Monthly Report: Japan and UNIDO to build Equipment Operator Training Centre in Uganda

11.10.2021

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Government of Japan, and the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) , with technical support from Japanese partner Komatsu Ltd., will establish a training centre for operators of road construction equipment in Luwero, Uganda. This web page will provide regular updates on the progress and status of this project.

In recent years, the Government of Uganda has procured road construction and maintenance equipment that was distributed to local district governments across the country; and the new training centre will allow matching the investment in road machinery with an equivalent investment in human resources: within the next three years, the training centre will train at least 50 MoWT instructors, 360 MoWT and local district government operators, and over 80 young Ugandans seeking employment. The project supports “Uganda Vision 2040” and focuses in particular on bridging the skills gap so that skilled Ugandans can build, maintain, and improve the country’s road infrastructure.

Project Reports

The First Batch of 11 Trainers from the MoWT Central Mechanical Workshop commenced the Practical Training by UNIDO and MoWT

Impressions from the training of trainers in Luwero© UNIDO

February, 2022 Kampala – On January 31, the practical training of trainers commenced with the 1st batch of 11 trainees from the MoWT Central Mechanical Workshop (CMW). After 1 week of theory revision, pre-trip inspections, and discussion hosted at the premises of Victoria Equipment (VEQ) in Kampala, the 11 trainees were trained for 3 weeks at the METRAC project site in Luwero. The on-site training was prolonged from 2 to 3 weeks due to delayed machine delivery and lack of machine maintenance on the training machines furnished by MoWT. The 1st batch of trainees concluded their training on
February 25.

> Report for February

UNIDO and MoWT Began Preparation for 12 weeks In-Person Training

Die-cast models set up for the first day of practical training on January 31 © UNIDO

January, 2022 Kampala – UNIDO and MoWT prepared the in-person training for the 50
MoWT trainers, which will take place for 12 weeks in total from February to April. The TOT is scheduled to run for 3 weeks each at each of the 4 central/regional mechanical
workshops (CMW and RMWs in Kampala, Gulu, Bugembe, and Mbarara) as well as nearby sites for practical training. The first week at each location is dedicated to theory
revision, pre-trip inspections, and discussion, while the other two weeks are spent for practical training on the equipment.

On January 15, the UNIDO master trainer arrived in Uganda to conduct the training of the 50 MoWT trainers over the next 3 months.

On January 20, the MoWT-UNIDO Technical Committee conducted a site visit in Luwero.

>> Report for January

The 4^th and the 5^th Technical Committee (TC) meeting were held and UNIDO shared the training reports to all project stakeholders

The master plan was presented at the 4th TC meeting © UNIDO

December, 2021 Kampala – On December 1, the 4th Technical Committee (TC) meeting for METRAC was held to launch the engineering designs process together with the vendor, Arch Design Ltd. The 5th Technical Committee (TC) meeting was held On December 14. The vendor presented a master plan for the project site as well as preliminary designs for the buildings.

UNIDO shared training reports for the health & safety trainings in Kampala (3.11.), Bugembe (4.11.), Gulu (16.11.) and Mbarara (18.11.) with all project stakeholders.

>> Report for December

The health & safety trainings were successfully completed

Health & Safety Training conducted at CMW Kampala © UNIDO

November, 2021 Kampala – The training for the 50 Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) trainers was rolled out in the first week of November, starting with the health & safety training.

The health & safety training was successfully completed at the Central Mechanical Workshop (CMW) Kampala on November 3 as well as the Regional Mechanical Workshops (RMWs) in Bugembe on November 4, Gulu on November 16, and Mbarara on November 18. According to the anonymous feedback forms, 87% of the participants rated the training overall as either good or excellent and100% of the participants rated the course content as either good or excellent.

>> Report for November

The third Project Steering Committee (PSC)was held at the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) in Kampala/the Project Document was signed

Document was signed by MoWT and UNIDO © UNIDO

October, 2021 Kampala – On October 26, the third Project Steering Committee (PSC)was held at the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) in Kampala, with the project’s international partners attending through a videoconferencing tool. The PSC was attended by representatives from the MoWT, the Embassy of Japan in Kampala, Komatsu Ltd., Victoria Equipment, and UNIDO. The PSC provided an update on the construction of the training centre and the upcoming training of trainers.

During the PSC, the Project Document between MoWT andUNIDO was signed by Mr. Bageya Waiswa (PermanentSecretary of MoWT) and Mr. Bruno Otto Tokwiny (UNIDO Country Representative in Uganda).

>> Report for October

The ATP was officially launched at the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) by the Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. J.C. Muyingo, the Ag. Director of DIT, Mr. Patrick Byakatonda, as well as MoES, MoWT and UNIDO representatives

The ATP was launched officially at DIT ©Joseph Nkoola

September, 2021 Kampala – UNIDO launched the tender for the engineering designs on its procurement portal, and also advertised the request for proposals in two Ugandan newspapers. The tender closed on September 23; several bids were received.

On September 30, The ATP was officially launched at the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) by the Minister of State for Higher Education, Hon. J.C. Muyingo, the Ag. Director of DIT, Mr. Patrick Byakatonda, as well as MoES, MoWT and UNIDO representatives.

