Feature: Ugandans learn skills from Chinese marine engineers as country repairs biggest ferry

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, April 26, 2021
Adjust font size:

KAMPALA, April 26 (Xinhua) -- It was a sunny mid-morning on the shores of Lake Victoria in the Ugandan capital Kampala and 33-year-old Henry Bahemuka was busy welding parts of MV Pamba, the country's biggest ferry that broke down some 15 years ago following an accident.

Bahemuka, an employee of Chinese-owned Mango Tree Group, has been working on MV Pamba for nearly a year as a welder.

He came all the way from the western district of Hoima after being told by a friend that there could be job opportunities during the repair of the vessel.

Bahemuka and about 50 other skilled and semi-skilled Ugandans are now part of the team tasked with ensuring that MV Pamba returns to the water by the end of June this year.

Moses Muwonge, chief engineer and manager of Mango, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the repairs are 85 percent complete.

"By June we shall be back on the water," Muwonge said, adding that what remains to be done is "fitting the radars, shafts and bearings."

"We are also doing some painting, and we need to change the railings. Other than that, all the heavy work has been done," Muwonge added.

MV Pamba is owned by the Ugandan government and being repaired using private resources by the Chinese company which will operate the ferry between Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania on Lake Victoria.

The resources invested in the repairs will be recouped through a concession, according to the government.

For Bahemuka, it is more than just returning MV Pamba to the waters. The skills he has learned while working with Chinese marine engineers will go a long way.

"They are highly professional. They make sure you learn each and everything they do, from fixing the engines, fitting various parts to welding," Bahemuka told Xinhua in an interview.

"I have also learned from them special skills of fabricating pipes and installation of other parts of the ship," he added.

Apart from the skills, Bahemuka has been able to start up personal ventures back home.

"I have started building my own house using the money I earn from Mango Tree Group. I have also managed to buy a few domestic animals," he said.

As the country moves towards the construction of the 1,445-km crude oil pipeline to the Tanzanian seaport of Tanga, Bahemuka does not want to be left behind.

"What I want to do next is enroll at an institution where I can learn coded welding. Then I will be sure of being taken on when the pipeline project gets underway," Bahemuka, who holds a certificate in metal works and fabrication, said.

For John Patrick Odwedo who is over 60 years old, age has not stopped him from learning new skills from the Chinese.

Odwedo used to work as a mechanic on MV Pamba before the accident. He was then retrenched by the government. However, when his former bosses heard that the ferry was set for repair, they contacted him and suggested he work for Mango.

"I love my job. I'm still strong, and I am learning very many new things from the Chinese," Odwedo told Xinhua.

"When you work with these guys, work moves smoothly. They correct you where you go wrong, and they don't use abusive language," Odwedo said, adding, "their fabrication skills are outstanding."

While inspecting the vessel recently, Joy Kabatsi, Ugandan state minister for works, said he appreciated the work being done by Mango.

"I prefer dealing with private investors because when they are given work, you get results in time," she said.

Kabatsi said that once the work is finished, the company will be given concessions to manage the vessel.

The minister said the vessel would help ease the burden of transporting cargo by road from Kenya and Tanzania into Uganda.

MV Pamba can carry 22 wagons, according to Muwonge, the chief engineer.

Odwedo advises the young people in Uganda to acquire new skills on their own to be more competitive in the job market and snatch up work when it becomes available, like with the MV Pamba project.

"When they get the job, let the youth not be proud," Odwedo said. "They should aim at acquiring new skills that are not taught at school." Enditem

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter