NATIONAL: Hospitality training institutions in the country under their umbrella body Association of Uganda Hospitality Travel Tourism Training Institutions (AUHTTTI) have committed to strengthening their partnership as a way of navigating the emerging challenges in the hospitality industry.
In a meeting held at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) on June 20th, the association members pledged to work together to address the skills gaps in the industry.
“Over 1,000 students graduate from tourism training institutions every year but the manpower gap continues to widen. What can we do to ensure that the graduates we train fill up this space,” the Principal of UHTTI, Richard Kawere, said.
“We lack a common forum to address the challenges before us and we also lack a common voice as regards to training and capacity building,” Kawere, who also doubles as the executive secretary of the association, added.
During the same meeting, AUHTTTI chairperson, Geoffrey Ssewakiryanga, enumerated the achievements registered by the association since its inception in 2019, including the formulation of the constitution.
He decried the Covid-19 pandemic which he said sent the association into a three-year hiatus and almost brought it to its knees.
“There was a three-year hiatus that quashed whatever had been set following the launch of the association in 2019,” Ssewakiryanga said.
He commended UHTTI for the immense sacrifice towards the survival of the association.
“All we have been able to do is because of this Institute and it is our plea that UHTTI continues supporting the association until it gets its proper footing,” Ssewakiryanga said.
The meeting brought together officials from more than 30 hospitality training institutions in the country.
