The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has graduated 472 apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Programme, as the government steps up efforts to address youth unemployment and prepare the hospitality sector for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The graduates completed six months of workplace-based training in food production, food and beverage service, front office operations and housekeeping before receiving certificates during a ceremony held at Hoima Resort Hotel on Thursday.
In a speech delivered by State Minister for Gender and Culture Affairs Mary Kuteesa Kamuli, Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Henry Tumukunde urged the graduates to use their skills to contribute to Uganda’s economic development.
“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,” the minister said.
The graduation marked the completion of the first and second cohorts trained under the programme, which is implemented by the ministry in partnership with the Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA), Be Better Academy and Millennium Business School.
The ministry said the apprenticeship programme is intended to bridge the gap between education and employment by equipping young people with industry-relevant skills through supervised workplace training.
Permanent Secretary Aggrey David Kibenge said youth unemployment remains one of Uganda’s biggest development challenges, noting that more than 700,000 young people enter the labour market annually while only about 80,000 formal jobs are created each year.
In remarks delivered by Commissioner for Labour, Industrial Relations and Productivity Alex Asiimwe, Kibenge called for the expansion of apprenticeship programmes across different sectors to improve employability and productivity.
Meanwhile, UHOA Chairperson Susan Muhwezi said the newly trained workers will be critical as Uganda prepares to co-host the 2027 AFCON tournament.
“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,” Muhwezi said.
She also appealed to the government to allocate Shs2 billion annually to UHOA to coordinate and strengthen apprenticeship training in the hospitality industry.
One of the graduates, Simon Peter Murungi, said the programme had equipped participants with practical skills and appealed to the ministry to expand the training to diploma level.
