KAMPALA – The newly launched Hotel General Managers Association of Uganda (HOGMAU) has called on the government to invest more in training and professional development for local hospitality managers, arguing that stronger Ugandan leadership in the sector is critical if the country is to maximise opportunities presented by the 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and future international tourism events.
Speaking during the association’s official launch, HOGMAU President David Mayiga said the body was established to strengthen professionalism and build the capacity of Uganda’s hospitality workforce rather than lobby for higher salaries.
“We are not complaining about salaries. Salary should look for you when you become better. What we need is inclusion, capacity building and value addition so that Ugandan managers can compete locally, regionally and internationally,” Mayiga said.
He observed that although many Ugandans have accumulated years of experience in the hotel industry, they remain underrepresented in senior management positions, partly because expatriate managers often leave without adequately transferring skills to local professionals.
Mayiga urged the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to work closely with experienced hotel managers when designing and implementing hospitality training programmes.
“We are the people in the field. Stop planning without us. We are the living plans. With our experience, we can help deliver the results much faster if we are involved,” he said.
He revealed that HOGMAU has already developed a strategic plan with support from international partners, including Mastercard, UNICEF and the European Union, focusing on professional development, networking, industry exposure and skills enhancement for hospitality workers across Uganda.
The association is also partnering with the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute and the American Institute of Hospitality Studies to offer online learning opportunities and bursaries aimed at upgrading the skills of hospitality professionals.
HOGMAU Secretary General George Ogumbo said improving service standards across the country would require continuous training for managers, supervisors and frontline hospitality workers.
“Our managers and hospitality workers need regular training. We want every guest, whether local or international, to experience world-class hospitality whenever they visit Uganda,” Ogumbo said.
He explained that the association intends to bridge the industry’s skills gap by helping Ugandans progress from entry-level positions into supervisory and executive management roles while promoting sustainable tourism and responsible business practices.
Ogumbo appealed to the government to finance nationwide hospitality training programmes, noting that HOGMAU already has qualified trainers capable of delivering industry-specific courses across the country.
Vice President Charles Oundo said HOGMAU, founded in 2015 and formally registered in 2017, was established to unite hotel general managers and promote professionalism, leadership and competitiveness within Uganda’s hospitality industry.
He noted that the hospitality sector remains one of the world’s fastest-growing employers and said increased government investment in skills development would create more employment opportunities, improve service delivery and enhance Uganda’s tourism earnings.
Hospitality entrepreneur Ahabwe Shirah, Director of Vine Kitchen and Vice President of Africa Gastronomy Uganda, also welcomed the association’s launch, saying closer collaboration between government and private hospitality training institutions would be essential as Uganda prepares to co-host AFCON 2027.
“We are already training staff and preparing for AFCON, but government should involve those of us who are doing the actual skilling. We have the schools, the expertise and the industry knowledge,” she said.
Beyond training, HOGMAU unveiled plans to establish a members’ Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO), conduct a nationwide database of hospitality professionals and broaden its membership to include hotel managers, chefs, waiters, housekeepers, tourism suppliers and other players across the hospitality value chain.
Association leaders said the initiatives are intended to strengthen Uganda’s hospitality industry, improve service quality and ensure the country is well prepared to deliver world-class experiences to the growing number of regional and international visitors expected during AFCON 2027 and beyond
