On May 28, 2025, a major milestone was achieved in Uganda’s journey towards becoming a leading tourism destination in Africa. The Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) and Enabel, the Belgian agency for international cooperation, signed a €260,000 grant agreement to enhance skills development in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The grant marks a significant step forward in transforming UHTTI into a Centre of Excellence for tourism and hospitality training in Uganda. With the growing importance of the sector—contributing 6.6% to the national GDP and supporting over 800,000 jobs—this investment is timely and strategic.

This partnership is not just about funding—it represents a deep commitment to capacity building, digital transformation, industry collaboration, and youth empowerment. Representing the Embassy of Belgium, Luc Pirson, the Head of Cooperation emphasised Belgium’s recognition of Uganda’s unique tourism potential: “It is not only about game parks with elephants and lions, not only about the gorillas. Uganda is also mountaineering, white water rafting, adventurous bicycle tours, birding, the source of the Nile, discovering unknown cultures, coffee and tea farming.”

He highlighted Belgium’s multi-pronged support to the sector, including investments in virtual reality tools for promoting Uganda abroad, sustainable tourism certifications, skills training for over 2,500 youth, and support to institutions like UHTTI and the Millennium Business School.

Belgium, through Enabel and with additional EU funding, is investing over €3 million in Uganda’s tourism and hospitality industry under its flagship WeWork and Decent Work programmes. The goal: equip young Ugandans with the skills and experience needed for decent, green, and sustainable jobs.

Hon. Tom Butime, Uganda’s Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, underscored the significance of the agreement: “The grant signing agreement we're witnessing today is more than just a formal gesture; it represents a tangible commitment to empowering Uganda's tourism sector through enhanced training and capacity development.”

The grant’s focus areas
The €260,000 grant (UGX 1.1 billion) will directly support several strategic areas:

1. Digitalisation – Transforming UHTTI’s learning environment and operations to match global tourism standards.
2. Staff Capacity Building – Enhancing teaching quality through training programs and workshops.
3. Curriculum Development – Aligning curricula with international best practices to ensure graduate employability.
4. Industry Linkages – Facilitating partnerships that provide students with internships, placements, and real-world experience.

This partnership also opens doors to collaboration with institutions like Hotel School Koksijde in Belgium, enabling international knowledge exchange and exposure for trainers and students alike. It is a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Uganda and Belgium and their shared vision for sustainable, inclusive development.

Enabel’s collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and key players in the private sector signals a holistic approach to unlocking the potential of tourism as a driver for jobs and prosperity. As Uganda continues to position itself as the Pearl of Africa, this new chapter with UHTTI and Enabel demonstrates that with the right investments in skills and partnerships, tourism can indeed be a pathway to national transformation.  

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