Technology training provider Aptech has relaunched operations in Uganda, offering job-ready digital skills training and international degree pathways aimed at tackling youth unemployment.

Technology training provider Aptech has relaunched operations in Uganda, with a renewed focus on equipping young people with practical digital skills and offering pathways to international degree programmes.

The relaunch, spearheaded by Professor Samuel Sejjaaka under Mat Abacus in partnership with Aptech International, marks the brand’s return after a three-year absence from the Ugandan market.

Aptech previously operated in Uganda from 2001 until 2021, when its earlier franchise partners exited the country. Its return comes amid rising demand for practical, employment-oriented skills as Uganda continues to grapple with youth unemployment and a rapidly evolving digital economy.

“We are providing an opportunity for Ugandans to acquire practical, hands-on training that is relevant to the employment market,” Sejjaaka said at the launch in Kampala.

The programme focuses on three key areas: computer education—including software engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity—hardware and networking, and multimedia production such as animation and digital content creation.

Sejjaaka said the model is designed to bridge the gap between education and employment by equipping learners with immediately usable skills, including opportunities for remote work in global markets.

“With the world now interconnected, young people can work remotely for international clients without leaving Uganda,” he said.

In a move aimed at widening access, Aptech has eased entry requirements, allowing students with basic literacy and numeracy skills to enrol, a shift intended to open opportunities for those excluded from traditional university pathways.

According to Seetam Thakuri, Assistant Vice President at Aptech Worldwide, the programme also includes scholarships worth approximately £7,000 for outstanding students to pursue further studies abroad.

The scholarships, offered in partnership with Middlesex University, will support students transitioning from diploma-level training into degree programmes overseas.

“We are giving students a global opportunity. Those who excel will benefit from scholarships to continue their education internationally,” Thakuri said.

Under the model, students complete two years of training in Uganda before transferring to partner universities in countries such as the United Kingdom, Dubai, and Mauritius to complete their degrees.

Education experts say such blended training models are increasingly important in addressing the mismatch between academic qualifications and labour market demands.

With thousands of graduates entering Uganda’s job market each year, many lack the practical digital and technical skills required by employers, particularly in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data science.

Aptech says its programmes are designed to be employment-driven, focusing on skills that can translate directly into jobs or freelance opportunities in the global digital economy.