The UVTAB Governing Board delay has caused a major hold-up in releasing Uganda’s vocational and technical examination results. UVTAB announced that the November–December 2024 results, expected in March or April 2025, are still pending.
Mr. Onesmus Oyesigye, UVTAB’s Executive Secretary, explained that the Minister of Education and Sports must first receive the results from the Governing Board. However, the Board has not yet been formed, creating a bottleneck. Speaking on April 25, 2025, in Kampala, Mr. Oyesigye assured journalists that the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary was solving the issue.
“The results aren’t out yet because we don’t have a Board. It’s a small issue that will soon be resolved,” he said.
The delay affects 114,954 candidates who sat for Certificate and Diploma programs. The UVTAB Governing Board delay has left students and institutions waiting anxiously to plan their next steps.
UVTAB, formerly the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), now operates under the TVET Act No. 3 of 2025. The Act merged UBTEB and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) into a single national assessment body. UVTAB officially began operations on March 15, 2025.
Despite the structural changes and the UVTAB Governing Board delay, UVTAB continues its core work. Its mandate covers assessing and certifying skills from both formal and informal technical education. The government merged several entities to cut public spending after the Covid-19 economic downturn.
Mr. Oyesigye confirmed that the merger had not interrupted UVTAB’s operations. Preparations for the next round of exams are already underway. Formal assessments—including National Certificates, Diplomas, and Higher Diplomas—will run from May 2 to June 6, 2025. Informal assessments, such as Modular Programs and Worker’s Passes, will take place from May 2 to May 9, 2025.
To maintain quality standards, UVTAB trained 174 Area Coordinators at four regional centers. These include Mbale Community Polytechnic (East), Nyamitanga Technical Institute (West), Uganda Technical College–Lira (North), and the UVTAB Secretariat in Kampala (Central).
Mr. Wilfred Nahamya Karukuza, UVTAB’s Executive Secretary for assessment management, stressed the importance of the coordinators’ role. Well-prepared Area Coordinators ensure smooth and credible assessments.
UVTAB has also modernized its assessment methods to meet labor market demands. Mr. Oyesigye said the Board now focuses on real-life project assessments and on-the-spot evaluations. These reforms align with the goals outlined in the TVET Act.
As UVTAB awaits the formation of the Governing Board, candidates and educators remain hopeful. Once established, the Board will officially hand over the results to the Minister, clearing the path for their release.
