The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities has launched a free apprenticeship programme to equip Ugandan youth with practical skills for tourism and hospitality jobs. The project will train 150 people each year, targeting 750 in five years, according to Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime.
She explained that the programme forms part of a broader government plan to drive economic transformation through hands-on training. Moreover, tourism and hospitality remain among Uganda’s largest contributors to GDP. “We want to improve the employability of young people through practical skills,” Katusiime said during the launch at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) in Jinja.
This second group includes 49 tour guides, 29 receptionists, 27 bakers and pastry chefs, 25 cooks, and 20 waiters or waitresses. The ten-month programme began on July 1, 2025 and is 70% practical. Before completion, trainees will take a Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) test to verify their skills.
According to UHTTI Dean of Academics Emmanuel Kaweesi, the Ministry of Tourism funds the programme, UHTTI trains and supervises the learners, and the Ministry of Gender regulates it. In addition, the training focuses on developing skills that meet both local and international job market demands.
Kaweesi noted that 84 trainees from the first group will graduate in November 2025. This year, the ministry received over 1,000 applications; however, only 300 met the minimum requirements, and just 150 were selected.
Katusiime urged trainees to make the most of the opportunity. Therefore, she advised them to treat every session seriously. “Skills do not expire. Use them to find jobs within and outside Uganda. We aim to move from exporting unskilled labour to skilled labour,” she emphasised.
Meanwhile, UHTTI Principal Richard Kawere praised the government for investing in skills development. For example, he highlighted the construction of a multi-billion-shilling hotel and institute premises, set for completion in September. He also mentioned ongoing staff training and the shift from manual to automated systems.
As a result, the Uganda tourism skills training programme is expected to create more job opportunities and improve service standards in the country’s growing hospitality industry.
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