In a strategic move aimed to address escalating youth unemployment, Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) on Monday held its first-ever Annual Feedback Workshop at its Secretariat in Kampala since its establishment in March 2025.
The landmark event marked a new chapter in Uganda’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) journey, bringing together educators, industry players, and policymakers to evaluate the progress of reforms aimed at creating jobs for the country’s youth through practical and inclusive skilling.
The workshop, held under the theme “Embracing TVET Reforms to Address Youth Unemployment in Uganda,” served as a platform for feedback, reflection, and strategy alignment following the merger of two key agencies — the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) — into one unified authority, UVTAB. This merger, operationalized under the TVET Act 2025, was designed to harmonize assessment, certification, and curriculum development across the technical and vocational education ecosystem.
Opening the workshop, Mr. Onesmus Oyesigye, the Executive Secretary of UVTAB, said the merger was a strategic move to “streamline operations, eliminate duplication, and create an employer-led assessment system that judges graduates on what they can do rather than what they know.
He noted that the reforms under the TVET Act 2025 are intended to make vocational education more inclusive, practical, and responsive to Uganda’s labor market.
“This reform is about skilling all Ugandans. We want every citizen, regardless of where they are, to gain practical skills that match the demands of employers and encourage entrepreneurial mindsets,” said Mr. Oyesigye.
He emphasized that the reforms criminalize malpractice in assessments, encourage quality assurance, and focus on producing competent, ethical, and employable graduates.
The TVET sector has long been seen as the cornerstone of job creation in Uganda, especially among the youth, who make up over 70% of the population. However, a mismatch between training and labor market demands has often left many graduates unemployed or underemployed.
Doreen Akunda, Commissioner for Basic Education Standards representing Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports, said the government recognizes TVET as a key driver of economic transformation.
“Our youth are energetic and creative, but many remain unemployed because the skills they acquire do not match the needs of the market. Through TVET, we can equip them with practical, employable, and entrepreneurial skills that respond directly to the demands of our economy,” Ms. Akunda said.
She added that the ministry fully supports the UVTAB reforms, noting that competency-based assessment — rather than theory-based examinations — will bridge the gap between training and employability.
“Assessment is not merely an end-of-course activity; it is the bridge between training and employment,” she emphasized.
Jalia Nasaza, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary for Curriculum Development at UVTAB, underscored the board’s paradigm shift from certificate-based education to competence-based training.
“We are moving away from learning for the sake of knowing, to learning for the sake of doing. Competence should be our ultimate goal,” she said.
She highlighted the introduction of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) — also known as the “Workers Pass” — which allows individuals who have acquired practical skills informally to have their competencies assessed and certified. This, she explained, would give artisans, craftsmen, and other skilled workers a pathway to formal recognition and better employment opportunities.
Nasaza further noted that the reforms are emphasizing “learning where work happens” — meaning that students should be trained in real work environments, not just classrooms.
“If I want to learn fishing, I should go where fishing is done, not just draw fish on a chalkboard,” she said, calling for stronger partnerships between training institutions and industry players.
Oyesigye acknowledged that TVET training and assessment are expensive due to the high cost of materials and tools. He advised institutions to collaborate with nearby workshops, factories, and industries to create real-world learning environments.
“TVET is costly because it’s practical. You can’t learn welding without metal, or carpentry without timber. But institutions can partner with industries so learners gain skills while contributing to production,” he said.
He added that UVTAB is working with the TVET Council and the Ministry of Education and Sports to establish a standard unit cost for assessments to ensure fairness and quality across the country.
Prof. Dorothy Okello, Chairperson of the UVTAB Board, reaffirmed that the board is committed to revolutionizing Uganda’s assessment and certification systems to make them industry-driven, digital, and globally competitive.
“Our assessments must evolve beyond traditional exams. They must be competency-based, industry-led, and supported by technology,” she said.
Prof. Okello emphasized that continuous and workplace-based assessments — including real-life projects and digital assessment tools — would strengthen confidence, innovation, and employability among graduates.
She further revealed that the board has already embarked on digitizing registration, results processing, and assessor training to enhance efficiency and transparency.
“We are aligning our systems with global best practices to ensure that our graduates are not only certified, but truly competent and ready for the job market,” she added.
All speakers echoed the need for a tripartite approach — involving government, industry, and training institutions — to make TVET reforms successful. The Ministry of Education and Sports pledged continued support through policy development, capacity building, and funding partnerships.
Oyesigye noted that UVTAB would compile the feedback gathered from stakeholders into an actionable plan to be reviewed at the next annual meeting.
“We are only six months old, but we’ve made remarkable progress. This feedback workshop is not just about sharing challenges — it’s about shaping a future where skills create jobs, and jobs create prosperity,” he said.
