August 7 2025, Nuenen, Netherlands — Ivan Kibuka has worn many hats – civil engineer, environmental consultant, car mechanic, trainer – but above all, he is a lifelong learner. Through his learning adventures, Ivan discovered Electude and, with the help of the Electude Simulator Challenge, gained the knowledge and confidence necessary to turn his interest in cars into an additional career. Over a decade later, he started sharing this knowledge with apprentices and students in Uganda.
The fire of curiosity
Ivan’s professional background had nothing to do with cars. He graduated with a diploma in civil engineering in Uganda in 1999, then moved to the United Kingdom in 2000, where he earned a Diploma in Innovation and Design, a Bachelor of Science in Technology, and a postgraduate Diploma in Pollution Control. Returning to his home country, Ivan started working in an environmental consulting firm.
But in 2011, a car problem sparked a curiosity that would turn him into an expert in a completely different subject: automotive diagnostics.
After taking his car to a local garage, Ivan watched as mechanics used trial-and-error methods. The result? The vehicle caught fire. “They managed to put it off, but I was really annoyed,” Ivan recalled.
He remembered how, in the UK, mechanics relied on computer diagnostics and wondered why that knowledge had not reached Uganda. His research revealed that Uganda’s vocational training for mechanics was outdated, with materials from the 1960s and 1970s.
Determined to learn more about vehicle repair, Ivan bought an Autoboss V30 diagnostic tool, which quickly revealed the complexity of modern vehicles. “I thought I was knowledgeable about cars, but the diagnostic tool proved me wrong,” he said. The fault codes were unfamiliar, pushing him to learn through Google searches, repair manuals, and YouTube tutorials.
He partnered with a local mechanic who ran a garage and was interested in improving his diagnostic methods. While the mechanic handled routine repairs, Ivan joined him on the weekends and took on the more complex cases that required a computer. Together, they achieved a high success rate.
However, the work was not easy. Most cars in Uganda are second-hand, 15 to 20 years old, and already have multiple hidden issues. Poor roads, limited maintenance, and guesswork repairs exacerbate the situation. With the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles, diagnostics became even more challenging.
Electude Simulator Challenge: Safe practice, smarter diagnostics
Ivan’s search for better learning resources led him to a YouTube video by Diagnose Dan, which introduced him to Electude. He started playing with the free Electude Simulator Challenge and was impressed by its realism.
What I was used to seeing in the real world is what I saw on the simulator. It was just like working in a real car. And the simulator always proved me right or wrong, which built my confidence. It throws a problem at you; you solve it and move to another level.
Ivan Kibuka
In Uganda, where spare parts are expensive and imported, a wrong diagnosis can be costly. The simulator offers a safe way to practice and build diagnostic confidence without risking costly mistakes: “If you get a diagnosis wrong on the simulator, you just get a low grade. In real life, you can waste your client’s money or have to bear the costs yourself.”
Thanks to his experience with the simulator, Ivan felt prepared and confident in dealing with a wide range of vehicle repairs, even the most challenging ones. However, he still wanted to continue gaining knowledge of automotive technology.
Building expertise and sharing knowledge with Electude
In 2020, Ivan decided to use Electude’s light and electric vehicle learning solutions to study more about engines and also train young apprentices at the garage. “I came into this industry jumping into the deep end. I had not covered the basics. Electude took me through everything, from the fundamentals to very complex topics,” he said.
Ivan describes the experience of training a mechanical engineer student with Electude’s e-learning modules: “When she arrived, she had never even touched a diagnostic machine. Within a month, after using Electude and practising in the garage, she became very knowledgeable and confident.”
In December 2024, inspired by his positive experiences with Electude both as a learner and as a trainer, Ivan founded a school specialised in EV technology. The Voltedge E-Mobility Institute in Uganda uses Electude’s Electric Vehicles solutions to prepare current and future automotive technicians for diagnosing and repairing electric and hybrid vehicles.
Electude makes things simple and easy to understand. It keeps updating its content and is very flexible. As a tutor, I can see exactly what the apprentices are doing, including their strengths and weaknesses.
Ivan Kibuka
Electude is glad to have been a part of Ivan Kibuka’s learning path and is proud to contribute to the development of efficient, modern automotive diagnostics in Uganda. From a frustrated car owner to a confident diagnostic expert and trainer, Ivan’s journey demonstrates how determination and the right tools can transform not only a career but an entire industry.
About Electude
Electude is the innovation leader in automotive technology education. With learning solutions in light vehicles, heavy vehicles, electric vehicles and training aids, it offers a highly adaptable platform that performs equally well in the classroom, the workshop, or at home.
Since its founding, Electude has empowered more than 100,000 teachers and over 1 million students across 4,000+ schools worldwide. Today, Electude’s learning solutions are used in more than 70 countries and are available in over 45 languages.