JINJA — The rebirth of Jinja’s Crested Crane Hotel as a specialised training hub for the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) is a game-changer for the tourism sector, serving as a ‘skills factory’ to pump job-ready professionals directly into Uganda’s hospitality sector.
Richard Kawere, the Principal of Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, said the Crested Crane facility is part of a national strategy to transform tourism into a major economic driver.
“Tourism is now one of Uganda’s key economic drivers, projected to generate up to 50 billion dollars by 2035,” Kawere said. “To achieve this, we must invest in skilled human resources.”
He said the institute is deliberately limiting intake to maintain quality. “We receive over 5,000 applications annually but only take 250 to 300 students,” he said.
Kawere emphasised that practical training is central. “This is a hands-on training environment. Students must touch, practice, and experience,” he said.
He added that partnerships, including support from Enabel, are strengthening the institution’s capacity through digitisation and international exposure. “We are transforming from manual systems into digital learning platforms and exposing staff to international hospitality standards,” Kawere said.
Speaking about the facility, Pre-opening General Manager Kalule Samuel Kasule said the hotel is designed primarily as a practical training ground for hospitality students.
“The most important role of this hotel is to facilitate the skilling of students into various aspects of hospitality,” Kasule said. “We have front office, housekeeping, kitchen, and service as core training areas. Within the kitchen, there are different departments, including pastry and the main kitchen.”
Kasule emphasised that the hotel goes beyond traditional hospitality operations, functioning as a live training laboratory.
“We have a section attached to both the hotel and the college called the demonstration kitchen. We have two demonstration kitchens, which allow us to train at least 32 students at any one time,” he said. “Right next to it, we have a demonstration restaurant where students serve the meals they have prepared.”
He added that the model ensures students gain real-world experience before entering the job market. “The key purpose of this hotel is to provide practical experience under supervision and proper guidance, because many hotels are not adequately equipped to train students to understand real guest requirements,” Kasule noted.
According to Kasule, the facility is also strategically designed to reflect modern tourism standards. “We have designed rooms that meet accessibility standards, including rooms for persons with disabilities. We also have suites, executive rooms, and studio rooms so students can experience different hospitality categories,” he said.
He added that the training approach includes all hotel departments, including technically demanding operations. “Even laundry operations are part of training. Students do not simply observe—they actively learn by doing. This is practical skilling,” Kasule said.
Kasule stressed that the hotel will help position Busoga as a competitive tourism destination by improving service standards. “When students leave this campus, they are aware of real industry standards. We are skilling them for real hospitality work, not theory alone,” he said.
Tourism graduates see Busoga opportunity
Students at the institution say the training model is shaping their careers and expanding tourism opportunities across Uganda.
Tourism management student Samuel Adome said his experience in Karamoja tourism operations has strengthened his skills, which he now hopes to bring into Uganda’s broader tourism sector.
“I worked with Karatunga Arts and Tours as a guide and managed eco-camps in Karamoja,” Adome said. “Karatunga is working hand-in-hand with communities to really tell the world what Karamoja has to offer in tourism.”
He believes the upgraded diploma training will improve his leadership capacity in the sector. “This diploma is really going to add a lot of skills to me, like how I manage teams, assign duties, and lead tourists,” he said. “I want to make sure visitors leave satisfied and not regretting what they have paid for.”
Adome also highlighted tourism’s cultural role. “I am passionate about educating others. I also want to become a teacher of tourism in future,” he added.
Tourism student Atim Sharon said she plans to build a tourism business that promotes Uganda’s attractions. “I would like to operate my own company where I can organise and manage tours for clients within and outside the country,” Atim said.
She said exposure to Uganda’s national parks strengthened her interest in the sector. “The experience at Murchison Falls National Park was good. I learned guiding skills and about wildlife and the savannah,” she said.
Atim also expressed interest in international tourism exposure. “I would love to work in Switzerland because of its beautiful scenery and adventurous experiences like mountain climbing,” she said.
Locally, she wants to promote cultural tourism. “I would love to work with different cultures in Uganda and learn how their traditions are practised,” Atim added.
Students trained for real hospitality industry
Hotel management student Zahara Maire said the training model emphasises practical exposure across hotel departments.
“We are trained in housekeeping, front office, food and beverage, and kitchen operations,” Zahara said. “We learn how to receive guests, welcome them, and provide information about hotel services.”
She explained that students rotate roles during practical sessions. “One acts as a guest and the other as a receptionist. We practice welcoming guests and handling customer service tasks,” she said.
Zahara said front office training is her preferred area. “I love the front office because it allows direct interaction with guests. I enjoy putting a smile on the guest’s face,” she said.
She added that she has already undertaken industrial training in major hotels. “I completed my first training at Sheraton Hotel Kampala and plan to go to Serena Hotel for my second,” Zahara said.
Hotel as a training engine for Busoga tourism
Kasule emphasised that the hotel is not only a commercial facility but a structured training engine expected to feed Uganda’s tourism industry with skilled workers, especially in Busoga, where tourism potential continues to grow around Jinja and the Source of the Nile.
“We are skilling them practically. When they come here, we are preparing them for real industry work,” Kasule said.
He added that the ultimate goal is to ensure Uganda’s tourism industry becomes more competitive. “If students are able to demonstrate skill and earn from it, then our contribution will have been made,” he said.
With Jinja already positioned as a leading tourism hub in Busoga, stakeholders say the Crested Crane Hotel training model will strengthen service delivery, improve hospitality standards, and increase Uganda’s competitiveness in regional tourism.
