From the American people jointly sponsored by USAID
and the Government of Uganda

NUDEIL Internship Opens Doors For Young Professionals

Due to the death of his father at a young age, 33-year-old Lukala Justine, of Patiko Pawel Village in Gulu District, dropped out of school after he completed his O-Level examinations. As a result, for the next nine years Lukala was unable to further his education. However, Lukala’s luck changed and after nine years he managed to resume school and complete his Advanced Level education. After which he was admitted to the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, with a scholarship from the Inter-University Council of East Africa, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Transportation Engineering in 2009.

Lukala joined the USAID sponsored NUDEIL Program on June 4^th 2010 as an Engineering Intern. Due to his outstanding performance in the Program Lukala was the very first intern to be promoted to the position of Engineering Officer with the NUDEIL program. “Lukala is a very hard working man, he would diligently participate in our engineering design and none of his assignments would remain undone”, said Lydia M. Kaddu, the Deputy Chief Engineer for NUDEIL. Lukala stated that “my engineering skills greatly improved, not by miracle, but because of working closely in a team of very hard working and experienced NUDEIL Engineering Officers who coached me how to apply the theoretical principles of engineering in the field”. He added that as a result of this experience his engineering career has been transformed from a “theory based University education to the practical application of his studies”, which has left him feeling empowered and self-reliant. As part of his official daily assignments for the NUDEIL Program, Justine supervises construction work, engineering and conducts detailed surveys of roads, bridges, buildings and water projects.

Lukala is now one of the many engineers employed by Winrock International to provide additional technical support to the northern Districts Engineering Offices in the implementation of the NUDEIL Program. Like other NUDEIL staff he earns significantly more than the salary of an average Ugandan, enabling him to be financially stable and support his family of four children plus an additional three orphaned children. As a result of his achievements Lukala and his family live a happy life and his children go to modern schools in Gulu Town. His wife added that “I don’t regret my husband Justine working for NUDEIL, he does not only pay our children to go to good schools with the salary he earns but also bought two oxen and cows, which are helping our relatives cultivate the land, as well as providing milk”.

March 2011

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