HOIMA – The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has graduated 472 apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Programme, equipping them with practical skills to strengthen Uganda’s hospitality industry and enhance youth employment.
The apprentices received certificates after completing six months of workplace-based training in key hospitality occupations, including Food Production, Food and Beverage Services, Front Office Operations, and Housekeeping.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony held at Hoima Resort Hotel in Hoima City, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde Kakurugu, urged the graduates to become ambassadors of excellence and contribute to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
In remarks delivered on his behalf by the Minister of State for Gender and Culture Affairs, Mary Kuteesa Kamuli, Tumukunde said the certificates represented more than academic achievement.
“As you receive your certificates today, remember they represent more than academic accomplishment. They are a symbol of your skills, resilience and readiness to contribute to Uganda’s development,” he said.
He encouraged the graduates to remain disciplined, embrace innovation, pursue continuous learning and uphold professionalism throughout their careers.
The graduation marked the completion of training for the first and second cohorts of apprentices under the programme, implemented by the Ministry in partnership with the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Be Better Academy, and Millennium Business School.
The minister commended the programme’s partners, including Enabel, for supporting skills development, saying the initiative demonstrates the importance of apprenticeship training in preparing young people for employment.
He noted that the National Apprenticeship Programme provides a practical, results-oriented approach to equipping learners with job-ready skills through supervised workplace training, reflecting the government’s commitment to investing in human capital.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Aggrey David Kibenge, described youth unemployment as one of Uganda’s biggest development challenges.
In a speech delivered by Alex Asiimwe, Commissioner for Labour, Industrial Relations and Productivity, Kibenge said more than 700,000 young people enter Uganda’s labour market every year, while the economy creates only about 80,000 formal jobs annually.
He said the ministry revived the National Apprenticeship Programme in collaboration with industry stakeholders to bridge the gap between education and employment by providing young people with practical workplace experience while supplying employers with skilled workers.
“Through this programme, young people acquire practical workplace experience while employers benefit from a workforce equipped with relevant, industry-driven competencies,” Kibenge said.
The Uganda Hotel Owners Association welcomed the graduation, describing it as timely as Uganda prepares to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
UHOA Chairperson Susan Muhwezi said the hospitality sector will play a central role in delivering a successful tournament, stressing that quality service will be just as important as infrastructure.
“Infrastructure alone will not deliver a successful AFCON. We may construct and renovate beautiful hotels, but without competent chefs, waiters, housekeepers, front-office personnel, supervisors and managers, those investments will not achieve their full purpose,” she said.
Muhwezi called on the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to allocate UGX 2 billion annually to UHOA to coordinate and expand apprenticeship training within Uganda’s hospitality sector.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Simon Peter Murungi, who completed training as a professional cook, praised the ministry for equipping young people with practical skills that improve their employability.
He said the programme had enabled many participants to acquire and upgrade their competencies in the hospitality industry and appealed to the ministry to expand the programme by offering opportunities for apprentices to pursue diploma-level qualifications.
