A total of 1,700 students have been enrolled onto the Pioneer Bachelor’s Degree Program at the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE).
This was announced by the Institution’s Academic Registrar, Dr. Caroline Kavuma, while officiating at the Opening Ceremony of the first semester at the UNITE Campus in Kabale District.
Dr. Caroline explained that over 2,000 students had applied, but after thorough assessment , only 1,700 were approved. She noted that the admitted students had been distributed among five UNITE campuses across the country, including Kabale, Kaliro, Mubende, Muni, and Unyama.
She emphasized that the institution was fully equipped with all the essential tools, infrastructure, and human resources to offer comprehensive and quality training, especially for those pioneering the degree program.
Dr. Caroline further elaborated that since 2020, the government has been rolling out several transformational policies aimed at facilitating the operationalization of UNITE, transitioning from the National Teacher’s College system, which previously offered only diploma courses.
“We have been encouraging our instructors to pursue further studies, and as I speak, most of them have acquired Master’s Degrees and PhDs, while others are on course to complete theirs,” she said, adding that lecturers will also undergo intensive training in the new teaching methodologies to help them meet the standards and expectations of the new program.
“We have developed a total of four modules to support them through this transition. These include: Pedagogy & Andragogy, ICT-Enabled Learning, Competency-Based Curriculum Assessment, and Mindset Shift,” Dr. Caroline said.
CUE IN… DR. CAROLINE UNITE
Meanwhile, the Acting Dean of UNITE Kabale Campus, Ms. Annet Komunda, reported that a total of 232 students had been registered for the first semester, and by May 14, 2025, 201 students had reported at the campus located in Kabale Municipality.
She explained that the group, which includes both Pre-service and In-service programs, was categorized into Bachelor of Education Secondary and Primary students, Bachelor of Education Pre-Primary, Diploma in Education Primary, and Diploma in Education Pre-Primary.
Ms. Komunda assured the students that they would receive inclusive and holistic training, covering the essential skills and knowledge needed to meet the demands of the job market and the expectations of a 21st-century educator.
CUE..IN KOMUNDA UNITE
Ms. Rose K. Izizinga, member of the Education Service Commission, and the UNITE Vice Chancellor, Prof. Betty Ezati, addressed students from all five campuses via video conference. Their messages were majorly centered on encouragement and assurance that the students had made the right decision by joining UNITE.
At the UNITE Kabale Campus, several local leaders, led by the District Education Officer, Mr. Moses Bwengye Tumwijukye, also attended the opening ceremony.
BRIEF FACTS ABOUT UNITE
The Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) is a recently established degree-awarding institution in Uganda, focusing on coordinating and delivering teacher education at all levels—from pre-service to graduate training.
UNITE was established on July 5, 2024, and operates as a multi-campus institution with locations in Kabale, Kaliro, Mubende, Muni, and Unyama, with its headquarters in Kira Municipality.
UNITE serves as the technical arm of the National Teacher Council and is dedicated to improving teacher quality, coordinating teacher education, and ensuring that teachers remain relevant to the evolving needs of Uganda’s education sector.