By Kabuye Ronald
Following the passing of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Bill, 2024, by Uganda’s Parliament on Tuesday, the Uganda Technical and Vocational Trainers’ Union (UTVTU) has raised concerns over several provisions in the legislation, urging President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni not to assent to it in its current form. The union has called for amendments to key sections of the bill, particularly those that it says will undermine the representation and welfare of workers within Uganda’s vocational training sector.
Among the most contentious aspects of the bill is the merger of key regulatory bodies in the TVET sector. The bill proposes to dissolve existing entities, such as the Uganda Business, Technical and Examinations Board (UBTED), the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board, and the Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Examinations Board. Their functions will be absorbed by a newly established TVET Council, which will act as the central authority for accrediting and regulating vocational institutions across Uganda. However, the UTVTU has raised concerns that the new structure fails to include worker representation, leaving out a key stakeholder group in the decision-making process.
Addressing the media at a press conference in Kampala, Agaba Norbert, the General Secretary of the UTVTU, emphasized that the union does not oppose the bill in its entirety. Instead, they seek to amend several sections to ensure the bill serves the best interests of trainers and Ugandans seeking vocational skills. Agaba specifically pointed to the lack of worker representation in the new TVET structures, which he says could undermine the quality and delivery of vocational training.
In their petition to President Museveni, a copy of which has been sent to the Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament, Minister of Education, and other relevant stakeholders, UTVTU outlined several key areas of concern:
Section 5 and 8 – These sections define the functions of the TVET Council but do not include worker representation. Agaba stressed that workers, who are at the heart of delivering TVET programs, must have a seat at the table.
Section 26 – This section deals with the composition of the Sector Skills Committees under the TVET Council, which similarly omits workers from the composition.
Section 30 and 31 – These provisions concern the development of training programs and certification but are seen by the union as failing to adequately involve those with hands-on experience in the field.
Section 33 – Agaba criticized this section for proposing that training of trainers be outsourced to the private sector. He argued that this would undermine the government’s ability to effectively train qualified trainers for state institutions.
Section 50 and 51 – These sections propose the removal of the Education Service Commission in favor of the Public Service Commission for the recruitment of TVET trainers, and they also limit the representation of parents, trainers, and trainees in governing bodies. UTVTU argues that this shift would result in a loss of oversight and inclusivity.
Section 61 – The proposed 10% levy on income generated by institutions to be remitted to the TVET Council was also condemned as an unfair financial burden.
Adding weight to the union’s objections, Bigirimana Emmanuel, the Chairperson of the Legal Affairs Committee for the National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU), stated that the TVET Bill, 2024, is part of a broader trend where workers’ rights and representation are being sidelined in legislative decisions. He accused Parliament of intentionally passing laws that disadvantage workers by eliminating their representation in crucial decision-making bodies.
As a response, NOTU, which represents 40 trade unions across the country, has vowed to challenge the bill’s provisions. Bigirimana expressed confidence that President Museveni, known for his previous engagements with labor unions, would reconsider the bill’s current form and take their concerns into account before assenting to it.
“The President has always been a friend to the workers of Uganda,” Bigirimana said, stressing that NOTU would remain hopeful that Museveni would listen to their petition and ensure the bill reflects the needs of workers in the TVET sector. He warned that if their voices are not heard, the union would be forced to escalate the matter to the next level.
The UTVTU’s petition is a critical move to ensure that the voices of the people who directly influence the quality of vocational education are not overlooked as Uganda seeks to reform its TVET system. With the bill now awaiting the President’s decision, all eyes are on President Museveni to see if he will heed the union’s call for amendments before the TVET Bill becomes law.
