Speaker Oboth Leads Uganda's Calls for Education Overhaul to Close Skills Gap

What the report says

Ugandan lawmakers attending the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, used the forum to press for major education reforms aimed at narrowing the gap between school training and labour market needs. The delegation was led by Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth Oboth, and the discussion centered on how Uganda’s education system can better prepare young people with practical, employable skills.

According to Nile Post, MPs argued that many graduates leave school with academic credentials but without the technical, digital, engineering or vocational abilities employers are seeking. Emely Kugonza, the Buyaga East MP, said parts of the system still reflect a colonial-era model and urged stronger links between education, industry and jobs. Fortunate Rose Nantongo of Kyotera called for skills training to start earlier, including at primary level, while also asking for better funding and equipment for skilling centres.

Other MPs, including Otim Benard and Naome Kabasharira, backed wider hands-on learning across schools and defended the push for science and innovation, saying Uganda needs a workforce that can compete in a changing economy. Silas Aogon stressed that policy changes will only matter if Parliament and Government ensure proper funding and oversight, including effective implementation of TVET laws.

The debate reflects broader concerns in Uganda, where a young population is seen as a major asset but also a risk if education does not translate into jobs. The lawmakers linked the reforms to expected growth in sectors such as oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, construction and technology.