Uganda Tourism Board starts grading of hotels across the country

The Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has officially flagged off a team of certified East African assessors to commence the grading and classification of hotels around the country.

This phase of the exercise will run from 1st August to 4th September and will cover Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Fortportal, and Mbarara.

While flagging off the exercise on Wednesday, UTB CEO Lilly Ajarova said they seek to enforce and monitors standards as well as to register, inspect, license and classify tourism enterprises.

She said this is in line with Uganda Tourism Act 2008, where accommodation facilities are classified as lodges, motels, restaurants, guest houses, tented camps, town hotels, vacation hotels, villas, cottages and serviced apartments.

UTB deputy CEO Broadford Ochieng said they are working tirelessly to tick off all the five “As” of tourism including attractions, amenities, activities, accessibility and accommodation.

He explained that accommodation was one of the important components in streaming standards that make Uganda competitive destination.

Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) Chairperson Susan Muhwezi welcomed the exercise and said grading will add value to their investments through increased marketing of the facilities within the accredited grades.