For Kisambira Iddi, studying Construction and Building at Busoga International Polytechnic was about more than completing a qualification.
It was about learning skills he could carry directly into the workplace.
After completing his Level 2 studies, Kisambira began gaining experience with different construction companies, taking on both supervisory and hands-on roles as he built his career.
One of Kisambira’s first major opportunities came with ECHID Engineering, where he worked as a Site Supervisor.
The role required him to do much more than simply understand construction work.
He was responsible for coordinating activities on site, monitoring progress, managing time and schedules, allocating tasks, promoting safety awareness and ensuring that work was completed according to the required standards.
He also needed to interpret construction plans and help make sure workers understood what had to be done.
Moving from training into a leadership position was not always easy.
Because of his age, Kisambira says some colleagues initially questioned whether he was ready to lead.
“Some people think I am too young to be a site leader, but that does not discourage me. I focus on what I know and what I can do.”
Rather than allowing those doubts to hold him back, he concentrated on demonstrating his ability through the work itself.
Kisambira’s career later took him to ESCON, where he worked as a Mason.
He currently works under ADZAN Company, also as a Mason.
The move from site supervision into more hands-on masonry work has allowed him to continue developing practical experience from another side of the construction process.
For Kisambira, working on real projects has reinforced the importance of the practical training he received during his studies.
He says the skills developed at BIP matched many of the demands he later encountered in the workplace and helped him approach his responsibilities with greater confidence.
One skill Kisambira considers particularly important is construction plan interpretation.
A construction worker needs to understand what is being built before the physical work can begin.
Being able to read and interpret plans helps Kisambira understand the requirements of a project, follow the intended design and continue working confidently even when direct supervision is not immediately available.
It is a good example of how technical knowledge and practical ability have to work together.
Knowing how to carry out a task is important.
Knowing what the drawing requires and why the task is being carried out that way is just as important.
Kisambira also highlights effective communication as one of the skills that continues to make a difference in his work.
Construction sites bring together different workers, trades and responsibilities.
Instructions need to be understood clearly. Problems need to be reported. Tasks need to be coordinated. Safety information needs to reach the right people.
For someone working in a supervisory role, communication becomes even more important.
It is not enough to understand the work personally. You also need to be able to explain what needs to happen and make sure the team is moving in the same direction.
When asked which parts of his BIP training have proved especially useful in his career, Kisambira points to:
Unit 21: Exploring Roofing Operations
and
Unit 23: Tendering and Estimating
These units have stood out during his professional work, although Kisambira emphasises that the wider programme also contributed to preparing him for employment.
His experience reflects something important about technical education.
Sometimes the value of a subject becomes even clearer after a student enters the workplace and begins applying what they learned to real projects.
Kisambira’s progress has not been without difficulties.
Being a young person in a position of responsibility sometimes meant having to prove himself before colleagues accepted his leadership.
There are also the physical demands of construction work.
Kisambira identifies manual labour as one of the significant challenges of the industry. Construction can require physical endurance, discipline and the ability to continue working carefully even when the job is demanding.
These realities are part of the profession.
For Kisambira, the response has been to keep learning, keep working and allow his ability to speak for itself.
Looking back on the journey from a Level 2 Construction and Building student to gaining experience as both a Site Supervisor and Mason, Kisambira has a straightforward message for students currently completing their training:
“Stay persistent, be practical, love what you do, and do it with passion.”
His career is still developing.
But the experiences he has already gained show how technical training can provide a foundation that graduates continue building on once they enter the workplace.
From interpreting construction plans and coordinating site activities to working directly in masonry, Kisambira continues to develop his skills through real projects and real responsibilities.
For students considering a future in construction, Busoga International Polytechnic offers practical training designed to connect technical knowledge with the skills used on site.
Explore BIP’s Construction and Building programmes and take the next step toward building your own technical career.