MINISTRY OF TOURISM UPSKILLS JINJA STREET FOOD VENDORS TO SAFEGUARD TOURISM STANDARDS

Jinja, Uganda — The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, through her Tourism Development Department, concluded a two-day training workshop in Jinja city aimed at strengthening health, safety and service standards among street food vendors, a key but often overlooked segment of the tourism value chain.

Opening the workshop, Ms. Harriet Kiiza, Principal Tourism Officer at the ministry of tourism, underscored Jinja’s strategic importance as one of Uganda’s leading tourism destinations. She cited ongoing government investments such as the Source of the Nile Development Project and the redevelopment of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training College as clear indicators of the city’s growing tourism profile, making continuous industry skilling a necessity.

She noted that the training was part of the ministry’s broader agenda to ensure compliance with minimum tourism and hospitality standards across the country, with a specific focus on street food vendors. The principle emphasized that street food plays a critical role in shaping visitor experiences, particularly during major events such as the Nyege Nyege Festival, where vendors often cater to large crowds. “A simple street meal can create an unforgettable memory for a visitor, just as a bad food experience can ruin an entire trip,” she said.

She urged participants to professionalize their operations through proper grooming, ethical conduct, and adherence to food safety standards, while also encouraging them to take advantage of government skilling opportunities. Ms. Kiiza highlighted the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act, 2025, which introduced a more hands-on, competency-based training approach to better support vocational skills development.

Welcoming participants on behalf of Jinja City, Tourism Officer Ms. Namugundo Shamim louded the ministry of tourism for its continued support to grassroots service providers. She stressed that beyond hotels and attractions, culinary experiences, especially street food, play a major role in destination branding.

The training covered health and safety standards, food handling best practices, environmental sanitation and ethical conduct, delivered by health expert Mr. Michael Bageya. Participants were also introduced to skilling and outreach programs available at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, presented by Ms. Azipora Ageru.

The initiative marks another step in strengthening service quality and safeguarding Jinja’s reputation as a premier tourism destination