In a fast-changing world with rising demand for hands-on skills, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has become central to preparing Ugandan youth for the job market. Employers increasingly seek graduates who can translate classroom knowledge into real-world solutions, making hands-on training a key pathway to employment.
At Kiryandongo Technical Institute, students are stepping up to this challenge through practical exercises that go beyond theory. Students are trained on equipment that expose them to real industry scenarios, ensuring they graduate with competence.
Among the tools used for this training is a 3-source single-phase semi-automatic transfer switch, an electrical switching system designed to transfer electricity between three different power sources for example, utility power, generator, and solar.
Muhumuza Junior, an instructor at Kiryandongo Technical Institute explains how the system works.
“A 3-source single phase semi-automatic transfer switch inter switches power from three different sources to maintain power 24/ in case of any failure in anyone of the sources,” he explains.
The system works in a way that if the main power source goes off, the user does not face a blackout.
“The client must remain connected 24/7. What happens is that when the main power source goes off, the system automatically switches itself to solar. If a client switches on a generator, the generator automatically cuts off solar, and connects itself to power,” Muhumuza said.
What happens if the generator runs out of fuel?
“What happens is that when fuel is consumed, the generator will go off, and if the main power source is not yet restored, we don’t our client to suffer. The client will be backed up by solar. When the main power restored, it automatically switches off the generator and the solar. The client is then reconnected to the main power source without suffering a blackout,” Muhumuza explains.
By wiring, testing, and troubleshooting the system, students are mastering practical skills that employers demand.
In many parts of Uganda, reliable power supply is still a challenge, and backup systems are critical.
