UVTAB REGISTERS 55,788 CANDIDATES FOR JULY/AUGUST ASSESSMENTS

Trainees undergoing an assessment. UVTAB emphasizes that safety during training and evaluation is essential.

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The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has registered 55,788 candidates for the July/August 2026 formal assessments, further pointing to growing interest in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) among Ugandans.

The candidates are registered at 417 assessment centres across the country and will sit competence-based assessments for National Certificate Level 3 and Community Polytechnic Certificate Level 2 programmes. Of the 55,788 candidates, 38,957 are male and 16,831 are female. The assessment period began with candidate briefings on August 7 and will run until August 21.

Onesmus Oyesigye, the UVTAB Executive Secretary, said the growing number of candidates reflects a change in attitudes towards skills-based training, as more young people and parents view TVET as a route to employment.

“The number of candidates sitting for TVET assessments at different levels continues to grow, reflecting a clear rise in the number of young Ugandans deliberately choosing technical and vocational education,” Oyesigye said.

“We are seeing more students and parents selecting TVET as a first option because graduates are finding work faster. Our theme for this series, ‘Assessment for Employable Skills’, captures exactly what the country needs. We wish every candidate and every Head of Centre a successful assessment period.”

The latest figures represent a significant increase in participation compared with previous years. The May/June 2025 assessment series registered 30,619 candidates for end-of-programme assessments.

When certificate and diploma candidates across the full assessment calendar are considered, UVTAB now handles hundreds of thousands of assessments each year. The growth marks a significant shift from a period when TVET attracted limited public interest and was often viewed as an alternative for students who did not perform well in academic education.

Dr Wilfred Nahamya, the UVTAB Deputy Executive Secretary, said the increase in registration has also created operational challenges, particularly because of late registration by some candidates.

“We have had significant challenges with late registration. Many candidates are still registering at the eleventh hour, and that directly affects proper preparation, including timetabling, deployment of assessors, printing and distribution of materials, and centre readiness,” Nahamya said.

Despite the logistical pressures, Nahamya said the growing participation shows that negative perceptions surrounding vocational training are gradually declining.

“Despite these pressures, the fact that more people are undertaking TVET than before is encouraging. It shows the stigma is fading and that skills training is gaining genuine acceptance,” he said.

Officials attribute the growth partly to increasing awareness of employment opportunities available to TVET graduates. Tracer studies have also shown relatively strong employment outcomes among graduates, strengthening the argument for skills-based education.

Recent findings indicate that about 63 per cent of TVET graduates secure employment within one year of completing their programmes, with about 20 per cent finding work within the first month. Employers have also reported strong ratings for TVET graduates, particularly in practical competence.

UVTAB has put in place several measures to manage the current assessment series. The Board briefed Area Coordinators and Centre Supervisors on July 31 ahead of the assessments.

More than 650 scouts have been deployed to monitor compliance with assessment regulations, while over 3,500 Practical Assessors will conduct practical evaluations at assessment centres.

The delivery of assessment materials to designated storage facilities began on August 8 with support from the Uganda Police Force. UVTAB has also directed Heads of Centres to establish Assessment Task Forces to oversee preparations and ensure compliance with assessment guidelines.

The Board has warned candidates and centres against malpractice, saying offenders will face severe penalties.

Oyesigye said the strict approach is necessary because TVET graduates often work in fields where their technical skills directly affect the safety and wellbeing of other people.He urged candidates to avoid malpractice and instead demonstrate their own practical abilities during the assessments. “TVET practitioners are working on things that touch people’s lives, so we cannot tolerate malpractice,” Oyesigye said.

He said ongoing curriculum reforms are also expected to reduce opportunities for malpractice by placing greater emphasis on practical skills rather than theoretical knowledge.

As UVTAB moves towards more competence-based assessment, Oyesigye said the focus will increasingly be on what a candidate is able to do rather than what a candidate is able to recall from books.

The current assessment series also includes 153 candidates with special needs. They include learners with hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, amputations, chronic illnesses such as asthma, sickle cell disease and diabetes, epilepsy and intellectual impairments.

More than 150 support personnel, including sign-language interpreters, transcribers and guides, have been assigned to support the candidates. Those eligible will also receive additional time in accordance with assessment regulations.

The growing registration, coupled with the expansion of competence-based training and assessment, signals a broader shift in Uganda’s skills development system, with TVET increasingly positioned as a direct pathway to employment and practical competence.

Written by newsroom-radiopacis