The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Col. (Rtd) Tom Butime has released results of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI).
According to the results released at the ministry headquarters, a total of 459 candidates certified all the requirements for the award of diplomas and certificates of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute.
Of these, 268 are students on normal program while 191 are apprentices sponsored by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in partnership with the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
The number of candidates has increased from last year’s 306 to 459, representing a 50% increase in the number of candidates set to graduate this year.
Of these 268 are female representing 59% of the total number of successful candidates while 191 are male representing 41% of the total number of successful candidates.
In his address, minister Butime called upon the successful candidates to go out and defend their profession by demonstrating the highest level of skill in the hospitality industry.
He commended UHTTI for spearheading the growth of the tourism sector through churning out skilled manpower for the sector.
“For the sector to grow as projected in the 10-fold strategy from $1.6 billion to $50 billion revenue contribution, it requires a well-trained manpower and UHTTI is progressively answering the question of manpower,” minister Butime said.
The institute Principal, Richard Kawere, in his address called upon government to increase access to hospitality education by increasing funding to the institute.
“The cost of training a hospitality professional is quite high and I call upon government to increase access to hospitality education through increased funding to the institute,” Kawere said.
Kawere also decried the limited number of males enrolling for hospitality education yet available information shows that males earn more than females in the industry.
Mr Geoffrey Sseremba, the ministry undersecretary, while speaking on behalf of the Ministry Permanent Secretary Doreen Katusiime, pledged the ministry’s commitment to supporting UHTTI in the training of the hospitality workforce.
“UHTTI is one of the ministry agencies that we are proud of. We urge you not to relax but rather continue soaring greater heights,” Sseremba said.
About UHTTI
The Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute is a lone government hospitality school charged with training labourforce for the hospitality sector.
The 35-year old institute started as an ILO project at Fairway Hotel in Kampala and was later relocated to Jinja at the Crested Cran hotel.
The institute currently offers diplomas and certificates in Hotel Management, Tourism Mananagent as well as Pastry and Bakery Management.
