UVTAB Boss Urges Shift to Hands-On Skills to Tackle Youth Unemployment

Uganda must pivot away from an over-reliance on traditional degree programs and aggressively champion practical, hands-on skills training to tackle the escalating crisis of youth unemployment. This call to action was delivered by Dr Wilfred Nahamya, the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB).

Speaking at the third graduation ceremony of the Sisters of Providence Vocational School in Nebbi, Dr Nahamya argued that the government’s intense focus on sciences has inadvertently marginalized arts and produced more graduates than the job market can absorb. Instead of churning out hundreds of university graduates into saturated fields, the nation should align its educational output with actual job availability while encouraging the majority of young people to embrace vocational training for self-employment.

“Why should Uganda keep importing workers yet we can train our own through vocational centres?” Dr Nahamya questioned, emphasizing that robust skilling initiatives are vital to boosting youth employability and economic self-reliance. A total of 289 students graduated from the Nebbi institution with practical proficiencies in tailoring, hairdressing, bakery, carpentry, and motor vehicle mechanics.

Addressing institutional hurdles, Dr Nahamya criticized agencies that impose exorbitant fees on students seeking industrial training placements. He highlighted that under broader government reforms rolled out to support youth skilling, employers are now central to curriculum reviews, and future policies will establish funds to assist students during practical attachments.

Local leaders at the event, including Nebbi Municipality Mayor Jackline Opera and Resident District Commissioner Robert Abak, echoed the need for greater support, pointing out the absence of a government-aided vocational institute in the district despite high rates of school dropouts. Graduates like Kevin Bambu, a single mother who returned to school after dropping out years prior, shared inspiring testimonies of how acquiring vocational skills has restored their hopes for financial independence.

Read more details on this story from the Daily Monitor.