WorldSkills Competition to Expose Gaps in Uganda’s TVET System – Kagina

What the report says

Uganda plans to use the 2026 WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai as a benchmark for its technical and vocational education and training system, according to TVET Council Chairperson Allen Kagina, as reported by Nile Post. Kagina said the event will help the country compare its standards with international practice and identify weaknesses in training, assessment, occupational standards, technology use and teaching methods.

She made the remarks while flagging off Team Uganda ahead of the competition, which is scheduled for September 22 to 27 in Shanghai, China. Kagina said the contest should be seen as more than a medal chase, describing it as a way to measure Uganda’s skills development system against external standards and expose trainers and competitors to modern equipment and emerging technologies.

Nile Post reported that Kagina also urged stronger employer involvement in vocational training, arguing that effective skills systems are closely tied to industry needs. She said Uganda must also address the social stigma around TVET and treat vocational education as a viable first choice rather than a fallback for students who struggle academically.

Team Uganda includes three competitors: Elizabeth Mirabel Mutoro, a welder from Arua Technical Institute; Paul Terran Lugobe, a chef from Hotel and Tourism Training College Jinja; and Flavia Nakaayi, a nursing competitor from Kabale Institute of Comprehensive Nursing. TVET Council officials said the participation is intended to strengthen employability, innovation and national productivity.