Makerere University Business School (MUBS), through its Faculty of Tourism, Hospitality and Languages, has rolled out a wide-ranging Industrial Skilling Short Course Program aimed at equipping Ugandans with practical, job-ready skills for the fast-growing tourism and hospitality industry.
The initiative, implemented by the Department of Tourism Management, is designed to respond to industry demands by offering short, affordable, and highly practical certificate courses, most of which run for three to four months with up to 70–80% hands-on training.
According to MUBS, the program targets school leavers, university graduates, career switchers, and individuals already working in tourism who require formal certification to advance professionally.
Industry-Focused Training for Immediate Employability
The industrial skilling program offers 11 certificate courses, each tailored to specific roles within the tourism value chain. These include:
Certificate in Air Ticketing & Reservations Management
Certificate in Tour Guiding
Certificate in Tourist Driving
Certificate in Tour Operations Management
Certificate in Hotel Front Office Operations
Certificate in Housekeeping Management
Certificate in Campsite Planning & Management
Certificate in Food and Beverage Services
Certificate in Events Planning & Management
Certificate in Bakery
Certificate in Barista Skills
Course fees range between UGX 1.5 million and UGX 3 million, making the program accessible compared to long-term academic pathways.
Each course is delivered through a blended model—combining physical and online learning—with a strong emphasis on practical exposure aligned to real workplace conditions.
Addressing a Persistent Skills Gap
Tourism stakeholders have repeatedly cited a mismatch between academic qualifications and workplace readiness as a key challenge in the sector. MUBS says the skilling program directly addresses this gap by producing graduates who can transition immediately into employment or self-employment.
Graduates of the program can pursue careers as tour guides, ticketing officers, hotel receptionists, tourist drivers, campsite managers, event coordinators, baristas, bakers, and food and beverage service professionals, among others.
Beyond employment, the courses also integrate entrepreneurship training, enabling learners to start and manage their own tourism-related enterprises.
Admission and Assessment
Admission requirements include at least an Ordinary Level Certificate (UCE) or its equivalent. Applicants with foreign language proficiency—such as Swahili, Chinese, French, or German—have an added advantage, especially for tourism-facing roles.
Assessment is primarily through internal MUBS examinations, with tourist driving assessed through practical evaluation.
Strengthening Uganda’s Tourism Workforce
With tourism remaining one of Uganda’s key economic sectors, MUBS officials say the program is part of a broader effort to professionalize the industry and improve service standards across the country.
Applications are currently open, and interested candidates are required to obtain and submit application forms directly to the Department of Tourism Management at MUBS.
As the institution positions itself at the center of skills-based training, the message is clear: formal training is no longer optional for anyone seeking serious employment in tourism.
