NATIONAL: The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities on Monday July 29, 2024, officially launched the 2024 MTWA apprentices aiming to provide hands-on skills to diverse professionals in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary (PS), Ms Doreen Katusiime, presided over the memorable launch at the Jinja-based Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHHTI) in Jinja city.
The programme envisions to provide an opportunity for young graduates to get relevant skills, to combine work and learning and to reduce the school to work transition gap while improving productivity and employability of young people.
“The ministry program targets young unemployed graduates in the tourism and hospitality sector that have graduated in the field of Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality,” Mrs Katusiime said while addressing the apprentices and UHTTI staff during the launch.
Apprenticeship is a form of education and training governed by an apprenticeship agreement that enables an apprentice to acquire the competences required to work in an occupation through structured and remunerated or otherwise financially compensated training. It consists of both on-the-job and off-the-job learning and that leads to a recognized qualification.
The total number of beneficiaries according to the ministerial policy statement are 400 students but the PS said the ministry decided to kick-start with the first cohort of 90 graduates due to financial constraints.
She said: “The ministry decided to start with this bunch but next Financial Year, we expect to have more funding in the budget for this activity.”
The Apprentices who are graduates with Certificates, Diplomas, Degrees and Masters in the Tourism and Hospitality related trades will be equipped with skills in food production (Cooks and Bakers), Front office (Receptionists), Waiters and Waitresses and Tour Guides.
The PS stressed that the training will be conducted through existing structures of apprenticeship training as guided by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
UHHTI will be responsible for offsite training and supervision of Apprentices during the on-the-job, while the Ministry of Education and Sports through the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) will assess and certify the students.
The Uganda Hotel Owners Association shall undertake the role of coordinating hotel owners to offer job training whereas the Gender, Labour and Social Development ministry will provide policy regulation and guidance and monitoring the implementation of the apprentices programme, according to Ms Katusiime.
“MTWA will be responsible for funding the apprenticeship programme, carryout the recruitment and selection of students, and monitoring and supervision of the implementation of the programme. We shall manage discipline of the apprentices during the period of engagement,” Ms Katusiime highlighted.
Mr Richard Nkonge, UHHTI’s academic registrar, elaborated on the design of the programme, saying the study is broken down into three terms. It includes 40 weeks of job attachment, eight weeks in UHHTI training and assessment and four weeks holiday based on employer’s recommendations.
Representing UHHTI Principal, Mr Moses Kaneene, the institute deputy principal, emphasized the importance of practical training, highlighting that the study shall be more of practical works.
“For us here at UHHTI, we are mandated to offer hands-on practical skills. This is a way of ensuring provision of quality human resource in the tourism sector. This is why we are existing,” Mr Kaneene said before commending the Tourism ministry for championing the Apprenticeship initiative to address the skills gap in the sector.
The tourism sector significantly contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), providing important investment opportunities and employment hence serving as the major source of income. The sector remains a core avenue for economic growth and poverty reduction.
“You are part of government program to eradicate poverty and unemployment in the country and I am proud to be part of this program,” Ms Katusiime said.
According to her, the government has deliberately put in place strategies to address the challenges as reflected in the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) objectives, specifically under Objective Four underlined in the Tourism Programme that aims at developing a pool of skilled personnel along the tourism value chain and ensuring decent working conditions.
Part of the strategy is to upgrade the UHHTI to international standards, where the government in collaboration with the World Bank is currently putting final works on a new Shs24 billion Crested Crane Hotel that is now at 90 per cent completion rate while the new institute is at 60 per cent completion rate.
Ms Ritah Kabugho, the assistant commissioner Human Resource Management, in the Tourism Ministry, urged the apprentices to effectively utilize the opportunity provided by the government to strengthen the professionalism of the tourism personnel.
She cautioned them against violation of professional code of conduct as they could be dismissed from the training sites according to their appointment letters.
