Nakawa Vocational Training Institute | NVTI Academics

NVTI offers a wide range of vocational programs designed to meet the needs of both pre-employment youths and industrial workers. The institute has eight primary departments: Electricity, Electronics, Machining and Fitting, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Carpentry and Joinery, Plumbing and Sheet Metal, Welding and Fabrication, and Building & Concrete Practice.

A ninth department, Pedagogy, focuses on BTVET instructors’ training and management skills. Training programs include Basic Training (Full-Time and Part-Time), Advanced Training, Upgrading Programs, Tailor-Made Programs, Certificate Courses, Diploma Courses, and special programs like the Uganda Refugees Employment Promotion Project. These programs equip students with technical, professional, and problem-solving skills aligned with the Uganda Vocational Qualifications Framework (UVQF).

Nakawa Vocational Training Institute | NVTI Facilities

The institute is well-equipped with specialized workshops, laboratories, and classrooms to support hands-on learning across all departments. Instructors benefit from continuous skills transfer from Japanese and German experts who support technical and pedagogy training. NVTI is headed by a Principal, assisted by two Deputy Principals (Administration and Training), and each department is managed by a Head of Department, senior instructors, and assistant instructors. The institute’s facilities, infrastructure, and expert staff ensure quality training that aligns with national and international vocational standards.

Nakawa Vocational Training Institute | NVTI History

Since its inception, NVTI has grown into a center of excellence for vocational training in Uganda. The institute began with four trades: Electricity, Metal Machining, Motor Vehicle, and Welding & Fabrication. Subsequent support from JICA and other partners enabled the expansion of trades, infrastructure, and training capacity, adding departments in Electronics, Woodworking, Sheet Metal, and Pedagogy.

Over the years, NVTI has undertaken various projects to transfer modern technology to instructors and workers, including programs in factory automation, digital electronics, and automotive fuel injection. The institute also pioneered in-service training for BTVET instructors, developing Master Trainers and implementing Certificate and Diploma programs in Vocational Training Instruction.