Uganda’s young hospitality professionals have been given another opportunity to showcase their skills, creativity and readiness for the workplace during the second Hospitality Skills Challenge held at the Hotel and Tourism Training College in Jinja. The three-day competition brought together students from universities and hospitality training institutions across the country, allowing them to compete before experienced professionals from the industry.
The competition featured six major disciplines, including cookery, pastry and bakery, restaurant service, rooms division, barista skills and mixology. Participants were required to demonstrate both technical knowledge and practical skills as they competed under the theme “Fusion of Culture.” Beyond the competition itself, the event provided students with opportunities to attend masterclasses, receive career guidance, interact with industry professionals and establish valuable professional connections.
According to organiser Alleyn Zalwango, the challenge was created to give hospitality and tourism training institutions an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of skills they equip students with. She said the competition allows the industry to see what students are capable of doing when placed in real workplace-style situations, while also giving the young professionals an opportunity to learn from one another.
Unlike ordinary classroom assessments, the students were judged by hospitality professionals using standards similar to those applied in the industry. This exposed the competitors to the level of discipline, creativity, speed, accuracy and professionalism expected from them once they graduate and begin working in hotels, restaurants, tourism facilities and other hospitality businesses.
This year’s competition also introduced barista skills and mixology as independent categories, after previously being included under restaurant service. Zalwango explained that the decision followed growing demand from the hospitality industry for people with specialised skills in coffee preparation and beverage service. Uganda Breweries Limited supported the new category by providing training and industry expertise, while its Reserve Brand Ambassador, Steven Baguma, joined Richard and Roy from Kampala Serena Hotel on the judging panel.
The mixology competition tested participants through three demanding stages. They first prepared classic cocktails, including a Whisky Sour using Johnnie Walker Red Label, a Margarita using Don Julio Blanco and a Martini using Uganda Waragi. They then moved to a mystery-basket challenge, where competitors had to create original cocktails from ingredients presented to them without prior notice, with judges assessing their technical ability, creativity, presentation and confidence under pressure.
The barista competition similarly challenged students in areas such as espresso extraction, milk preparation, latte art, free pouring, production and customer service. Competitors were also encouraged to incorporate elements of Uganda’s culture into their creations. Ocrin Raymond Jonathan emerged as the winner of the combined barista and mixology category after delivering his strongest performance in the mixology contest.
Organisers said the Hospitality Skills Challenge is becoming more than a competition because it is creating a direct connection between students and the professionals who could mentor or employ them in the future. Several industry executives identified students they were interested in supporting after graduation, while participants used the event to exchange knowledge and build relationships with colleagues from other institutions. With growing interest from hospitality professionals and training institutions, organisers are now looking at expanding the third edition and creating even more opportunities for Uganda’s emerging hospitality talent.
