The Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Enid Origumisiriza Atuheire has appealed to the government to establish a centrally located Tourism and Hospitality Training Institute in Kabale District to serve the Kigezi sub-region.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, Hon. Atuheire commended President Yoweri Museveni for his inspiring State of the Nation Address delivered on July 4, 2026, and praised his leadership in securing peace, stability, and socio-economic progress across Uganda. However, she raised critical local concerns, pointing out that many youth in Kigezi remain excluded from the money economy, making the establishment of a specialized training hub an urgent necessity.
Hon. Atuheire outlined several pressing socio-economic challenges currently facing the people of Kigezi:
1. Livelihood Loss from Wetland Restoration; While acknowledging that environmental conservation is vital, she noted that wetland restoration programs have severely affected household incomes for many Kigezi residents. She urged the government to implement a comprehensive plan for sustainable, alternative livelihoods such as climate-smart agriculture and income generating projects to shield families from rising poverty.
2. Surging Youth Unemployment; Despite the successful rollout of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in boosting local production, a significant portion of the youth population remains unemployed, idle, and completely left out of the money economy. Hon. Atuheire warned that this idle capacity exposes the youth to security risks and moral decline.
3. Underutilized Tourism Potential; Although Kigezi is richly endowed with breathtaking tourism resources that contribute heavily to Uganda's overall tourism earnings, local youth lack the professional skills required to participate meaningfully and benefit directly from the hospitality sector.
And so to bridge the gap between Kigezi's tourism wealth and local youth unemployment, Hon. Atuheire strongly advocated for the government to set up a dedicated Tourism and Hospitality Training Institute in Kabale District.
"Kigezi is richly endowed with tourism resources that significantly contribute to Uganda's tourism earnings. I therefore appeal to the government to consider establishing a Tourism and Hospitality Training Institute in Kabale District, which is centrally located," Hon. Aunt Enid stated. "
This would equip the youth with the skills needed to participate meaningfully in the region's growing tourism industry."