The Ministry of Education and Sports has clarified the structure of Uganda’s new teacher education system, with the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) set to take a central role in the training of teachers.
Dr. Dennis Mugimba, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Sports, said UNITE will be a specialised degree-awarding institution and not a university.
Mugimba made the remarks on the second day of the International Teacher Education Conference (ITEC2026) at Hotel Africana in Kampala, where education stakeholders are discussing reforms in teacher education.
He said the new framework will bring teacher education under one system, with existing National Teachers Colleges (NTCs) and Primary Teachers Colleges (PTCs) being phased out as the reforms are implemented.
Mugimba noted that the reforms must go beyond structural changes and fundamentally improve how teachers are educated and prepared for classroom practice.
The conference, which opened on October 1st, 2026, is being held under the theme, “Teachers at the Heart of Reforms.” It has brought together policymakers, teacher educators and other stakeholders to discuss changes needed in teacher preparation and professional development.
Dr. Joseph Muvawala, the Executive Director of the National Planning Authority, called for teacher education reforms to be aligned with Uganda’s broader national development plans.
Muvawala also questioned the continued use of the Primary Seven leaving examination, describing it as an unnecessary cost to the education system.
Speakers and panelists at the conference said strengthening teacher education is critical to developing Uganda’s human capital and supporting the country’s long-term development ambitions under Vision 2040.
The government has been implementing the restructuring of teacher education through the establishment of UNITE and the transition from the previous college-based system. The reforms have included the phasing out of the traditional National Teachers Colleges and Primary Teachers Colleges as institutions for teacher training, with teacher education being reorganised under the new framework.
The conference is continuing with discussions on teacher preparation, professional development and the implementation of reforms in Uganda’s education sector.
