Second Karamoja Tourism Skills Coordination Platform Meeting

The second edition of the Karamoja Tourism Skills Development Coordination Platform (KTSDP) meeting, took place on 18 of February 2021 in Moroto. The purpose of the platform is to strengthen coordination, promotion, and preservation of tourism ecosystem services relevant for job skills creation while ensuring continuous benefits to locals and economies.

The initiative is spearheaded by Support to the Implementation of Skilling Uganda (SSU) implemented by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) Uganda, District Local government authorities and Kara-Tunga Arts & Tours (Kara-Tunga) – Karamoja regional tourism promotion and development enterprise that aims at strengthening community resilience, protecting nature & preserving cultural.w

The structure plays coordination and governance roles in line with Uganda national tourism policy.

Agenda points

1. Introduction
2. Opening remarks (Vice Chairperson Moroto district)
3. Market Labor Scan Remarks (Kara-Tunga)
4. Video UKARIMU and Karamoja Tourism Academy pilot
5. Opportunities and commitments from Karamoja zonal areas (workshop)
6. Closing remarks

Opening remarks

The Vice Chairperson shared her appreciation to the stakeholders and recognises the growing regional hospitality sector with currently 1351 available rooms in Uganda’s Karamoja subregion. Training institutions in Karamoja have
been tilted to focus on skilling the youth not only for jobs but job creation too.

Market Labor Scan findings

Through a rapid assessment and labor market scan by Karatunga established A total of 857 jobs are available for the sector in the region these include Tour guides, drivers, hoteliers, story tellers, etc. There is significant growth of the sector in the region and an imperative need to have skilled populace appropriate for this demand.

Participants and hosts

• Enabel
• Karamoja Tourism Academy
• Kara-Tunga Tours
• EyeOpenerWorks
• UKARIMU
• Karamoja subregion, District Tourism Officers
• Private Sector players
• National Forest Authority, Karamoja Rangeland
• Kidepo Valley National Park
• Mount Elgon Conservation Area
  • Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
  • Matheniko-Bokora Wildlife Reserve

Key action points

1. Sustain the district-led platforms established for more coordination partnership collaboration and sharing knowledge and information.
2. Mapping of all tourism operators in the region, formalize with acquiring of permits and other requirements from authorities. Engage with District Local Government, Uganda Wildlife Authority, National Forest Authority, Uganda Tourism Board and other established mechanisms.
3. Participate in community awareness activities, sensitisation, capacity building and skilling the youth to labor market demanded skills in tourism.
4. Using the identified opportunities, tap into the required labor for the tourism sector in the region by equipping the youth with relevant and demanded skills.

 

Video presentation