Beyond history: Barlonyo Agro Technical students eye success in national assessments

11 August 2026, 9:11 am

By Frank Oyugi

LIRA DISTRICT, UGANDA — Students at Barlonyo Agro Technical Institute in Lira District have expressed confidence in their preparedness for the July/August Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) examinations, saying they are determined to excel without having to retake the examinations.

The national certificate examinations began on Monday, 10 August 2026, and are scheduled to run for two weeks until 21 August 2026. The comprehensive assessments evaluate both theoretical knowledge and practical skills across various technical and vocational disciplines.

Students attributed their preparedness to months of intensive classroom instruction, rigorous hands-on training, and consistent support from the institute’s instructors and management.

“We have been prepared well for these examinations. The management and our instructors have supported us throughout our training, and we are confident that we will perform well,” said Jovan Okwir, a Plumbing student and the institute’s Guild President.

Okwir said technical education equips young people with marketable skills that are essential for self-reliance, job creation and entrepreneurship. He also commended the institute’s administration for ensuring that all the necessary practical assessment materials and equipment were available well ahead of the examinations.

Smooth examination process

The Principal of Barlonyo Agro Technical Institute, Ben Charles Kamba, confirmed that the examinations began smoothly across all departments, with full adherence to official national assessment guidelines. The current sitting includes first-year candidates and final-year students completing their final module assessments.

Kamba urged parents, guardians, community leaders and young people across the Lango Sub-region to embrace technical and vocational education. He stressed that hands-on skills training should be viewed as a viable pathway to financial independence rather than merely an alternative for those who do not pursue conventional academic education.

From memorial site to regional skills hub

Barlonyo Agro Technical Institute holds deep historical significance for the Lango Sub-region. The institution was established following a request from local residents to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and serves as a memorial to civilians who lost their lives during the 2004 Barlonyo massacre, in which the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was responsible.

Over the years, the institution has transformed its tragic history into a centre for skills development and economic empowerment. Today, it equips young people with recognised National Certificate qualifications in various trades, including Building and Construction, Agriculture, Automotive Mechanics, Woodwork, Plumbing, and Fashion and Design.