Students at the Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) are facing growing uncertainty following the institution’s merger with Nakawa Vocational Training College, with lectures yet to fully resume, examination results delayed, and key academic services stalled weeks after the official reopening of institutions.
Under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act, 2025, MTAC was repealed and its functions transferred to Nakawa Vocational Training College.
The transition was intended to streamline vocational training, with assets, liabilities, students and some staff absorbed into the new structure. However, students say the reality on the ground has been marked by confusion and disruption.
Learners report that since resumption on 10 February, lecture rooms and offices have largely remained closed, leaving them without classes for two weeks.
Steven Mayende, a former Guild Vice President who is completing his diploma in Customs Clearing, Forwarding and Shipping Management, said students who have already paid tuition should not suffer because of administrative restructuring.
“The Ministry knew there were students already in the system who had to complete their courses. Services must continue as we transition,” he said, adding that communication gaps between administrators and student leaders have deepened frustration.
In his course, Ministry guidelines require mandatory study tours to border points and ports to give learners hands-on exposure.
This semester, students were expected to visit Malaba border, but there is uncertainty about whether the trip will take place amid the administrative transition.
The delay in releasing examination results has added to the anxiety. While the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) recently released results for candidates who sat examinations in November and December, MTAC students say theirs have not yet been issued.
Rogers Lubega, one of the finalists, says they are still waiting for results from the previous semester, with no clear communication on when they will be released.
Some students allege that the institution has been unable to clear outstanding payments following the merger, although officials have not publicly confirmed this.
Amid the uncertainty, former students have stepped forward to amplify the concerns of current students. Richard Lugoloobi, a former Guild President, says while the merger itself may have been well-intentioned, its implementation should not disrupt academic programmes.
He says former guild leaders have prepared a formal petition to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports, seeking urgent intervention to restore normal academic operations and provide clear guidance on reporting structures, finances and examination timelines.
Julius Muwaso also stressed that the immediate concern is not the legality of the merger but the welfare of learners.
“Students are stakeholders. They are not having classes, lecturers are demoralised, and results are delayed. That is the urgent issue,” he said, warning that further delays could derail students’ performance.
Robert Bagumisiriza, the Principal of Nakawa Vocational Training College, declined to comment on the students’ concerns when contacted.
The challenges facing students come at a time when Parliament is already scrutinising the merger process. On 17 February 2026, the Committee on Education and Sports of the Parliament of Uganda directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to address grievances of more than 60 former MTAC staff who were reportedly left in limbo after the transition.
Legislators called for a clear position on staff absorption and accountability during the merger.
Loy Muhwezi, Commissioner for Technical and Vocational Education and Training at the ministry, explained that following approval of the merger, MTAC ceased to exist and that within the ministry’s structure only Nakawa Vocational Training College is recognised. She added that the process of finalising the takeover was progressing.
Her disclosure that some staff may have been recruited irregularly shortly before the merger drew sharp criticism from Members of Parliament.
However, Muhwezi asked for additional time to present a comprehensive report on the transition from MTAC to Nakawa Vocational Training College.
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