The Uganda Painters Association, in collaboration with Chromatic Paints, has embarked on a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing the skills and certification of painters.
This program is set to build capacity across the country, helping painters attain the “worker’s pass,” a credential that validates their skills and enables them to seek employment both within Uganda and across East Africa.
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The initiative, supervised by the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), seeks to bridge the gap between classroom training and the practical needs of the industry, ensuring high-quality workmanship and fostering teamwork.
Joel Opoka Ongeocan, a Senior Assessor with DIT, emphasized the importance of both formal and non-formal assessments in aligning with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy. “The TVET Policy states that everyone who acquires skills must be certified. The worker’s pass targets those already working in the field, who may have the skills but lack formal guidance, especially in areas like safety and work ethics,” he explained.
Samuel Ssenyonga, a Training Executive at Chromatic Paints, highlighted the significant gap in the professionalization of painters in Uganda. “About 98% of painters in Uganda learned the trade on the job, without formal schooling. We recognized the need to professionalize this workforce, and in partnership with the Uganda Painters Association, we are providing the necessary materials and support to ensure they receive their accreditation in painting and decoration,” Ssenyonga said.
Lillian Ogwal Noel, Vice President of the Uganda Painters Association also the Chairperson Lira Painters Association expressed the value of the certification, stating, “This certificate will allow us to expand our work opportunities and provide a formal qualification that acknowledges our skills and experience.”
Richard Amaku, the General Secretary of the association, outlined the organization’s ambitious goals for the year. “Our major aim is to develop painters and ensure we move together as a unified group in each district. We have almost reached our target in Lira and are now moving to Mbale, with a goal of assessing at least 1,000 painters within the year,” he noted.
This initiative not only uplifts the standard of painting services but also in empowering painters with the credentials needed to advance their careers.
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