Uganda is moving to turn its rich local cuisine into a major tourism product, with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities launching a new culinary tourism training program aimed at boosting the sector’s competitiveness.
The three-day capacity-building program is currently underway in Mukono District, bringing together up to 50 participants including chefs, hospitality students, food vendors and tour operators.
According to the Ministry, the training is designed to equip players with practical skills in food preparation, presentation, hygiene, sustainable cooking methods and how to package traditional dishes into bookable visitor experiences.
The program is being implemented under the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), following a benchmarking visit by Ugandan officials to Egypt where they studied how local cuisine is integrated into tourism and hospitality.
David Harongo, Curator of Educational Research at the Ministry and contact person for the project, said Uganda has not fully exploited food as a tourism product despite its diversity.
“We have not been able to sell food as a product. As much as our food is very rich, Uganda is mainly nature-based in its tourism offerings,” Harongo said, noting that the focus has remained on wildlife and gorillas.
The initiative seeks to change that by drawing lessons from countries like Egypt and Nigeria, where traditional cuisine is a key part of the tourism value chain.
Facilitators say culinary tourism goes beyond serving a dish. Chef Francis Kalemela noted that visitors want to understand the story behind the food — from sourcing ingredients to its cultural significance and preparation.
The training comes as Uganda prepares to host more international visitors, including for AFCON 2027, with the hotel industry already being urged to professionalize the presentation of local staples like Luwombo.
Once piloted in Mukono, the Ministry expects the model to be rolled out to other tourism hubs as part of efforts to diversify Uganda’s tourism offering, create jobs and boost local businesses.