TOURISM MINISTRY TEST DRIVES HHTC FACILITY AS MINISTER BUTIMEAPPLAUDS PROGRESS

The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom Butime, flanked by state minister Martin Mugarra Bahinduka ,sister agency heads and institution board members, led a delegation of the Ministry’s top management on a guided tour of the Hotel and Tourism Training College in Jinja City, as part of efforts to assess the country’s growing tourism training and hospitality infrastructure.

The tour, conducted on day one of the Ministry’s Top Management Retreat, followed a series of strategic training sessions and served as a practical test run of the institute’s dual-purpose facility, combining both hotel accommodation and hands-on training infrastructure.

The delegation was received and guided by the Institute Principal, Richard Kawere, who took the Minister and his team through the state-of-the-art training spaces, demonstration kitchens, lecture rooms and the fully operational hotel section designed to offer real-time experiential learning for students.

The facility, established with funding support from the Government of Uganda (GOU) and the Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) stands as a flagship investment aimed at strengthening human capital development in the tourism and hospitality sector. The 11 billion shillings project includes modern training equipment, hospitality simulation areas and accommodation facilities with a capacity of over 80 guest rooms and 140 bed capacity, enabling it to host high-level government and private engagements such as the ongoing retreat.

Speaking during the tour, Minister Butime commended the progress and strategic importance of the facility, noting that it represents a critical milestone in Uganda’s journey towards professionalizing the tourism workforce. “This institute is a game-changer for Uganda’s tourism sector. It provides a practical, hands-on training environment that is aligned with international hospitality standards. As government, we are deliberate about investing in human capital because service excellence is the backbone of a competitive tourism destination,” he said.

The Minister further emphasized that the integration of training and commercial hospitality services at the institute offers a unique model that not only enhances learning outcomes but also contributes to sustainability through revenue generation.

The Principal of HTTC Richard Kawere, in his remarks, highlighted the institute’s readiness to support national tourism ambitions through skills development and innovation.

“We are proud to host the Ministry’s top leadership at this facility. This engagement demonstrates confidence in our capacity to deliver both training and hospitality services at a high standard. Our goal is to produce a workforce that is competent, professional and responsive to the evolving demands of the global tourism industry,” Kawere noted.

He further revealed that plans are underway to expand the institute’s accommodation capacity through the construction of a dedicated girls’ hostel, a project estimated at 17 billion shillings under additional government support. The hostel is expected to address student capacity needs of up to 650 and enhance inclusivity by providing a safe and conducive learning environment for female trainees.

The guided tour also showcased key amenities including modern kitchens, housekeeping training units, ICT-enabled classrooms, conference facilities, and guest service areas, all designed to simulate real-world hospitality operations.

The Top Management Retreat itself provided an opportunity for Ministry officials to experience first-hand the quality of services offered at the institute, with both the hotel and training components put to test in a live setting.

The development of the Hotel and Tourism Training College is aligned with Uganda’s broader tourism development agenda under the National Development Plan IV, which prioritizes skills development, quality assurance and sector competitiveness. By equipping a new generation of hospitality professionals, the facility is expected to significantly enhance service delivery standards across the country.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to investing in strategic infrastructure that supports sustainable tourism growth, positioning Uganda as a destination not only rich in attractions but also distinguished by service excellence

GALLERY