Technical institutes in Tororo district are grappling with high dropout rates as students increasingly abandon vocational training for careers in the armed forces.
Officials at Tororo Technical Institute say dozens of learners have left their courses this year alone to join recruitment drives by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Uganda Police Force.
Denis Mwesigwa Sserwanja, the institute’s chief trainer, said more than 50 students had quit since the start of 2024. He attributed the trend to the perceived prestige, job security and financial stability associated with the military.
“Some students see joining the army as an easier path, while others who face financial challenges temporarily leave and later return to finish their courses,” Mr Sserwanja explained.
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The UPDF is currently recruiting both regular and professional personnel. Entry requirements for regular forces include a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and an age bracket of 18 to 22, while professionals are drawn from specialised areas such as technical trades.
Instructors say some learners quietly request permission to leave for “personal reasons” but never come back, while others openly disclose that they are dropping out to join the forces.
According to Mr Sserwanja, several students withdraw just before term assessments, losing the chance to secure certificates for completed modules.
Another instructor, Fred Wafula, linked the dropout trend to reforms in vocational training under the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), which introduced a modular system. This approach certifies students for each completed unit of study.
“Many now finish one or two modules and leave as soon as recruitment is announced,” Mr Wafula said, noting that these partial certifications often qualify them for specialised roles, including positions in the UPDF engineering brigade.
He added that some recruits later return to upgrade their qualifications while serving in uniform.
Other tutors pointed to broader economic issues, saying that in districts like Tororo—where youth unemployment is widespread and families struggle with school fees—the armed forces provide a more reliable career path than the uncertain job market for technical graduates.
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