Tension and grief have gripped Busamba Ward in Kisoro Municipality as residents protest the continued neglect of the former Kisoro Primary Teachers College (PTC), a once-prestigious institution now reduced to hosting livestock and private functions.
The facility, which was approved to become a health training institute affiliated with Kabale University, has instead been left idle. Residents say classrooms have been turned into cattle sheds, furniture is being used during overnight prayer meetings, and the compound regularly hosts weddings and grazing animals, a situation they describe as shocking misuse of public resources.
The transformation followed the Government of Uganda’s adoption of the National Teacher Policy in April 2019, which phased out Grade III teacher training colleges.
In response, Kisoro District Council passed a resolution in late 2023 to repurpose the defunct PTC into a health institute under Kabale University, with the long-term goal of granting it independent status. However, two years later, no visible progress has been made.
Kazungu James, the LC1 chairperson of Bikoro A in Busamba Ward, condemned the misuse of the property, saying buildings once considered permanent are now occupied by animals and used for overnight conferences and wedding ceremonies.
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James Agaba, the LCV councilor for Southern Division, urged patience, noting that the transition to Kabale University requires legal and administrative processes, including agreements between the district and the university.
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But Ndayisaba Emmanuel, LCV councilor for Nyakinama Sub-County and one of the proponents of the 2023 resolution, accused district leaders of redundancy and failing to implement the council’s decision.
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Opposition voices also weighed in. Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) coordinator Musanase Juliet criticized the political leadership for allowing the facility to go to waste, arguing that it could have been generating significant revenue for the district.
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District LCV Chairman Abel Bizimana acknowledged that political divisions have slowed progress but insisted that developments are underway. He said Kabale University is awaiting a final letter from the Ministry of Education and Sports to formalize the takeover of the facility.
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Founded on July 2, 1982, Kisoro PTC emerged from the merger of two study centres — one in Rubanda led by David Murasanyi and another at Seseme led by Munyangabo S.W. David. The institution once ranked among the best teacher training colleges in Uganda, securing third place nationally in the Grade III certificate exams in 2019 and second place in 2020.
Today, however, its classrooms and furniture are being misused, while goats, cattle, sheep, and pigs roam freely on the compound, a stark reminder of its fall from glory.
