education 26 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Karamoja Students Urged to Embrace Technical Skills Amidst Mineral Boom
Officials are urging students in Uganda's Karamoja region to acquire technical skills to benefit from the area's burgeoning mineral wealth, warning that a lack of training could lead to them becoming mere spectators in their own resource boom. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/skill-up-or-risk-being-spectators-in-your-own-mineral-boom-karamoja-students-told--5473616
As Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development confirms significant oil, limestone, marble, niobium, and antimony deposits in the Moroto-Kadam belt, a strong call is being made for the youth of Karamoja to prioritize vocational training over theoretical education. Senior Manager for Accreditation under the TVET Act 2025, Winston Abanaitwe, emphasized that practical skills are paramount for the upcoming industrial development.
“Tomorrow when the industries in the mineral exploration will be in need of people with skills, the people of Karamoja should be able to provide the technical expertise,” Abanaitwe stated during a recent dissemination of the new TVET Act. He added that in the current era, it is skills, not just theory, that are in demand, highlighting that problem-solving technical abilities are more valuable than academic qualifications alone.
The recent airborne geophysical survey has pinpointed substantial mineral reserves, with over 76.2% oil availability identified in the Moroto-Kadam belt, alongside vast quantities of limestone and marble, and critical minerals like niobium and antimony. This discovery positions Karamoja to play a crucial role in Uganda’s future development.
Moroto District LC5 Chairperson, Angelo Pulkol, believes Karamoja’s youth must be prepared to lead this transformation. “In the next 5 years, Karamoja is going to start dictating the development strata of Uganda, and when this starts happening, the children of Karamoja should take a pivotal role,” he urged. He sees vocational training as the definitive solution to the region’s high youth unemployment.
Initiatives are already showing promise. Over 1,000 youths have reportedly completed training in metal fabrication, plumbing, and other trades through the Vocational Education and Skilling Programme, supported by the Irish Embassy and implemented by AVSI Foundation and Cooperation and Development. These programs have enabled many graduates to secure livelihoods.
Despite this progress, Karamoja faces persistent challenges, including high poverty rates, low literacy, and limited employment opportunities for young people. According to UBOS data from 2024, over 57% of Karamoja’s youth are not engaged in employment, education, or training, and a significant portion lacks basic literacy.
The TVET Act 2025 is seen as a vital framework for national vocational education coordination and promotion, offering a pathway to address these issues and ensure that the benefits of the impending mineral boom are reaped by the local population. The message to the youth is urgent: acquire skills now to actively participate in and benefit from the region’s economic growth.