yourarchitect

Experience

• Design Architect Fortitude Consults Ltd · Full-time Jan 2023 – Sep 2025 2 yrs 8 mos Kitende, Mkoa wa Kati, Uganda In my entry-level role as Graduate Architect, I supported senior teams on feasibility studies and early-stage design, building core skills in project documentation and stakeholder engagement. Key contributions included:
  
  Residential Development Project (Kira, Wakiso District): Assisted in the design of a 12-unit low-cost housing complex for middle-income families. Conducted site surveys and environmental impact assessments, incorporating passive cooling strategies like cross-ventilation and green roofs to reduce energy costs by 20%. Prepared 2D/3D drawings and material schedules, resulting in project approval from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in 3 months.
  Commercial Retail Fit-Out (Nakawa Market Upgrade): Collaborated on redesigning 5 vendor stalls into modular, flood-resistant units using recycled steel and permeable paving. Handled quantity takeoffs and cost estimations, staying 10% under budget through value engineering. This project enhanced market accessibility for 200+ vendors and was featured in a local USA newsletter.
  Internship-Led Community Initiative (Rural Health Clinic, Mukono): Led a pro-bono design for a 500 sqm clinic, integrating solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems compliant with Uganda's Green Building Index. Coordinated with NGOs for community feedback, producing final tender documents that secured funding from the Ministry of Health.
  
  Achievements: Completed 120+ hours of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) on sustainable architecture via USA workshops. Promoted to Junior Architect after demonstrating proficiency in BIM modeling.
  Year 2: Project Leadership and Specialization (October 2024 – September 2025)
  Advancing to Junior Architect, I took on increased responsibility for design coordination and site supervision, focusing on urban infill projects amid Kampala's rapid growth. This year honed my expertise in adaptive reuse and regulatory compliance.
  
  Mixed-Use Office-Residential Tower (Bugolobi, Kampala): Co-led the schematic design for a 6-story building with 20 apartments and ground-floor offices. Integrated seismic-resistant features per Uganda Building Code and biophilic elements like vertical gardens to combat urban heat islands. Managed client presentations and revisions, reducing design iterations by 30% through iterative digital modeling. Project is under construction, with handover expected Q4 2025.
  Educational Facility Expansion (St. Mary's College, Namilyango): Oversaw the addition of a 1,500 sqm library and multipurpose hall, emphasizing natural lighting and acoustic materials sourced from Ugandan suppliers. Conducted value analysis to incorporate cost-effective rammed earth walls, achieving a 15% material cost saving. Supervised on-site implementation for 2 months, resolving 5+ construction queries to maintain timeline.
  Sustainable Eco-Lodge Concept (Lake Victoria Shores, Entebbe): Developed a masterplan for a 10-unit eco-tourism lodge, featuring off-grid sanitation and vernacular architecture inspired by Baganda thatched designs. Prepared environmental compliance reports for NEMA (National Environment Management Authority) approval and collaborated with landscape architects for native planting schemes. This speculative project won an internal firm award for innovation in tourism design.
  
  Achievements: Mentored 2 interns on Revit workflows, contributed to a firm whitepaper on "Climate-Resilient Design in East Africa," and presented at the 2025 USA Annual Conference on urban density challenges in Kampala. Portfolio now includes 15+ rendered visualizations showcased on Behance.
  Skills Developed:
  
  Technical: Advanced BIM coordination, structural analysis basics, and sustainable certification (e.g., EDGE pre-assessment).
  Soft: Client negotiation in multicultural settings, team leadership in fast-paced environments, and problem-solving under resource constraints common in Ugandan projects.
  Professional: Full-cycle project involvement from concept to occupancy, with a 95% on-time delivery rate.
  
  Career Aspirations: Aiming for mid-level architect role by 2026, with a focus on public-sector projects to address Uganda's housing deficit. Open to collaborations on regenerative design initiatives.
• Design Architect Kampala Design Studio · Full-time Jan 2019 – Jan 2023 4 yrs Nsambya, Mkoa wa Kati, Uganda Professional Work Profile: Architect in Uganda (Preceding 4 Years)
  Name: Aisha Nakato, BArch
  Qualifications: Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (Graduated 2023). Proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, ArchiCAD, and Adobe Photoshop. Registered with the Uganda Society of Architects (USA) as a graduate member by 2023.
  Overview:
  Before joining Kampala Design Studio in 2023, I spent four years (2019–2023) building foundational skills through internships, freelance work, and academic projects in Uganda’s architectural sector. This period, spanning my final two years of university and first year post-graduation, involved practical exposure to design, site work, and community-driven projects in Uganda’s urban and rural contexts. I contributed to 6+ projects, focusing on affordable housing, public infrastructure, and vernacular architecture, while navigating local challenges like material scarcity and regulatory frameworks.
  Year 1: Early Internship (October 2019 – September 2020)
  As a third-year architecture student, I interned part-time at EcoBuild Uganda, a small firm specializing in sustainable low-cost housing in peri-urban areas. This role introduced me to hands-on drafting and site operations.
  
