Apprentices Urged to Build Confidence and Embrace Lifelong Learning
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
Apprentices have been urged to cultivate confidence, remain committed to lifelong learning and use their skills to create opportunities and transform their lives.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Doreen Katusiime(mrs), during the orientation of 150 apprentices at the Hotel and Tourism Training College (HTTC) in Jinja on Tuesday.
In a message delivered on her behalf by the Ministry’s Commissioner in charge of Tourism Development, Mr Vivian Lyazi, Mrs Katusiime challenged the apprentices to look beyond the technical skills acquired during their training and develop the confidence needed to excel in the workplace.
“No school teaches confidence. It is a skill you master on your own. I also urge you to keep seeking for knowledge and skills,” Ms Katusiime said.
She encouraged the apprentices to put their newly acquired skills into practice, noting that the value of training is ultimately reflected in how it is used to improve livelihoods, strengthen the tourism sector and contribute to national development.
The Permanent Secretary’s message comes at a time when Uganda’s tourism industry continues to require a skilled, confident and adaptable workforce capable of delivering quality services and creating memorable experiences for visitors.
FROM SKILLS TO LEADERSHIP
The apprentices were also encouraged to view the programme as a stepping stone to greater responsibility and career advancement.
The Acting Commissioner in charge of Human Resource at MoTWA, Mrs Ritah Kabugho, urged the beneficiaries to use the apprenticeship experience not only to become better practitioners but also to prepare themselves for future leadership and supervisory roles.
“You stand a higher chance of going to the supervisory level owing to your level of education coupled with this training,” Ms Kabugho said.
Her message underscored the importance of combining practical workplace experience with formal education and continuous professional development; an approach that can enable young people to progress from entry-level positions into management and leadership.
For Peninnah Nassanga, one of the programme beneficiaries, the apprenticeship has provided an opportunity to strengthen her practical abilities and grow in confidence.
She said the programme had given her a chance to hone her skills and become a better baker, highlighting the direct impact of hands-on training on young people’s employability and professional growth.
INVESTING IN UGANDA’S YOUNG WORKFORCE
The National Apprenticeship Programme is designed to equip unemployed and underemployed young people with structured employment-based learning, practical skills and work-readiness competencies.
Under the programme, MoTWA aims to provide free apprenticeship training to at least 150 young men and women annually, reaching a total of 750 beneficiaries over five years.
The current intake of 150 apprentices is the third cohort under the programme. The cohort comprises trainees in key tourism and hospitality occupations, including tour guiding, barista services, reception, housekeeping, waitering, baking and cookery.
According to HTTC Dean of Academics, Mr Emmanuel Kaweesi, the college is responsible for the training and supervision of the apprentices, while MoTWA finances the programme and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is responsible for its regulation.
As the apprentices begin the next chapter of their professional journeys, the programme represents more than an opportunity to acquire technical skills. It is an investment in young people’s confidence, employability and capacity to build meaningful careers within Uganda’s tourism and hospitality industry.
The challenge before the apprentices is therefore clear; learn continuously, believe in their abilities and turn their skills into excellence.
GALLERY
Comments