Kampala, Uganda – The Ugandan education community is in mourning following the passing of veteran educator John Alinaitwe, the retired Principal of Core Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs), who died at the age of 69.
The esteemed educationist passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Case Hospital after a long struggle with multiple illnesses, marking the end of a distinguished career dedicated to shaping Uganda’s teacher education sector.
Alinaitwe, a revered figure in teacher training, dedicated over three decades of his life to strengthening Uganda’s primary teacher education system.
His career began in the classroom before he transitioned into institutional leadership, first serving as Deputy Principal at Bushenyi Community College.
His exemplary performance earned him a promotion to full Principal at Bukungu Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) in Bushenyi District, marking the start of a distinguished administrative journey.
Known for his transformative leadership, Alinaitwe was later transferred to several key Teachers’ Colleges across the country, including Arua, Bishop Stuart, and Bukinda Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs).
His career culminated at Shimon Core PTC in Kampala, where he served until his retirement in 2016. Colleagues remember him as a firm but compassionate leader who championed discipline, academic rigor, and well-rounded teacher training.
According to his family, led by his wife, Mrs. Joselyn Alinaitwe, the late educator had been battling multiple ailments for years, seeking specialized treatment at various hospitals, including Aga Khan Hospital in Kenya, Rubaga Hospital, and Mulago National Referral Hospital.
After prolonged treatment, his health declined until his passing in August 2025 yet his legacy lives on through generations of educators and institutions he transformed.
Former students and colleagues remember him as both a mentor who instilled professionalism in Uganda’s education sector and an architect of the rigorous standards that defined the PTCs under his leadership.
His final journey will see him laid to rest on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at his ancestral home in Kakituro Cell, Kandago Parish, Bukinda Sub-county, Rukiga District.
A vigil will be held at his residence in Kampala ahead of the burial, with education stakeholders, government officials, and community members expected to attend.
His legacy endures through the countless educators he trained, many of whom now serve in schools across the country, upholding the values he instilled in them.
“May his soul rest in eternal peace.”