Utalii Polytechnic Institute Opens 2025 Applications, Pushes for Skills Revolution in Uganda

Kampala, Uganda: Utalii Polytechnic Institute has launched its 2025 applications, inviting aspiring students to join its cutting-edge programs in aviation, tourism, and hospitality. Leading the charge is Capt. Mike Mukula, a seasoned aviator and prominent figure, who emphasized the urgent need for a shift in educational priorities.

“Uganda needs compulsory quality education with a focus on polytechnics and skills training—the true engine for jobs and transformation in East Africa,” Capt. Mukula declared in a post on X earlier today. The statement, accompanied by images of students engaging with a globe and a poised aviation trainee, reflects his vision of empowering the youth with hands-on expertise to drive national development.

The launch comes amid growing debate on social media about the efficacy of Uganda’s education system under the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which has governed for over four decades.

Utalii Polytechnic Institute’s programs, designed to combine rigorous academic training with real-world application, aim to address this gap. The institute boasts an 83% graduate employment rate and offers diplomas in aviation, cosmetology, and events management, among others. Its outreach strategy signals an intent to attract a new generation of learners.

Capt. Mukula, a former pilot trained at the Kenya School of Flying and a graduate of IDF Military Colleges, brings credibility to the cause. His call for a skills revolution is backed by a 2021 Oxford Academic study, which found that multi-faceted education programs can boost literacy to the 99th percentile—a potential solution to Uganda’s 75% literacy rate plateau, as noted by NRM data.

As applications open, Utalii Polytechnic Institute invites prospective students to scan the QR code or visit utalii.edu.ug for more details. With the institution located at P.O. Box 1010, Plot 1-5, Kajjansi Close, Mbuya, Kampala, it stands ready to transform dreams into reality, as its slogan promises. Yet, the success of this initiative may hinge on addressing the infrastructural and policy hurdles raised by the public discourse.

For now, Capt. Mukula remains optimistic. “Through purposeful and focused education, Uganda and East Africa can exponentially develop and reach competitive levels in human capital, production, technology, and innovation,” he added, urging a redirection of educational focus to secure a prosperous future.