Hospitality Managers Call for More Investment in Professionals to Boost Uganda’s Tourism Competitiveness

What the report says

Nile Post reports that the Hotel General Managers Association of Uganda has appealed for more investment in hospitality professionals, saying the country’s tourism sector needs stronger skills, recognition and use of local expertise to compete internationally. The call was made at a HOGMAU event, where association president David Mayega Harry said Uganda’s hotel managers should be more involved in shaping the future of the industry.

According to the report, Mayega said HOGMAU was established to support professional growth among hospitality leaders, not to operate as a pressure group. He argued that Ugandan managers have the experience to run high-standard hotels, but need continuous training, exposure to global practices and greater confidence from sector players. He also urged expatriate hotel managers in Uganda to mentor local professionals and support knowledge transfer.

The association said it has prepared a five-year strategic plan focused on strengthening the capacity of hospitality workers and improving Uganda’s competitiveness in the tourism market. Nile Post reported that the plan was developed with support from partners including Mastercard, UNICEF, the European Union and Makerere University Business School.

The appeal comes as Uganda seeks to increase tourism earnings and attract more visitors in a competitive regional and global market. HOGMAU said better-trained and more empowered hospitality managers could improve service quality, support investment and benefit the wider value chain, including hotel staff, suppliers and farmers. Mayega encouraged those stakeholders to work with the association to build a more professional and collaborative industry.