The Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo has rallied parents and learners to embrace Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a viable and transformative pathway for Uganda’s young people.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 S.1 placement exercise at UMA Show Grounds Lugogo, Kampala on Thursday, February 12, Muyingo said that 2025 marked a significant milestone with the enactment of the TVET Act, a law designed to strengthen technical and vocational education and training in Uganda.
“In 2025, we enacted the TVET Act, under which we are providing and streamlining technical vocational education as another pathway that learners who complete Primary Seven can pursue. In this respect, Government has established 42 Community Polytechnics across the Country, in addition to about 100 privately owned Community polytechnics, that can also absorb learners from Primary Seven,” Muyingo said.
The Minister explained that the new law formalizes vocational training as a structured and respected education pathway, especially for learners who complete Primary Seven but may not transition to O-Level.
By positioning TVET as an alternative rather than a last resort, government aims to equip more young Ugandans with practical skills that directly respond to labour market needs.
According to Muyingo, the establishment of 42 government-owned Community Polytechnics across the country demonstrates government commitment to expanding access to skills training.
The additional privately owned community polytechnics further widen opportunities, ensuring that learners in different regions can access vocational education without travelling long distances.
He emphasized that vocational training is not a fallback option but a strategic choice that prepares learners for self-employment, entrepreneurship, and direct entry into the workforce.
“I, therefore, would like to strongly encourage learners and parents of learners who may not transition to O-Level to take up this alternative of vocational education and training,” Muyingo said.
The government’s renewed focus on TVET aligns with Uganda’s broader development agenda, which prioritizes industrialization, job creation, and skills development.
By investing in community polytechnics and strengthening legal frameworks, authorities aim to produce a skilled workforce capable of driving socio-economic transformation.
Education stakeholders say that strengthening TVET addresses youth unemployment by equipping young people with hands-on skills in areas such as construction, agriculture, mechanics, tailoring, information technology, and other trades that are in high demand.