  Low-Cost Housing Prototype (Luzira, Kampala): Assisted in drafting plans for a 50 sqm model home using compressed earth blocks (CEB). Conducted site measurements and prepared initial floor plans, learning to balance cost and durability in flood-prone areas. The prototype was adopted for a 10-home pilot project by a local cooperative.
  Community Center Renovation (Gulu): Supported the refurbishment of a 300 sqm community hall, focusing on ventilation improvements and local material sourcing (e.g., bamboo cladding). Produced hand-drawn elevations and 3D SketchUp models for client presentations, reducing material costs by 12% through supplier negotiations.
  Academic Project Contribution: Designed a conceptual market pavilion for my university studio, incorporating passive cooling and modular layouts inspired by Kampala’s Owino Market. Presented to faculty and local architects, earning a commendation for practical design.
  
  Achievements: Gained proficiency in AutoCAD and site documentation. Completed 40 hours of field training on construction techniques like CEB and ferrocement.
  Year 2: Advanced Internship (October 2020 – September 2021)
  In my final university year, I interned at UrbanPlan Architects, a mid-sized firm in Kampala focused on commercial and institutional projects. This role deepened my technical skills and introduced me to regulatory processes.
  
  Primary School Expansion (Wakiso District): Drafted construction drawings for a 400 sqm classroom block, ensuring compliance with Uganda’s Ministry of Education standards. Assisted in site inspections, identifying and resolving drainage issues that saved 8% on foundation costs. Project completed on schedule in 6 months.
  Mixed-Use Retail Sketch (Kololo, Kampala): Produced preliminary 3D models and material schedules for a 3-story retail-office building. Incorporated local stone cladding and steel trusses, aligning with KCCA zoning laws. Feedback from senior architects improved my detailing accuracy by 25%.
  Thesis Support: For my final-year project, I designed a 1,000 sqm urban community hub for Nakivale Refugee Settlement, integrating solar lighting and rainwater systems. Conducted field research with NGOs, refining my understanding of participatory design in resource-constrained settings.
  
  Achievements: Mastered ArchiCAD and presented at a USA student symposium on refugee housing solutions. Built connections with 5+ local contractors for future collaborations.
  Year 3: Freelance and Volunteer Work (October 2021 – September 2022)
  Post-graduation, I worked as a freelance architectural assistant while seeking full-time employment, balancing small-scale projects and pro-bono initiatives to build my portfolio.
  
  Residential Extension (Ntinda, Kampala): Designed a 100 sqm home extension for a private client, incorporating a flat roof with waterproofing suited for Uganda’s rainy seasons. Managed client consultations and delivered drawings within 3 weeks, earning a referral for future work.
  Pro-Bono School Repair (Tororo): Volunteered with a local NGO to restore a 200 sqm classroom block damaged by floods. Coordinated with masons to use cost-effective laterite bricks and led community workshops on maintenance, enhancing the facility’s lifespan. Project served 150 students.
  Freelance Visualizations: Created 10+ 3D renderings for local architects using SketchUp and Photoshop, including a proposed cultural center in Jinja. Earned $500 in fees, reinvested in software training.
  
  Achievements: Developed client communication skills and completed a 20-hour online course on sustainable design principles via Coursera.
  Year 4: Pre-Firm Employment (October 2022 – September 2023)
  Joined BuildRight Consult, a small consultancy in Entebbe, as a part-time architectural assistant while awaiting USA registration. Focused on documentation and site coordination.
  
  Eco-Tourism Rest Stop (Mabira Forest): Assisted in designing a 150 sqm visitor pavilion using timber and recycled materials. Prepared environmental impact reports for NEMA approval and conducted site visits to ensure proper foundation work in a high-rainfall zone. Project completed under budget by 5%.
  Office Renovation (Kampala Central): Produced as-built drawings and retrofit plans for a 500 sqm office, upgrading HVAC systems for energy efficiency. Liaised with KCCA for permits, achieving approval in 4 weeks. Supervised contractors for 1 month, resolving 3 structural conflicts.
  Portfolio Development: Compiled a portfolio of 5 projects, including academic and freelance work, which secured my role at Kampala Design Studio. Began learning Revit to prepare for larger-scale projects.
  
  Achievements: Obtained USA graduate membership and networked with 10+ professionals at a regional architecture expo in Kampala. Completed 30 hours of CPD on Uganda’s building codes.
  Skills Developed:
  
  Technical: Proficiency in AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, SketchUp, and basic Revit; site surveying; and cost estimation.
  Soft: Client engagement, community consultation, and time management under tight project deadlines.
  Professional: Familiarity with NEMA and KCCA regulations, with experience in small-scale project delivery in Uganda’s diverse contexts.
  
  Career Reflection: These four years laid a strong foundation in Uganda’s architectural practice, blending academic rigor with practical challenges like material affordability and climate resilience. My early exposure to community and sustainable projects shaped my approach to context-driven design, preparing me for my role at Kampala Design Studio.