To address the industrial skills gap in Uganda, the Government of Japan, the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with technical support from Japanese partner Komatsu Ltd., are building the first dedicated training center for road construction equipment operators in Uganda. The land for the training center in Butuntumula, sub-county in Luweero district, has been officially handed over to the MoWT on 17 November 2020.

In recent years, the Government has procured road construction and maintenance equipment such as motor graders, wheel loaders, excavators, bulldozers, and backhoes and distributed them to District Local Governments across the country. The new training center will allow matching this investment in road machinery with an equivalent investment in human resources: within the next three years, the training center will train over 500 Ugandan road equipment trainers, operators, and youth seeking employment.

Many companies in the road construction sector hire foreign labour instead of Ugandan youth, as there is no training center for young Ugandans to receive formal training on road construction equipment so far. The aim of this project is to support the “Uganda Vision 2040” and pave a bright future for Uganda so that young Ugandans can build, maintain, and improve the country’s road infrastructure.

The construction preparation works such as the topographic survey and geotechnical investigations already started and a groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction of the center is expected early next year.

The project is part of UNIDO’s Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LKDF), a platform that promotes industrial skills development among young people in emerging economies. With over 12 Public-Private Development Partnership projects across three continents, the LKDF supports the establishment and upgrading of demand-oriented industrial training academies to help meet the labour markets demand for skilled employees, ultimately contributing to inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

For further information contact:

Stefan Windberger

Project Coordinator, Agro-Industries and Industrial Skills Development Division

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