Jinja: The Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) successfully hosted the first edition of the National Hospitality Skills Competition, showcasing the country’s growing expertise in hospitality and tourism.
The three-day event, held from February 12–14, 2025, at the UHTTI campus in Jinja City, brought together top hospitality and tourism institutions, including Victoria University, Kyambogo University, and Pearl Crest Training Institution, among others. They competed in four trades: Pastry and Bakery, Cookery, Restaurant Services, and Floristry.
The competition aimed to promote hands-on skills and excellence in hospitality and tourism training.
Hon. Tom Butime, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities, graced the occasion, commending UHTTI for organizing the event. “This competition is a hallmark of excellence and provides an opportunity for competitors to showcase their skills,” he said.
“A beacon of excellence, this competition offers a platform for showcasing exceptional skills, inspiring innovation, and fostering entrepreneurship in the tourism and hospitality industry,” said Butime.
The competition’s theme, “Tastes of Uganda,” highlighted the country’s rich culinary diversity and the importance of food and culture as tourism products.
With Uganda’s tourism sector employing over 600,000 people directly and over one million indirectly, this competition sends a positive message to young people about the vast opportunities available in this field, according to Minister Butime.
The government has invested heavily in state-of-the-art training institutions to address the critical skills gap in the tourism sector. This initiative is in line with the National Development Plan IV and the government’s ambitious 10-fold growth strategy, which aims to significantly boost tourism revenues from $1.5 billion to $50 billion over the next 15 years, transforming Uganda’s economy and achieving sustainable socio-economic development.
Butime also recognized the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other partners, such as Enabel, World Skills Uganda, and UTB, for their significant support toward strengthening the country’s tourism sector.
In the hospitality and tourism showdown, chefs from the International Labour Organization emerged the best in Cookery, while competitors from UHTTI took the lead in both Restaurant Services and Pastry and Bakery.
As the first edition of the National Hospitality Skills Competition comes to a close, the organizers invite participants to the second edition in 2026, with an expanded scope of trades. This event marks the beginning of a new era in hospitality and tourism training in Uganda.
“This event is the first of its kind, and we hope to expand it in the future,” said Mr. Richard Kawere, UHTTI Principal.
The Principal welcomed the participants, stating, “We have gathered here today to showcase exceptional skills and ignite passion in the human capital of Uganda’s tourism industry. You are trailblazers, being the inaugural participants in this groundbreaking national competition.”
The Country Director of the International Labour Organization, Mr. Evans Lwanga, kicked off the event on Thursday, acknowledging its significance. The next step, they revealed, would be an exhibition or demonstration, providing learners with a platform to showcase their skills.
“This initiative is seen as a catalyst, enabling learners to gain hands-on experience, explore entrepreneurial ventures, and potentially own businesses. It also opens doors for collaboration between the organization and institutional authorities,” Lwanga said.
He stressed the importance of promoting the tourism and hospitality curriculum globally, highlighting its potential to produce internationally competent employees.
He stated: “This curriculum has already shown promise in equipping learners with the skills needed to succeed in the industry.”
Mr. Samora Ssemakula from the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the notable sponsor of the event, said the competition revealed several gaps, especially in restaurant services, acknowledging that it was a testament to raising efforts toward potential solutions.
Meanwhile, the event was organized at the newly established UHTTI facility, which is nearing completion. Reports indicate that the multi-billion facility, along with the Crested Crane Hotel, will officially be commissioned by President Museveni in July this year.
