Uganda has taken a major step toward improving skills development and tackling youth unemployment with the inauguration of new Sectoral Apprenticeship Committees at a ceremony held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development as part of ongoing efforts to align training systems with labour market needs and reduce the persistent mismatch between education outcomes and employer expectations.
The committees bring together key stakeholders from priority sectors including agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, and construction, with a mandate to guide the development of occupational standards and strengthen the implementation of apprenticeship programmes.
They will also report to the National Apprenticeship Steering Committee, helping ensure coordination, monitoring, and quality assurance within Uganda’s growing apprenticeship framework.
This development falls under the broader National Apprenticeship Programme, launched in 2018 as a national strategy to equip young people with practical skills through structured workplace training and graduate volunteering opportunities.
Speaking at the event, officials highlighted that many young Ugandans face prolonged job searches after graduation due to limited practical exposure, with the average transition into employment taking over two years in some cases.
The government emphasized that the new committees will help bridge this gap by strengthening industry participation in training, improving curriculum relevance, and expanding apprenticeship opportunities for youth aged 16 to 35.
Authorities expressed confidence that the reforms will significantly enhance employability, boost productivity, and contribute to Uganda’s broader goal of transforming into a skilled, export-driven economy.
