job/fixture designer, security system installer/repairer, plumbers, pipe fitters and steam fitters, boiler makers, and major appliance repairers.

Manufacturing Production Process Development

Workers in this pathway are responsible for product design of the manufacturing process; monitor the manufacturing process and materials used to manufacture the products. These jobs include design engineer, industrial engineer, labour relations manager, production managers, precision inspectors, testers and graders, engineering technicians, electronic engineers, manufacturing engineers.

Production

Workers in this pathway are responsible for making parts or assembling parts of products. They work with machines, making or assembling electronic parts, constructing or assembling modular housing, performing wielding jobs or printing materials. Jobs include assemblers, bookbinders, calibration technicians, machine operators, hand packer and packagers metal appliance makers, painters, welders, machinists, instrument makers.

Quality Assurance

Workers in this pathway assure that standards and procedures are adhered to and that delivered products or services meet performance requirements. Such jobs include calibration technicians, inspectors/testers, lab technicians, quality control technicians, quality engineers, process control technicians.

Appropriate Combinations at 'A' level:

PCB/M, PEM, BCM, MEG, BCG, BAG, PCM, BC/FN, ABC, PEM/TD, PCM/TD some Arts combinations plus General Paper

Subjects at “O” level: Fine Art, Physics, Biology, TD, Accounts, Commerce, Math, Metal Work, Computer Science, Wood Work, Foods & Nutrition, Home Management

Courses and Career Development Prospects

· Electrical Engineering

· Mechanical Engineering

· Building Engineering

· Automotive Power

· Textile Engineering

· Computer Science

· Agriculture

· Procurement & Logistics

· Wood Science & Technology

· Pastry & Bakery