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The Kyabazinga, William Wilberforce Nadiope IV, has commended Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) and asked that the skilling centre gives refresher courses for his palace staff.

The King of Busoga also urged the institute to work with the Inhebantu (mother of the kingdom) in her project aimed at uplifting the youth in Busoga, most especially the girl-child.

“Please share a concept with her on how best you can work together to skill our people. She will see how we can move forward,” Kyabazinga said.

He said many institutions and organisations have expressed interest in working with the Inhebantu but UHTTI will be given priority owing to its location in Busoga and its reputation as a government training institute.

The Kyabazinga, who was meeting the Principal of the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, Richard Kawere, at his private residence in Buziga, a Kampala suburb, on Thursday, said the institute should continue adding value to the kingdom and the nation at large.

“We need refresher courses for people working in the palace such as cooks, guards and house keepers, among others,” he said during the closed-door meeting.

Nadiope commended the institute for its role in skilling his subjects and pledged the kingdom’s commitment to partnering with the lone government-owned tourism school in the country.

“We have grown up seeing Crested Crane and we appreciate what the Institute is doing to improve the lives of our people. You are a reputable Institution and as a kingdom, we will continue working with you,” the Kyabazinga said.

The king also commended government for the developments taking place at the Jinja-based Institute and implored the Institute management to advance the kingdom’s agenda of skilling the kingdom subjects.

The Kyabazinga also requested the institute to avail bursaries for the bright but needy subjects who would love to pursue hospitality-related courses.

The Busoga king, who married Inhebantu Jovia Mutesi in November last year, commended the institute for the wedding cake and its contribution towards the ‘ekigangu kya Busoga’, a forum that aims at reviving the Kisoga culture among children.

Kawere pledged UHTTI’s commitment to partnering with the kingdom, saying the institute will come up with a scholarship policy that will inform the bursary arrangement for the bright but needy kingdom subjects.

“We are going to develop a policy because as an institution, we need a binding framework and we hope to fast-track this so that in September, we roll the scheme out,” Kawere said.

He requested the Kyabazinga to provide the Institute with land to develop a sports facility.

“Baba, if there is land that is not too far from the institute, you can give it to us and we develop it into a sports facility for the institute,” Kawere said.

The meeting was also attended by UHTTI Deputy Principal Moses Kanene, the head of pastry and bakery Daniel Bakabinge, and the publicist Daniel Kazungu.