'Uganda will have best TVET system in Africa within next decade'

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Uganda is poised to become a continental leader in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), thanks to ongoing reforms and strong government backing, according to Onesmus Oyesigye, executive secretary of the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB).

Speaking at a training workshop for TVET assessors at the Uganda Industrial Research Institute in Namanve on Wednesday, Oyesigye expressed confidence in the direction of the country’s TVET reforms, citing clear policy frameworks and the recently enacted TVET Act 2025.

“The government has done its part—and done it very well. With the clear and well-documented policy guidelines in place, I am confident that within the next five to ten years, Uganda will have the best TVET system in Africa. Everybody will be coming here to benchmark,” he said.

The workshop, which brought together trainers and assessors from across Uganda, was part of a broader effort to modernise the TVET sector through capacity building, curriculum development, and alignment with the country's development agenda, including Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan (NDP).

According to Oyesigye, the newly passed TVET Act 2025 mandates UVTAB to take the lead in curriculum review and development, working closely with the TVET Council and Sector Skills Councils.

“We are going to work collaboratively to design a curriculum that is demand-driven, competency-based, and aligned with industry needs,” he noted. “The new curriculum will emphasise job-readiness and practical skills, ensuring our graduates are competitive regionally and globally.”

Oyesigye highlighted that the reforms include a shift to a modularised curriculum model — a flexible, hands-on system that allows learners to progress based on demonstrated skills rather than traditional academic timelines.

As part of this transition, UVTAB is retooling trainers, assessors, and subject specialists — including industry practitioners — in competency-based assessment approaches under the new framework.

“This is a significant shift in Uganda’s vocational training landscape. We want to professionalise assessment and certification to match labour market expectations and support national development,” he added.

The training initiative, supported by Belgium’s ENABEL with funding of sh400 million, targets the training of 40 youth tab specialists and 160 assessors from both public and private TVET institutions. The goal is to strengthen the quality and consistency of assessments and ensure vocational graduates are equipped with industry-relevant competencies.

Dr Wilfred Nahamya, Deputy Executive Secretary of UVTAB, echoed the emphasis on practical, output-based learning.

“Our goal is not to eliminate theory, but to minimise it and focus on practical performance. We want graduates who can create export-quality products like chairs and stools — products that reflect true competence,” he said.

Jalia Nassaza, the acting deputy executive secretary in charge of curriculum at the UVTAB, stressed the importance of harmonising assessment standards for both formal and informal learning pathways to ensure that all certified individuals are job-ready.

“In the real world, employers care about what someone can do, not just where they trained. That’s why our certification must reflect actual skills,” she emphasised.

As UVTAB continues rolling out the new reforms and training programs, Oyesigye remains optimistic about Uganda’s prospects:

“The new TVET Act brings significant changes. If we implement it well, Uganda will soon become a centre of excellence for skills development in Africa.”