Uganda’s tourism and hospitality industry is experiencing remarkable growth, but beneath the success story lies a persistent challenge of a shortage of skilled personnel caused by the migration of trained workers to better-paying jobs abroad, particularly in the Middle East before the conflicts broke out.
While the number of students enrolling at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) has more than tripled in recent years, many graduates leave the country shortly after completing their studies, creating a continuous demand for fresh talent in hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and other tourism establishments.
The trend highlights both the success of Uganda’s tourism training programmes and the growing global demand for skilled hospitality professionals, amidst a low budget.
Uganda’s tourism workforce
The Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (College), a government-owned institution, was established to develop human capital for the hospitality and tourism sector. Its mandate includes training industry professionals, conducting research, and promoting sustainable tourism practices that enhance Uganda’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.
Training remains a critical pillar of tourism development because the industry is people-centered. From hotel managers and chefs to tour guides and customer service personnel, the quality of visitor experiences depends heavily on the competence and professionalism of those delivering the services.
Well-trained employees not only improve customer satisfaction but also help businesses adopt new technologies, embrace sustainable practices, and respond to evolving global tourism trends.
Investment in tourism education also creates skilled employment opportunities that allow communities to benefit directly from tourism revenues.
Ms Caroline Gwiina, quality assurance manager at UHTTI, says student enrolment has increased significantly following the institution’s recent upgrade.
‘Our impact has been tremendous,’ she says. ‘Enrolment increased from about 600 students in 2024 to 1,500 currently.’
The Institute has also expanded its outreach programmes, training more than 500 refugee apprentices, 150 unemployed graduates under the Tourism Workforce Advancement (TWA) Programme, and 250 vulnerable youth from Jinja and Kamuli districts.
With support from the World Bank, UHTTI plans to train an additional 250 students beginning in June 2026. The institution has also conducted food hygiene, food safety, and food preparation training for more than 100 informal-sector vendors in Hoima, Kasese, and Arua.
‘Our mandate is human capital development for the tourism and hospitality sector through skills training and research,’ Gwiina explains.
‘We contribute to the fourth National Development Plan and the government’s ten-fold growth strategy by improving service delivery and increasing visitor expenditure and length of stay.’
The growing demand for trained hospitality workers is reflected in graduate employment outcomes.
Ms Gwiina says 70 percent of graduates secure employment within the first few months after graduation, while nearly 80 percent earn a decent income soon after entering the workforce.
Ms Gwiina says the Institute currently offers more than 20 short courses, three diploma programmes, and four certificate programmes through conventional, apprenticeship, and short-course training models. It employs 123 staff members and has produced more than 5,000 alumni over the years. However, many of these graduates are no longer working in Uganda.
The Middle East factor
UHTTI principal Richard Kawere says the migration of hospitality workers to countries such as the United Arab Emirates has become one of the sector’s defining challenges.
‘During training, we place students in Ugandan hotels for industrial training, and many of them are absorbed after completing their courses,’ Kawere says. ‘But after some time, they leave to work in the UAE and other destinations where salaries are significantly higher.’
While overseas employment opportunities benefit individual workers through higher earnings and international exposure, they create staffing gaps within Uganda’s hospitality industry.
‘After six months, some hotels come back to us requesting more chefs and trained personnel because the staff they hired have moved abroad,’ he explains.
The challenge is compounded by rapid industry growth. A manpower survey conducted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) projected that Uganda’s tourism and hospitality sector would require approximately 15,000 additional workers to fill emerging jobs.
Mr Kawere believes the sector’s expansion presents both opportunities and responsibilities. ‘One of the challenges affecting service quality is that some business owners have a limited understanding of hospitality management,’ he says. ‘They are successful business people, but they need additional capacity building in hospitality to meet international standards.’
Tourism’s growing contribution
Despite workforce challenges, tourism remains one of Uganda’s fastest-growing economic sectors.
Mr Kawere notes that tourism was assigned one of the highest growth targets under the government’s Ten-fold growth strategy because of its strong economic returns.
‘The tourism sector was given a 25 percent growth target because studies showed that every dollar invested generates significant returns,’ he says.
Across the country, new hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and tour companies are emerging, reflecting growing investor confidence in the sector.
‘Everywhere you go, there is a new tourism-related business opening,’ Mr Kawere says. ‘The industry is projected to more than double over the next decade.’
World Bank’s heavy lifting
A major contributor to this growth has been investment in tourism infrastructure, much of it financed through World Bank-supported programmes.
The Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP), funded through International Development Association (IDA) credits, has provided substantial support to Uganda’s tourism sector. The project aims to increase private-sector investment in tourism while strengthening the country’s land administration system.
The Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) $200 million) approved on May 9, 2013, and effective on June 6, 2014, closed in November 2024.
At UHTTI the administrators say World Bank funding has transformed both training and accommodation facilities.
‘The World Bank has done the heavy lifting of our infrastructure burden,’ Mr Kawere says.
The investments include the expansion and reconstruction of the Institute’s training hotel from 52 to 82 rooms, including a presidential suite, as well as the construction of a modern administration block, lecture rooms, a multipurpose hall, and state-of-the-art training kitchens.
Mr Kawere says Shs35 billion was invested in the Crested Crane Hotel project, while Shs22 billion supported UHTTI infrastructure development and an additional Shs6 billion financed furniture, fixtures, and equipment all contributed by the World Bank. All facilities have been completed and are awaiting official commissioning.
A peak into the future
Mr Kawere says: ‘We have a five-year strategy. When we put all these things together, including government support, we have been negotiating for a slightly fair share of the budget, especially to put in place some of the things that are missing.’
Mr Kawere further stated: ‘Another important aspect is the continuous development of our students’ attitudes and professionalism as they transition into industry. If we are to continue strengthening and growing the institution’s reputation, we expect our graduates to uphold high standards of conduct, professionalism, and excellence in their workplaces and communities.’
The impact of tourism-sector investments extends beyond hospitality training.
At the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC), World Bank support has facilitated major infrastructure upgrades that have improved both wildlife conservation and visitor experiences.
Dr Rachael Mbabazi, Assistant Commissioner at UWEC, says the investments have transformed operations.
‘The funding enabled us to expand our hospital, improve roads, upgrade offices, and construct new animal facilities,’ she says. ‘These developments have improved animal welfare, visitor safety, and the overall experience for guests.’
Among the achievements is the upgrade of Uganda’s only National Wildlife Hospital and Quarantine Facility, which features modern laboratories, a pharmacy, a surgical theatre, and a biobank, making it one of the most advanced wildlife healthcare facilities in the region.
The improvements have attracted more visitors. Annual visitation increased from 320,804 visitors in 2019/20 to 660,452 visitors in 2023/24.
Revenue has also risen sharply, with non-tax collections growing from Shs3.2 billion in 2018/19 to Shs6.7 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.