From training in the workshops of Arua Technical Institute in West Nile sub region, Northern Uganda, to becoming one of Uganda’s top young welders, Elizabeth Mirabel Mutoro’s journey has taken her to the global stage for skills.
After winning gold at the WorldSkills Uganda National Skills Competitions 2026, held at Kiryandongo Technical Institute in April, Mutoro is now preparing to represent Uganda in the welding category at the WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China this September.
The WorldSkills International Competition which will run from 22 – 27 September 2026, brings together young competitors from across the world to compete against international occupational standards.
Her journey into the trade began with ambition and curiosity. “My journey into welding began through technical and vocational training at Arua Technical Institute, where I developed my practical skills, gained experience and gradually grew my confidence as a welder,” she said.
That curiosity turned into a defined skill once she saw what welding could produce. “I discovered my passion for welding through practical training at Arua Technical Institute, where I learned how metal can be cut, shaped and joined to create strong and useful structures. I became interested in mastering the skill and challenging myself to produce quality work,” Mutoro said.
Her choice to specialise in welding was also a practical one, rooted in the trade’s weight in Uganda’s construction, manufacturing and industrial sectors. “Welding plays a vital role in construction, manufacturing and industrial development, and I wanted to acquire a skill that would enable me to easily get employment, and build a sustainable career for myself,” she said.
That same reasoning underpinned her decision to enrol in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the first place, at a time when Uganda continues to contend with a gap between what its education system produces and what its labour market needs. “I chose TVET because I wanted to gain practical skills that could open doors to employment and entrepreneurship. I wanted to learn skills that are relevant to the world of work and can help me build a career,” Mutoro said.
Her gold-medal performance at Kiryandongo in April marked her breakthrough onto the national stage and secured her place on Team Uganda for Shanghai. Since then, her preparation has moved beyond Uganda’s borders. She is currently training in Indonesia under a programme supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), refining the precision, speed and safety standards required at international level. “My preparation for WorldSkills Shanghai has taken me beyond Uganda’s borders. Currently, I am undergoing training in Indonesia with support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). My trainers have helped me identify and improve my weaknesses while giving me guidance on international competition standards. I have also been working on time management which is critical during competitions,” she said.
Elizabeth Mirabel Mutoro undergoing training in Indonesia
Beyond the technical grounding, Mutoro said the journey to Shanghai has sharpened qualities that go beyond the welding torch — among them, a sense of what representing her country actually means. “Representing Uganda at WorldSkills Shanghai is a great honour and a proud moment for me. It gives me an opportunity to showcase my welding skills on the international stage, learn from other skilled competitors from around the world and inspire other young Ugandans to believe in the power of skills and TVET,” she said.
Her ambitions for the competition itself extend past her own scorecard. “My goal is to give my best performance; demonstrate the skills I have developed and make Uganda proud. I also want to benchmark my skills against some of the best young welders in the world, learn from the experience and return home with knowledge that I can share with other young people to inspire more young Ugandans to pursue TVET,” Mutoro said.
Elizabeth Mirabel Mutoro undergoing training in Indonesia
Looking beyond Shanghai, she envisions a career built as much on mentorship as on craftsmanship, one that feeds back into Uganda’s technical training ecosystem. “After Shanghai, I want to continue developing my career as a professional welder and become an example of what young people can achieve through skills training. I hope to mentor and inspire other young people to take up TVET, share the knowledge I gain internationally and contribute to building a stronger pool of skilled professionals in Uganda,” she said.
