Sh25.6b UVTAB skills assessment hub set for commissioning

KAMPALA - Uganda's First Lady and education minister, Janet Kataha Museveni, will Friday (January 9) commission the newly constructed Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) National Skills Assessment Centre at Kyambogo Hill in Kampala.

The eight-storey facility will serve as UVTAB’s national headquarters and primary assessment hub, consolidating staff and services previously spread across several rented offices in Ntinda and along Jinja Road. 

Officials said Thursday that the move will streamline operations, improve service delivery and significantly reduce administrative costs.

The development marks a key milestone in the implementation of Uganda’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy of 2019, which seeks to position vocational skills as a driver of industrialisation and employment.

The facility will strengthen coordination within the country’s skills ecosystem.

The development is further anchored in the TVET Act No. 3 of 2025, which expanded UVTAB’s mandate to standardise vocational certification nationwide. 

Since the rollout of the new assessment framework on March 15, 2025, the board has assessed and certified 275,963 candidates, reflecting rising demand for formal skills recognition in sectors such as construction, manufacturing and information technology.

UVTAB executive secretary Onesmus Oyesigye said in a statement released on Wednesday evening that the purpose-built facility will allow for the full integration of assessment processes, leading to faster service delivery and lower operational costs.

“With this facility, UVTAB will reduce administrative costs for both the taxpayer and the institution while improving turnaround time for our clients,” said Oyesigye, adding that the board is expected to save at least 189.8 million shillings annually in rental expenses.

The 25.6-billion-shilling complex was fully funded by the Government of Uganda. Construction began on March 23, 2022 and was completed on February 21, 2025. 

The project was executed by Seyani Brothers & Co. (U) Ltd and supervised by Cornerstone Design and Engineering Ltd.

The facility comprises an eight-storey main block and a three-storey short tower, offering a combined floor area of 6,499.6 square metres.

It houses a modern auditorium, boardrooms, meeting spaces, innovation and incubation hubs, a crèche for breastfeeding staff, and wellness facilities, including a gym and sauna.

Designed as a high-performance building, the centre is equipped with advanced ICT and security systems to safeguard sensitive assessment data and computer-based testing infrastructure. 

Architectural features such as a central atrium enhance natural ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling and lowering operational costs.

While administrative and assessment functions have been relocated to Kyambogo Hill, UVTAB officials said the board’s printery, which handles the secure production of examination materials, will be established separately at Namanve Industrial Park.