Lugogo Vocational Training Institute hosted Kampala’s Skills Fair and Metropolitan Vocational Skills Competition, drawing education leaders, trainees, parents, educators, employers, and development partners to press for elevating vocational training as a practical solution to youth unemployment, poverty, and related skill gaps in Uganda. The event, held recently under the theme “Choose vocational education, get skilled, and be unstoppable,” showcased the potential of hands-on learning to transform lives.
Representing the Commissioner for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Innocent Kemigisha underscored that embracing skills acquisition can pave a path to self-reliance for Ugandans. He praised the event’s theme as capturing the transformative power of vocational training, calling it both sensitive and inspiring. He joined Lugogo VTI not just as a visitor but as part of the institution, serving as the desk officer for TVET institutions in the central region.
Kemigisha explained that Uganda’s TVET sector has entered a new era since the TVET Act 2025 began operations. The Act introduces structural reforms that separate policy development, training delivery, and regulation: policy remains with the Ministry, training is managed at the institutional level, and regulation falls under the newly established TVET Council. He expressed confidence that these reforms will strengthen governance and boost efficiency, predicting significant improvements in training quality once all components are fully operational.
For Lugogo VTI, the event carried special meaning as the school marks 70 years since its founding. Principal Wilson Tumuhamye highlighted the institution’s history, noting it started in 1954 as a national trade testing centre and has since produced generations of skilled workers who contributed to national development. He described Lugogo VTI as both a “parent and great grandparent” of vocational training in Uganda.
Tumuhamye announced that the institute is close to forming a new Board of Governors in line with the TVET Act, with several partners, including local leaders and Roofing Partners, having already submitted candidates. He expressed optimism that the board’s approval would come soon.
He credited Enabel, via the WeWork Green and Decent Jobs Project funded by the European Union and Belgium, for backing the day’s activities. Competitions spanned woodwork technology, electrical installation systems and management, and building construction, with trainees demonstrating their skills live. Tumuhamye invited guests to tour the workshops to witness the competitors’ progress.
The Principal noted Lugogo VTI’s notable growth since partnering with Enabel in June 2024. Staff have received training in artificial intelligence, information and communications technology, gender-responsive teaching, tracer studies, competence-based training, and procurement. A major milestone is the development of a new institutional strategic plan created in collaboration with Enabel. Recent assessments show Lugogo VTI advancing toward recognition as a Centre of Vocational Excellence.
Tumuhamye reiterated that the fair targets youth, parents, women, and the broader community to shift attitudes toward vocational careers. He called out persistent misconceptions and gender biases that limit participation in TVET, despite strong demand for skilled labor in the country.
By featuring practical demonstrations, live showcases, and career guidance, the event aimed to challenge stereotypes and raise awareness of employment pathways offered by vocational training.
In his closing remarks, the Principal thanked the Government of Uganda, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the European Union, the Government of Belgium, the WeWork Project, Enabel, partner institutions, and the broader vocational training community for their support. He urged competitors to view the event as a springboard for professional growth, while also emphasizing personal safety and a bright future. He also commended instructors and support staff for their dedication.
The event attracted learners, out-of-school youth, parents, instructors, and private-sector representatives, signaling growing interest in vocational skills as engines of entrepreneurship, employment, and sustainable development.
Organizers described the fair as part of broader efforts led by Enabel, the Belgian development agency, to expand access to skills development opportunities and enhance public understanding of TVET in Uganda. They noted that skills competitions and fairs play a crucial role in building confidence in vocational training and illustrating its contribution to Uganda’s green and inclusive economic transformation.