>> Report for September

A digital workshop to develop an ATP for road construction equipment operator trainers was held

DIT and UNIDO coordinated the ATP workshop ©UNIDO

August, 2021 Kampala – From August 2 to 6, a digital workshop to develop an ATP for road construction equipment operator trainers was held.

DIT coordinated the development and approval process of the ATP, which is titled “Trainer of Plant Operators – Level 4”. The ATP was sent to UNIDO on August 27 and will be shared with all stakeholders after an internal review.

>> Report for August

UNIDO and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna co-organized an online event titled ‘Partnering for ISID: New challenges and opportunities for the UNIDO-Japan cooperation’

PMJ-UNIDO online event on ISID ©UNIDO

July, 2021 Kampala – UNIDO and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna co-organized an online event titled ‘Partnering for ISID: New challenges and opportunities for the UNIDO-Japan cooperation,’ including a webinar on July 1 on ‘Joining forces for industrial skills development’ that also featured METRAC. A CSR representative from Komatsu Ltd. was invited as a speaker on the panel.

Besides, UNIDO and the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) have agreed on the new dates and modalities of the first fully digital Assessment and Training Package (ATP) workshop in the history of Uganda. ATP development panel members were selected and invited for the ATP workshop in early August.

>> Report for July

Statement of Works (SOW) for the engineering designs was approved and Heavy equipment operations textbooks were shared with the partners

June, 2021 Kampala – The 3rd Technical Committee (TC) meeting for METRAC was held virtually on June 30 to finalize the Statement of Works (SOW) for the engineering designs. The TC unanimously approved the SOW. After receiving the final approval from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), UNIDO will launch the tender for the procurement of a vendor.

UNIDO distributed the proposed heavy equipment operations textbook for the training of the 50 MoWT trainers to MoWT for their review and exchanged perspectives on the curriculum outline with
Komatsu Ltd.

>> Report for June

Three Komatsu WorksiteVR Simulators are to be provided by Komatsu Ltd. HQ Japan as a kind donation

May, 2021 Kampala – The 2nd Technical Committee (TC) meeting for Mechanical
Engineering Training and Advisory Centre (METRAC) was held on May 26. It was decided three Komatsu WorksiteVR Simulators (one wheel loader and two excavator simulators) are to be provided by Komatsu Ltd. HQ Japan as a kind donation.

The Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and UNIDO have agreed that DIT will coordinate the development of an Assessment and Training Package (ATP) for road construction equipment operator trainers at level 4 of the Uganda Vocational Qualification Framework (UVQF). Once approved, the ATP will serve as a curriculum outline and assessment basis for the training of the 50 MoWT trainers that the project will undertake.

>> Report for May

Geotechnical investigation report was approved at the first Technical Committee and Construction Equipment Master trainer was finalized

April, 2021 Kampala – The 1st Technical Committee (TC) meeting for Mechanical
Engineering Training and Advisory Centre (METRAC) was held on April 28. The TC, composed of MoWT and UNIDO representatives, will henceforth review and endorse technical specifications / Terms of Reference (ToR) for the acquisition of goods and services, incl. drawings for the acquisition of construction related services, and review contractor reports that outline / document works completed. During the 1st meeting, the TC reviewed and approved the geotechnical investigation report.

The Construction Equipment Master trainer position has been filled. A candidate signed a contract with UNIDO, and will be supporting the project in Uganda once the curriculum and training schedule have been finalized.

>> Report for April

The first e Learning was held for all MoWT motor grader trainers

March, 2021 Kampala – The first GD663A-2 motor grader e Learning was held for all MoWT motor grader trainers at Victoria Equipment in Kampala. The purpose of the training was to familiarize the trainers with the e Learning and collect feedback for the roll out for the operators in the districts.

UNIDO received the Komatsu WA250-5 wheel loader simulator from Komatsu/Immersive Technologies and officially handed it over to MoWT.

>> Report for March
>> Report for February

Feedback Report for the 1st e Learning

UNIDO and the Government of Uganda start construction preparations for Uganda’s first training centre for road construction equipment operators, in Luweero

December 8, 2020, Kampala – The land for the training center in Butuntumula, sub-county in Luweero district, has been officially handed over to the MoWT on 17 November 2020. The construction preparation works such as the topographic survey were started immediately and a groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction of the centre is expected early next year. (>> To know more)

UNIDO using virtual solutions to complete inception phase for the Equipment Operator Training Centre in Uganda during COVID-19 lockdown
May 13, 2020, Kampala – The project’s first Project Steering Meeting was held at MoWT in Kampala via videoconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It convened participants from all project partners joining in from Tokyo, Nairobi, Brussels, and Vienna and was the first videoconference meeting for MoWT staff. (>> To know more)

The signing ceremony was chaired.
Kampala, 8 August 2019 – The signing ceremony was chaired by Minister of State for Works Edward Katumba Wamala and was attended by project partners, including representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (>> To know more)

◾️Monthly Report: Project for Development of the Construction Equipment Operator Training Centre