Experts warn skills shortage could derail Uganda's clean energy transition

________________

Experts are calling on the government to urgently strengthen vocational training institutions as Uganda faces a growing skills gap that threatens to slow its transition to clean energy.

Justine Akumu, a senior energy officer at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, said the gap between policy ambition and reality is already evident.

She said that industries are struggling to find workers with the hands-on expertise needed to drive the sector forward.

“We need fabricators, technicians, and engineers, but many of these skills are missing in the current workforce,” she said.

Dr Sylvia Aarakit (centre) the project principal investigator at Makerere University Business School, interacts with Joy Florence Kyozaire (left) the chief executive officer Sendea and Solar Giant Compnay and Justine Akumu the senior clean cooking officer at the Energy Ministry after the opening of the green energy for women and youth workshop at Nakawa Vocational Training College in Kampala on March 30, 2026. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

Akumu made repeated calls to the government at the start of a two-day workshop on March 30, 2026, at Nakawa Vocational Institute in Kampala while addressing trainers of trainers. Her concerns come at a time when Uganda is experiencing rising demand for clean and sustainable energy solutions.

However, more than 90% of households and small businesses still rely on firewood and charcoal, a dependence that continues to accelerate deforestation and environmental degradation.

She said the health consequences are equally severe. According to the World Health Organisation, in its 2018 report on household air pollution, an estimated 13,000 Ugandans die each year due to indoor air pollution. This is mainly caused by the use of biomass fuels such as firewood, charcoal, kerosene, and agricultural residues in poorly ventilated homes.

The urgency of addressing these challenges was highlighted by the Kiteezi landfill landslide, which killed more than 20 people and exposed broader weaknesses in waste management and environmental planning.

Dr Sylvia Aarakit (right), the project principal investigator at Makerere University Business School, interacts with Justine Akumu, the senior clean cooking officer at the Energy Ministry, after the opening of the green energy for women and youth workshop at Nakawa Vocational Training College in Kampala on March 30, 2026. (Photo by Francis Emorut)

Way forward

In response, a new initiative led by Dr Sylvia Manjeri Aarakit, the principal investigator from the Department of Entrepreneurship at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), is focusing on equipping Ugandans with practical skills through technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

The project, Green Energy for Women and Youth Resilience in Uganda, aims to prepare young people and women for jobs in the clean energy sector.

Dr Aarakit said the intervention was informed by three major challenges: widespread energy poverty, a critical shortage of technical skills, and the exclusion of women and youth from the green economy.

“We realised that without skills, many Ugandans cannot participate in or benefit from the clean energy transition,” she said.

Uganda’s demographic trends make the situation more urgent. More than 75% of the population is under the age of 30, yet youth unemployment remains high. Women, who make up over half of the population and are the primary users of household energy, account for only about 15% of the clean energy workforce.

Dr Aarakit said that despite their importance, vocational institutions remain under-equipped. Many lack modern training equipment, updated curricula, and instructors with expertise in emerging clean energy technologies, resulting in graduates who are not fully prepared for industry demands.

To address this, the project is working with the Uganda Vocational Training and Assessment Board to develop a competency-based curriculum covering solar installation, e-mobility, improved cookstoves, and briquette production. It also seeks to strengthen at least six vocational institutions and train 600 women and youth.

Early results from a pilot phase indicate progress. More than 240 participants have already been trained, with some establishing small enterprises in waste-to-energy solutions such as briquette production.

Akumu said strengthening vocational training is critical not only for the energy sector but also for the broader economy.

“If learners are equipped with the right skills from the start, they can transition directly into employment and contribute to national development,” she said.

She argued that investing in vocational institutions could be key to building a skilled workforce and ensuring that the country’s energy transition is both inclusive and sustainable.