Uganda Technical College Lira Launches Plant Operator Course
LIRA CITY, April 17, 2025 – Uganda Technical College Lira [UTC-Lira], in partnership with the Kenya Institute of Highway and Building Technology [KIHBT], has introduced a new Plant Operator Course aimed at equipping students with hands-on skills in operating heavy construction machinery.
On Thursday, the government-owned technical institution passed out its first cohort of 25 trainees, who successfully completed a one-month intensive training in handling heavy construction equipment.
The course follows the government’s decision two years ago to upgrade UTC-Lira into a Centre of Excellence in four specialised areas: road and bridge construction, materials testing, and surveying.
Under the Uganda Skills Development Project [USDP], funded by the World Bank, the college received a wide range of heavy road construction machinery, including excavators, graders, wheel loaders, and digital surveying equipment, among others. The Shs 14 billion project also funded the construction of modern hostels for both male and female students.
Presiding over the passing-out ceremony at the college’s campus in Lira City, the Principal, Jacob Akunobere, praised the trainees for embracing the opportunity to gain practical skills.
“The college [UTC-Lira] has now enriched the academic capacity of its graduates, which is a major achievement not only for the college but for the whole country,” he said, noting that UTC-Lira is the first technical college in Uganda to implement the Plant Operator Course.
He further revealed that the college intends to make driving courses mandatory for all graduating students, as an added qualification alongside their core technical programmes.
“Driving skills are now essential, and it’s beneficial for every student to acquire them before graduation,” Akunobere emphasised.
According to Esther Ajao, the college’s Deputy Principal and Coordinator of the partnership with KIHBT, the collaboration has also enabled training of instructors in the new course.
She urged the instructors to maintain a high standard of competence in delivering quality training to students, ensuring the course’s long-term success.
One of the trainees, Kennedy Olet, who was trained in operating a grader, wheel loader, excavator, and roller, expressed his gratitude for the programme.
“The practical skills I’ve acquired will greatly improve my livelihood. Most road construction equipment requires proper hands-on training, and I now feel confident in using them,” he said.
The Plant Operator Course is part of UTC-Lira’s broader efforts to align technical education with labour market demands, thereby contributing to Uganda’s vision of skilling youth for employment and national development.
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