The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA) has highly commended stakeholders in Uganda's hospitality sector for their instrumental role in empowering young Ugandans with vital practical skills through the ongoing tourism apprenticeship program. This initiative underscores the government's unwavering commitment to cultivating a highly skilled workforce within the hospitality industry, a sector crucial to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Addressing a stakeholder engagement at the Source of the Nile Hotel in Namanve, Ms. Doreen Katusiime, the Permanent Secretary for MTWA (represented by Undersecretary Geoffrey Sseremba), highlighted the program's target: young unemployed graduates from hospitality-related fields. Currently, 150 apprentices are undergoing training at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI). The program, launched last year, aims to bridge the critical school-to-work transition gap, with the ministry projecting to train at least 150 young individuals annually, totaling 750 over a five-year period. Ms. Katusiime expressed gratitude to host employers for the successful first cohort, many of whom were subsequently retained, and also acknowledged the support from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

Despite the program's early successes, challenges persist within the sector, including a notable shortage of skilled local workers and the prevailing dominance of foreign professionals. Richard Kawere, Principal of UHTTI, emphasized the indispensable role of industry participation in ensuring the program's long-term success, noting that "University graduates often lack practical skills. Employers play a vital role in making the apprenticeship model work." He revealed that UHTTI has proactively developed online training programs for industry employees unable to attend physical classes and has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) to train and certify staff, with plans to extend this to industry partners next year. Furthermore, Kawere announced that a law passed in March has officially elevated UHTTI to college status, and a rebranding process is currently underway.

Providing deeper insight into the program's structure, UHTTI Academic Registrar Richard Nkonge explained that apprentices receive 30% off-job training at the college and 70% on-job training at host institutions. He clarified that these apprentices are graduates who previously struggled with unemployment, are placed on contract, receive remuneration, and acquire practical, employable skills. Nkonge affirmed, "This is an industry-led training model, and that's why many of our apprentices are retained." Deputy Principal Moses Kaneene urged employers to ensure objective assessment of apprentices, raising concerns about potentially inflated scores that might not accurately reflect competencies.

Stakeholders largely praised the positive contributions of the apprentices but also raised certain concerns. Innocent Magezi, Food and Beverage Manager at Nob View Hotel in Ntinda, highlighted the industry's need for "smart, presentable individuals" and noted that apprentices' salary expectations are often perceived as too high. Reuben Tumwikirize, General Supervisor at Hotel Kash in Mbarara, expressed concern over reports of some apprentices outsourcing their report writing. Conversely, Ibrahim Wako Kisu, Work-Based Learning Officer representing the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Permanent Secretary David Kibenge, applauded the program's progress, stating, "We have not received any grievances, which shows the program is being implemented effectively."

The inaugural cohort of 90 participants, admitted last year, is slated to graduate from UHTTI in November of the current year. The second cohort, comprising 150 apprentices, commenced their off-job training on July 1, 2025, and will soon transition into the industry for practical experience. This cohort, selected from over 1,000 applications, includes 49 aspiring tour guides, 29 receptionists, 27 in Baking and Pastry, 25 in cooking, and 20 waiters/waitresses. The training program, which is 70% practical, will run for ten months and culminates in a mandatory assessment by the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB). Under the operational framework, UHTTI is responsible for training and supervision, MTWA handles funding, and the Ministry of Gender oversees regulation. The broader initiative falls under Objective IV of the Tourism Development Program, aiming to foster a robust pool of skilled personnel across the entire tourism value chain, thereby transforming Uganda's labor export from unskilled to skilled.