New law requires mechanics, hairdressers to obtain practising licences

For decades, Uganda’s artisans, craftsmen and technicians, save for those in the electricity and health sectors, have not been under regulation.

However, with effect from this year, all these categories, which cover hairdressers, tailors, bakers, welders, plumbers, mechanics, carpenters, cooks, attendants at restaurants and bars, and the like, will be regulated.

According to the new Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act of 2025, all artisans, craftsmen, technicians and technologists must be registered and have practising permits.

This implies that for a person to serve as a cook in a school or restaurant, a mechanic, welder and tailor at a workshop, they must have a practising licence.

The new law, which was recently assented to by President Yoweri Museveni and gazetted on February 28, requires that all artisans, craftsmen, technicians and technologists, be registered by the TVET Council.

The body, which will play an oversight role on the TVET sector, will be in charge of issuing practising permits to the above categories in the formal and informal sectors.

“The TVET Council shall register and issue practising permits to any person qualified to practise as an artisan, craftsman, technician or technologist,” the TVET Act reads.

“A person shall not practise as an artisan, craftsman, technician or technologist, or seek for gainful employment in the world of work as an artisan, craftsman, technician or technologist unless the person is registered and is in possession of a practising permit issued by the council in accordance with the regulations made by the minister (education minister).” To obtain the practising permit, people will be required to pay a fee, which will be prescribed by the council.

Penalties, how to obtain a permit

Under the new law, a person who operates as a tailor, plumber, mechanic, welder and the like, without a practising permit, commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding 300 currency points or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both. One currency point is equivalent to sh20,000.

However, the requirement to register or obtain a practicing permit from the council excludes artisans and technicians who register under the Electricity Act (for electricians), Allied Health Professionals Act and Nurses and Midwives Act or any other Act of Parliament in force that provides for the regulation of the practise of an artisan, craftsman, technician or technologist in a specific occupation or trade.

The education ministry is expected to develop regulations which will indicate the procedure and requirements for registration and issuance of a practising permit to an artisan, craftsman and technician. However, sources indicate that this will be fast-tracked.

Ministry speaks out

Dr Dennis Mugimba, the education ministry spokesperson, confirmed that the new law was assented to by the President, adding that, the establishment of a TVET law is a significant milestone in the transformation of the TVET subsector.

Brighton Barugahare, the assistant commissioner in charge of policy analysis at the education ministry, said they are working on the commencement instrument to kick start the implementation of the new law.

One of the things to be implemented immediately, he said, is the establishment of the TVET Council, which will regulate the sector.

Once constituted, Barugahare said, the council, accompanied by the regulations, will determine the duration of the permits to be issued.

“No one should build your house, tailor your suit or repair your car without a permit. The council will be following up on these standards,” he said.

Barugahare defended the new law, explaining that it will formalise the TVET sector.

“Under the old system, you would give a contract to a carpenter to produce certain furniture. In most cases, these would do shoddy work or not deliver at all. Now, with the new law, the TVET Council would be in charge of this and can even withdraw a permit from such a person,” he said.

Other provisions

The new law provides for the establishment of the Skills Development Fund, where all employers will be required to make regular contributions.

The Government will impose a skills development levy on an employer who has at least five employees, payable on a monthly basis to the Skills Development Fund.

The skills development levy shall be a sum of money equal to 1% of the gross monthly emoluments payable to the employees each month.

The new law will also facilitate rationalisation of Government agencies under the education sector.

The new law has since facilitated the merger of four education examinations and assessment bodies into two vocational and technical assessment boards.

The two new assessment boards are the Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB) and the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB).

The UHPAB shall be the body responsible for the assessment and certification of health professionals under TVET, while UVTAB shall be in charge of competences obtained through formal and informal TVET.

The UHPAB has been formed by merging Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board and Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board.

On the other hand, UVTAB has been formed by merging the Directorate of Industrial Training and the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board.

What is likely to happen

The TVET Council will either operate regional offices or conduct regular registration circuits in the respective regions.

However, it is anticipated that the first step to obtain a practising permit will be attaining a formal certificate recognising the skill.

This certification will be done by UVTAB.

Under the new law, UVTAB shall be in charge of competences obtained through formal and informal TVET.

On the certification, UVTAB will indicate the level of competence, ranging from Level I, II and III or more.

From this level, it is expected that the individual, whether from the formal or informal sector, will then apply to the TVET Council for registration.

The council, which will also have technical experts per field, would then subject the applicant to a trade test to determine whether they are fit to work.

Those who will be declared fit to work will then be issued practising permits, those who will be found lacking will be recommended to undergo fresh training.

Annually, technicians, craftsmen and artisans will be required to renew their practising permits, which will also indicate the level of competence.

Artisans react

Bbira Bossa, the chairperson of Juakalis in Uganda, said the new regulations are not needed now.

Although he acknowledges there have been issues raised against some rogue technicians over shoddy work, he noted that they have set up mechanisms to address some of these challenges.

“This over-regulation is not needed. We are already paying for permits to operate these workshops from the local governments. Introducing individual permits will hurt the little earnings our people make,” he said.

Bossa, who doubles as the leader for Katwe Small Scale Industries Development Association (KASSIDA), said the Government should work closely with existing associations to identify and sanction errant artisans.

John Walugembe, the executive director of Federation of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Uganda, described the new law as duplication.

“Permits come with financial requirements. This means people will have to pay. Such duplication will facilitate corruption,” he said.