Lira, Uganda | In a landmark achievement for Uganda’s informal sector, 48 painters graduated on Saturday under the Lira Painters Association, receiving nationally recognized certification through the Worker’s Practically Acquired Skills (PAS) program.
The graduation, held in Lira City, marks a significant step in professionalizing the painting and decorating industry in Uganda.
Joel Opoka Ongeocan, a Senior Assessor with the Uganda Vocational Assessment Technical Board (UVATB), emphasized the importance of the Worker’s PAS, a certification awarded to individuals who gain skills informally through hands-on work.
“…This certification enables people who haven’t gone through formal schooling to be assessed based on competence. Within four months, someone can be trained and certified…,” he explained.
He added that by law, all painters are required to be licensed, and the PAS allows recipients to work both locally and internationally under limited supervision.
The Worker’s PAS was previously under the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT), which has now merged with UBTEB to form UVATB.
Ongeocan explained that this unified board ensures both formal and informal skills are recognized and certified.
Sseyonga Samuel, Patron of the Uganda Painters Association, noted that this is the first graduation of its kind dedicated to Painting and Decoration.
“…97% of painters in Uganda learned on the job and lacked formal recognition. This program gives them a professional identity, boosting their chances in the international job market…,” he said.
He added that part of the training involves educating painters on identifying quality paints to combat the rise of counterfeit products.
Ogwal Lilian Noel, Chairperson of Lira City Painters and President of the Uganda Painters Association, hailed the event as a unifying moment for painters across Uganda.
She thanked Chromatic Paints Uganda for supporting the initiative.
“…This document gives us credibility and boosts our opportunities to win larger contracts…,” she said.
Richard Amaki, Secretary of the association, acknowledged the challenge of mobilizing painters due to limited awareness and resources but expressed optimism about reaching their target of certifying 1,000 painters annually.
Nicholas Masiko, Managing Director of Chromatic Paints Uganda, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting informal sector workers, saying, “…This is about transforming painters into recognized professionals…”
The graduation in Lira is expected to set a precedent for similar programs nationwide, with the goal of formalizing Uganda’s vast artisan workforce.
