An emerging hospitality ecosystem in Uganda

PUM is working with hotels, universities and vocational schools in the Kigezi region of Uganda to strengthen the local hospitality ecosystem . By introducing joint training, shared facilities and clearly defined shared goals, the partners are creating closer links between education and the hospitality and tourism industry. As a result, the region is improving service quality and creating new opportunities for students, employees, and entrepreneurs.

The Kigezi region in South-West Uganda is known for its dramatic hills, calm lakes and warm hospitality. Around Kabale town and Lake Bunyonyi, tourism has grown steadily, creating opportunities for hotels, entrepreneurs and training institutes. Yet many faced similar challenges: limited practical training, a shortage of skilled staff and little cooperation between education and industry.

Stronger skills and closer collaboration

In 2025, the Kigezi Tourism Cluster Platform invited PUM to collaborate with businesses, Kabale University and vocational schools to strengthen the sector. The first PUM projects in the context of this unfolding hospitality ecosystem took place in May 2025 and focused on customer care and didactical training for middle management. Four organisations took part: Kabale University, the Bunyonyi Safaris Hotel and Tourism Institute, and two hotel businesses (Bunyonyi Safaris Resort and Bunyonyi Overland Resort). For many participants, it was the first time that competitors and educators sat in one room with a shared purpose.

Remote contact continued afterwards, and the Platform selected two new themes for deeper collaboration: kitchen techniques for hotel crews and a course on organising student internships. Both were designed to reinforce links between education and the labour market.

A region ready to   move

When PUM experts Johan Spape and Berend Jan Heringa returned in November 2025, they saw a region in motion. Kabale University had constructed a new practical training centre within two months and was preparing a dedicated training kitchen. The University will rebuild the interior of a practical classroom for 16 students; with a grant from PUM’s Hans Blankert Fund, they will cover part of the materials needed.

The White Horse Inn in Kabale, a historic hotel under renovation, offered its kitchens and meeting rooms as training facilities. Staff from various hotels cooked together, and educators and entrepreneurs discussed approaches to supervising student internships. Reflecting on this shift, Berend Jan Heringa explains: “We found out that the first courses in May had opened the eyes of the entrepreneurs. Besides learning new things, they discovered that hospitality speaks the same language. Working together will benefit the results in the future.”

First signs of an ecosystem taking shape

The programme created space for genuine exchange, enabling teachers, chefs and hotel managers to understand each other’s realities and align expectations for future collaboration.

Kabale University began planning regular practical sessions inside hospitality establishments and reported growing interest in structured internships. Entrepreneurs introduced new techniques in their kitchens and expressed interest in future courses on marketing, financial management and tourism ecology. The Platform committed to coordinating new topics in 2026 and involving more SMEs.

The emerging ecosystem already shows tangible value. The University’s planned training kitchen will serve both students and local employees. Hotels anticipate improved service quality and stronger recruitment pipelines. As roadworks around Lake Bunyonyi progress, the region is preparing for more visitors supported by a more skilled and connected workforce.

A foundation for regional growth

The collaboration in Kigezi shows what can happen when businesses, educators and institutions set shared objectives. Through a neutral platform, knowledge flows more easily, training facilities are becoming shared resources and aligned goals are shaping a brighter future.