Mr Richard Kawere, formerly a lecturer at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), was on Tuesday, August 1st, 2023 unveiled as the new Principal of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) replacing Mrs.Miriam Namutosi Amori who has served in the position since 2013.
While presiding over the event at the Institute’s premises in Jinja, the Ministry of Tourism director, Mr Basil Ajer, stressed the government’s commitment towards improvement of the budgetary allocations to the institute. He said the budget has increased from Shs900 million ten years ago to a whooping Shs7.7 billion currently.
He also challenged new staff and those that retained their jobs following a recent restructuring exercise to work diligently to make the institution shine.
“Whereas there are other tourism and hotel training institutes, there is one UHTTI and we have a duty to protect its reputation,” he said.
Ms Namutosi commended government and colleagues for the support given to her during her tenure and promised to continue giving her guidance for the good of the Institute.
Kawere observed that given the significance of the hospitality industry in Uganda’s economy, he and his team have a serious task to play in the sector.
“Each day, tourism gains pace in our economy and hospitality has become an important vocation. Our key focus is to ensure that everyone in the industry has the right skills. Colleagues, we have come to work and unity is paramount,” he said.
The ceremony at the institute campus was witnessed among others by members of the UHTTI board led by their chairperson Dr. Jane Egau Okou who is also doubles as the director for Higher Technical Vocational Education and Training at the ministry of education.