Apprenticeships in the agriculture sector combine on-the-job training at farms and agribusiness enterprises with off-the-job training at specialized skills training and TVET centres, culminating in formal assessment and certification.
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The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has called on stakeholders in the agriculture sector to create more placement opportunities for apprentices and unemployed graduates under the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP).
Alex Asiimwe, the Commissioner for Labour, Industrial Relations and Productivity at MGLSD, emphasized that the programme plays a critical role in enabling a faster transition from training to employment. He noted that it helps align skills supply with the evolving needs of the labour market while boosting productivity and sustainability in agricultural enterprises.
These remarks were delivered on Wednesday during a strategic engagement with agriculture sector players at the ministry’s headquarters. Asiimwe was represented by Zachary Kansiime, Senior Officer for Skills Development, Technology Uptake and Innovation.
He highlighted the importance of the agriculture sector, noting that it employs the majority of Uganda’s youth. He therefore urged stakeholders to actively provide training and placement opportunities for unemployed young people. The meeting marked the inaugural session of the Agriculture Sector Apprenticeship Committee and brought together key agricultural associations across the country.
The National Apprenticeship Programme is part of the government’s broader commitment to strengthening structured and high-quality apprenticeships. It follows Cabinet’s approval of the Uganda National Apprenticeship Framework (UNAF) in 2018.
Apprenticeships in the agriculture sector combine on-the-job training at farms and agribusiness enterprises with off-the-job training at specialized skills training and TVET centres, culminating in formal assessment and certification.
In January 2026, MGLSD invited applications from unemployed youth for apprenticeship opportunities. More than 6,000 candidates responded, seeking placements across various fields.
Asiimwe encouraged sector players to use the National Apprenticeship and Graduate Volunteerism Management Information System (NAGV-MIS) to create placement offers for these applicants.
“When employers provide work and training opportunities for young people, the government pays them a monthly stipend for up to one year,” he explained. “We also encourage employers to retain and formally employ trainees upon successful completion of their training.”
Ibrahim Wako Kisu, Work-Based Learning Officer at MGLSD, presented statistics highlighting challenges facing Uganda’s youth. He noted that 48% of youth aged 18–30 are underutilized, 37.8% are outside the labour force, and 50.9% are neither in employment, education, nor training (NEET).
“That is why we are reaching out to equip young people with practical skills and help them enter the labour market,” Kisu said.
He added that apprenticeships and graduate volunteer placements provide hands-on experience, addressing the common barrier of “no experience, no job” by equipping participants with both skills and workplace exposure.
“The National Apprenticeship Programme facilitates a smoother transition into the labour market,” he concluded.
The meeting brought together representatives from several key organisations, including the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation, Makerere University, Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association, Uganda National Farmers Federation, Fisheries Training Institute, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, and the Veterinary Association.
Participants elected William Tibyasa Mwesigye as chairperson of the Agriculture Sector Apprenticeship Committee. He has been tasked with mobilizing stakeholders to expand training and placement opportunities for apprentices and graduate volunteers.
In his remarks, Tibyasa urged agriculture sector players to encourage their members to create more opportunities and actively support the National Apprenticeship Programme. He also called for stronger collaboration to address existing skills gaps in the sector.