KAMPALA – Uganda’s education sector is embarking on a significant transformation with the official induction and orientation of the long-awaited UVTAB Board, Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB), and the crucial Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council on June 4, 2025.
This milestone signals a new era in the country’s efforts to bolster skills development and educational standards.
At the forefront of this reform is the appointment of Ms. Allen Kagina as the Chairperson of the TVET Council. Kagina, renowned for her impactful tenure as the former Executive Director of the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), is set to steer the council in a move that underlines the government’s commitment to reforming the education and skills landscape.
A Profile of Leadership: Allen Kagina
Born in 1961 in Rukungiri District, Western Uganda, Allen Kagina, approximately 64 years old, is the daughter of Hezron and Catherine Kakuyo. Her notable siblings include Lorna Magara, Chairperson of Makerere University Council, Jocelyn Kyobutungi Rugunda, wife to former Ugandan Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, and Caleb Kakuyo, previously with the National Housing and Construction Corporation.
Kagina’s academic journey began at Gayaza High School, leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Makerere University. Her early career saw her as a teaching assistant at Makerere in 1985 before joining the Office of the President during the initial years of President Yoweri Museveni’s government.
She furthered her education, earning a Master of Public Administration from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom and later a Master of Arts in Organisational Leadership and Management from Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono in October 2015.
Her distinguished career in public service includes joining the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in 1992 as a senior principal revenue officer. She rose through the ranks, becoming Deputy Commissioner for Customs in 2000 and ultimately being appointed Commissioner General in 2004. In 2015, she took on the pivotal role of Executive Director at the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), where she implemented significant reforms.
Allen Kagina is married to Paul Kagina, and together they have three children: Dan, Michelle, and Mark. Her extensive experience in leadership and public administration positions her well to guide the TVET Council in shaping Uganda’s future workforce.
