Lira, Uganda | The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has embarked on a nationwide series of feedback workshops aimed at strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) reforms and aligning the country’s skills development programs with labour market needs to reduce youth unemployment.
The first workshop, held on the 20th October, 2025 at Uganda Technical College (UTC) Lira, attracted principals, academic registrars, and heads of vocational and technical institutions from across Northern Uganda under the theme “Embracing TVET Reforms to Address Youth Unemployment in Uganda.”
The Executive Secretary of UVTAB, represented by Oyoo Peter Alip, said the engagement marked the board’s first official assessment feedback workshop since the enactment of the TVET Act 2025.
He explained that the reforms are designed to make assessment more credible, transparent, and industry-responsive.
He added that the TVET Act provides a legal framework that now criminalizes assessment malpractice and empowers the board to take legal action against offenders.
Oyoo emphasized that UVTAB has been receiving concerns from various stakeholders about assessment inconsistencies, limited access to practical materials, and weak data management.
He said the board is responding through improved assessor training, data verification, and stronger coordination with training institutions to promote fairness and accountability.
Representing the Board Chairperson, Eng. Albert Akovuku stated that integrity and collaboration with industry remain central to restoring confidence in TVET qualifications.
He said the board is committed to moving away from an education system that focuses on rote learning to one that prioritizes innovation, competence, and real-world skills.
Akovuku noted that UVTAB’s role in both curriculum development and assessment ensures that graduates are employable, adaptable, and ready for the world of work without the need for further retraining.
He said the ongoing reforms are designed to make Uganda’s assessment process industry-led and practical-based, producing graduates who can contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic transformation.
Canon Jane Obeny, the Lira City Education Officer, who represented the Permanent Secretary urged TVET trainers to emphasize character formation alongside skill development.
She observed that a growing number of young people have lost interest in honest work and that even those who possess technical skills often lack discipline, responsibility, and professionalism.
She encouraged institutions to uphold strict codes of conduct and ensure that their graduates reflect integrity, competence, and excellence in their respective trades.
Lira Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Lawrence Egole, who officiated at the workshop, praised UVTAB for taking deliberate steps to strengthen the quality of vocational training in Uganda.
He said the government remains committed to supporting reforms that empower youth with practical skills for job creation and self-employment.
Egole emphasized that the unemployment challenge can only be addressed when institutions produce graduates who are ready to innovate, create jobs, and drive national productivity.
He also urged TVET stakeholders to maintain transparency, accountability, and patriotism in managing institutional operations, stressing that the success of the reforms depends on collective responsibility and commitment from all education players.
Delivering a presentation on “TVET Reforms in Uganda: Implications for Assessment,” Johnson Turyamwesimira explained that the government has transitioned from a government-led education model to an employer-driven training system.
He said this new approach focuses on building competencies that meet actual workplace expectations.
Turyamwesimira added that under the TVET Act 2025, the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) have been integrated into UVTAB to harmonize standards, strengthen quality assurance, and eliminate duplication of roles.
He said Uganda is moving from paper-based testing to continuous, practical, and digitalized assessments that reflect real industrial environments.
The workshop concluded with a call to strengthen assessment centers, accredit training institutions, and enhance assessor professionalism across the country.
UVTAB reaffirmed its commitment to building a credible and efficient skills assessment system that promotes innovation, discipline, and productivity among learners.
The Board stated that Uganda’s vision of a skilled and employable workforce depends on the full implementation of TVET reforms, which are central to the country’s Vision 2040 and the national development agenda.