For three days, the Hotel and Tourism Training College in Jinja became a testing ground for Uganda’s next generation of hospitality professionals as students from different institutions competed in the second edition of the Hospitality Skills Challenge.
Held under the theme “Fusion of Culture,” the challenge brought together students from tourism and hospitality training institutions and universities to test their skills in five trades: Cookery, Pastry and Bakery, Restaurant Service, Rooms Division, and Barista and Mixology.
But organisers say the event was designed to be more than a competition.
“The Hospitality Skills Challenge creates a platform for all tourism and hospitality training institutions and universities to showcase what they train through the eyes of the young people who enter these institutions,” said Alleyn Zalwango, one of the organisers.
The challenge seeks to build confidence among young people pursuing careers in hospitality by exposing them to industry professionals through masterclasses, career guidance, networking and mentorship before they compete in their respective trades.
Unlike a conventional school competition, the judging was largely handled by professionals from the hospitality industry, giving students an opportunity to have their skills assessed against workplace standards.
One of the notable changes this year was the introduction of Barista and Mixology as a standalone category.
In the inaugural competition, the discipline was part of Restaurant Service, but growing interest in bartending and coffee-making as specialised hospitality skills prompted organisers to give it its own platform.
“We got a lot of demand from people saying this trade should be broken out because it is on demand in Uganda and it is growing,” Zalwango said.
Uganda Breweries Ltd came on board as a partner, particularly supporting the Barista and Mixology category through capacity building and industry expertise. Its Reserve Brand Ambassador, Steven Baguma, joined Richard and Roy from Serena Hotel Kampala on the judging panel.
Over the years, the Advocacy team at UBL has been pivotal in helping Ugandans understand their drinks, especially the premium reserve brands such as Johnnie Walker, The Singleton, Don Julio and Tanqueray. Outside their advocacy work with consumers, they have been a big part of masterclasses that have seen various bartenders and mixologists get hands on retooling.
The mixology competition tested the students across three stages, beginning with classic cocktails, followed by a mystery-basket challenge and ending with mocktails.
The classic round required competitors to prepare a Whisky Sour using Johnnie Walker Red Label, a Margarita using Don Julio Blanco and a Martini using Uganda Waragi.
The mystery basket then challenged them to create a signature cocktail using ingredients presented to them on the spot, testing their creativity and ability to work under pressure.
For Baguma, the format gave students an opportunity to demonstrate more than the ability to follow a recipe.
The competitors had to combine technical knowledge, presentation, creativity and versatility, skills required in a professional bar environment.
The barista side similarly tested technical and creative skills, including espresso extraction, milk preparation, latte art, free-pour technique, production and service, with the Fusion of Culture theme reflected in the cultural infusion component.
Ocrin Raymond Jonathan emerged as the overall winner across the combined Barista and Mixology categories, with his strongest performance coming in mixology.
For Zalwango, however, the value of the competition extends beyond who takes the top position.
“They are competing, but at the end of the day they are sharing knowledge and getting to know each other,” she said.
The challenge also connects students with professionals who could become mentors and potential employers, creating a bridge between training institutions and the hospitality industry.
Zalwango said some industry executives who interacted with participants had already identified students they would like to mentor after graduation.
“What people have appreciated is that it is beyond competition,” she said. “It is networking, learning and even creating ways for employability.”
The organisers are now looking ahead to the third edition, with growing interest from training institutions and industry professionals suggesting that the challenge could become a regular meeting point between Uganda’s hospitality classroom and the industry it serves.