KAMPALA – More than 10 ambassadors and staff from the European Union on Tuesday, October, 22, 2024 gathered at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) for luncheon and discussion with the Principal and Management over the future of UHTTI and the tourism sector in general. It was the first time UHTTI was hosting such a high-powered delegation and the stakes were high as the institute prepared for such high profile visitors. Right from the decoration to the meals and the warm reception accorded to the visitors, everything was done meticulously and the visitors hailed the institute for the reception.
“Thank you for the meal and the wonderful reception you have accorded to us. You have really proved that you are a hospitality school,” H.E Maria Hakansson, the Swedish ambassador to Uganda, said.
In his address, Mr. Richard Kawere warmly welcomed the delegates and acknowledged the presence of dignitaries from the Ministry of Tourism, including Mr. Basil Ajer, the Director of Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities.
Mr. Kawere briefly shared the history of UHTTI, explaining that it started as an International Labour Organization (ILO) project at Fairway Hotel in Kampala about 35 years ago and the aim was to support hotels with skilled labor.
Mr. Kawere highlighted the institute’s collaboration with a range of partners, including ENABEL, the International Training Hotel (ITH) of Salzburg and the Noorderpoort Hospitality School in the Netherlands, among others, which he said collaborate with the institute in the areas of capacity building, research and staff exchange, among others.
Mr. Kawere also expressed gratitude to the government, the private sector and international donors for providing essential resources, such as a bus and a catering service van, which enable the institute to efficiently deliver catering services.
He, however, 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.
Mr Kawere informed the delegates that the World Bank, through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, granted UHTTI USD 12 million to revamp its infrastructure with key priorities including the construction of the new Crested Crane Hotel which is now 97% complete and expected to be operational by early December 2024 and a new institute which is also nearing completion.
“Although the construction plan 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 revealed.
He emphasized the need to upgrade the Crested Crane Hotel to a five-star status, saying: “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.”
Ms. Katia Kersch Baumer, the Austrian Ambassador to Uganda, commended UHTTI for shaping Uganda’s hotel industry and promised additional Austrian scholarships for Ugandan students.
She, however, 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 UHT TI in Jinja and the Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute (UWRTI) in Kasese to global stardards.
The ambassadors included HE Jan Sadek, Ambassador of the European Union; H.E Hugues Chantry, Ambassador of Belgium and leader of delegation; HE SigneWinding Albjerg, Ambassador of Denmark; HE Xavier Sticker, Ambassador of France; H.E Matthias Schauer, Ambassador of Germany; H.E Kevin Colgan, Ambassador of Ireland; H.E Mauro Massoni, Ambassador of Italy; H.E Frederieke Quispel, Ambassador of the Netherlands; H. E Maria Håkansson, Ambassador of Sweden and Dr Katja Kerschbaumer, Head of Austrian Development Office.