“Through this programme, young people acquire practical workplace experience while employers benefit from a workforce equipped with relevant, industry-driven competencies,” Kibenge said.
A total of 472 apprentices have graduated under the National Apprenticeship Programme, completing six months of workplace-based training aimed at equipping young Ugandans with practical skills for employment in the hospitality sector.
The graduates received certificates during a ceremony held at Hoima Resort Hotel in Hoima City on Friday after successfully completing training in Food Production, Food and Beverage Services, Front Office Operations and Housekeeping.
Presiding over the ceremony, 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 a speech 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 high standards of professionalism throughout their careers.
The graduation marked the completion of the first and second cohorts of the apprenticeship programme, implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in partnership with the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Be Better Academy and Millennium Business School.
Tumukunde commended the programme’s partners, including UHOA and Enabel, for supporting the initiative, saying it demonstrates the effectiveness of apprenticeship training in preparing young people for the labour market.
“The programme affirms the value of workplace-based training as a practical and results-oriented pathway for equipping learners with job-ready skills. It also reflects the Government of Uganda’s continued commitment to investing in human capital as a cornerstone of our country’s socio-economic transformation,” he said.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Aggrey David Kibenge, described youth unemployment as one of Uganda’s most pressing development challenges.
In remarks delivered by Alex Asiimwe, the Commissioner for Labour, Industrial Relations and Productivity, Kibenge noted that more than 700,000 young people enter Uganda’s labour market each year, while the economy creates only about 80,000 formal jobs annually.
He said the ministry revived the National Apprenticeship Programme in collaboration with key stakeholders to address the mismatch between education and labour market demands.
“Through this programme, young people acquire practical workplace experience while employers benefit from a workforce equipped with relevant, industry-driven competencies,” Kibenge said.
He called for the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities across more sectors to boost employment, productivity and economic competitiveness.
The Uganda Hotel Owners Association said the programme comes at a crucial time as Uganda prepares to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
UHOA Chairperson Susan Muhwezi said the hospitality industry will play a critical role in ensuring the tournament’s success, stressing that skilled personnel will be just as important as modern 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 appealed to the government to allocate at least UGX 2 billion annually to UHOA to coordinate and strengthen apprenticeship training within Uganda’s hospitality sector.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Simon Peter Murungi praised the ministry for providing practical training that has improved participants’ employability.
“This programme has helped many of us acquire and upgrade our skills in the hospitality sector,” Murungi said, urging the ministry to expand the programme to enable apprentices to pursue diploma-level qualifications.
