The convoy of European Ambassadors to Uganda, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, began their visit at the modern Nile Pier, which is still under construction. They then proceeded to Jinja City Hall, where they discussed tourism-related matters with Jinja City administrators, led by City Mayor Peter Alton Kasolo.
The convoy later visited the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) premises, where they were warmly received by Mr. Richard Kawere, the institute’s principal, along with other administrators.
In his address, Mr. Kawere expressed a heartfelt welcome to the delegates and acknowledged the presence of dignitaries from the Ministry of Tourism, including Mr. Basil Ajer, Director of Tourism; Ms. Karolina Hedstrom, Head of Cooperation for the European Union; and Ms. Katia Kersch Baumer, Head of the Austrian Embassy, among other European Union ambassadors.
Mr. Kawere briefly shared the history of UHTTI, explaining that it started as an international organization project at Fairway Hotel in Kampala 39 years ago. The idea of hotel management training was initiated by the International Labour Organization to support hotels with skilled labor.
Now in its 39th year, the institute has overcome numerous challenges and has made a significant impact on Uganda’s tourism and hospitality sectors. This led to the inclusion of UHTTI in the Uganda Constitution under the UHTTI Act of 2015, a move aimed at facilitating the institute’s training and operational duties.
Currently, the institute accommodates over 1,000 students across various programs. This includes 650 students enrolled in two-year courses such as Driving, Pastry and Bakery, Hotel Operations, and Tourism certificates and diplomas. Additionally, there are three apprentice programs: 200 students under the International Labour Organization; 150 students through the Uganda Hotel Owners Association-UHTTI program, supported by ENABLE; and 100 students under a government program. This number is expected to grow in the coming years, provided resources allow.
Mr. Kawere highlighted the institute’s collaboration with a range of partners, including ENABLE, the International Training Hotel (ITH) of Salzburg, the Netherlands, and the European Association of Institutes. These partnerships provide students with scholarships, new skills such as customer care and online marketing, and increased employment opportunities.
The World Bank, through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, granted UHTTI USD 12 million to revamp its infrastructure. Key priorities included the renovation of the Crested Crane Hotel, located near Nalufenya Children’s Hospital, which is now 97% complete and expected to be operational by early December 2024. The administration block and a multi-purpose hall are also under renovation.
Although the construction plans included dormitories for both male and female students, the World Bank funds were insufficient to cover both. However, the Ugandan government has provided funds for the female dormitory, which is already under construction. Mr. Kawere invited potential donors to support the construction of the male dormitory.
He emphasized the decision to upgrade the Crested Crane Hotel to a five-star facility, explaining, “It wouldn’t make sense to train students in a non-five-star environment, only to expect them to excel in five-star hotels later.” The upgrade ensures students are trained under industry-standard conditions.
Mr. Kawere also expressed gratitude to the government, the private sector, and European organizations for providing essential resources, such as a bus and a catering service van, which enable the institute to efficiently deliver catering services.
However, Mr. Kawere called for further collaborations to address ongoing needs at the institute, including digitalization to enable online learning, continuous staff capacity-building, customer service training, and online marketing. He also requested more support to facilitate international student mobility, allowing graduates to work globally and earn a living.
Ms. Katia Kersch Baumer, the Austrian Ambassador to Uganda, expressed her appreciation for the warm welcome and the excellent lunch prepared by UHTTI, showcasing the institute’s catering skills to the European Union delegates. She praised UHTTI for shaping Uganda’s hotel industry and promised additional Austrian scholarships for Ugandan students.
However, Ms. Baumer reminded the institute of its responsibility to address the challenge of poor customer service in Uganda’s hospitality sector. She suggested that UHTTI hold annual refresher retreats for hospitality workers to reinforce best practices.
In his remarks, Mr. Basil Ajer from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities thanked the European Union delegation for visiting key tourism sites in Busoga, such as the Nile Pier and Jinja City Hall. “I believe this tour will strengthen the friendship between Uganda and European countries,” he said.
Mr. Ajer also called for further support from the World Bank and the European Union to help raise the standards of UHTTI in Jinja and the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute (UWRTI) in Kasese to international levels.
