Moroto Core Primary Teachers’ College has become the first of Uganda’s 23 teachers’ colleges to receive a modern ICT digital hub, in a pilot initiative aimed at improving digital literacy among teachers and student teachers in Karamoja. The hub, launched on Wednesday, is equipped with 40 computers, two laptops, a printer, a projector, and internet connectivity.
It was donated by UNICEF with support from the Embassy of Ireland to strengthen ICT skills in teacher training institutions.
Officials say the pilot project is intended to serve as a model for integrating digital learning into teacher education, improving blended learning, and expanding access to quality education in hard-to-reach areas. The College Principal, Benan Steve Kamusogwe, said the project also includes a refurbished conference room fitted with modern facilities, while internet coverage will extend across the campus, the demonstration primary school, and staff residences.
“This is the first hub in the country, and it’s a model ICT hub for other teachers’ training institutions,” he said. He added that tutors and student teachers will be trained in ICT use, equipment management, and digital tools such as artificial intelligence and projectors for teaching, research, and collaboration.The College Principal further noted that the hub will address long-standing gaps in digital adoption among tutors and help prepare teachers for modern classroom demands.
The Vice Chancellor of the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE), Prof. Betty Ezati, said the hub will enable coordinated remote learning, where student teachers can gather at a central point while lectures are delivered digitally from other locations. She added that UNITE has partnered with Mary Immaculate College in Ireland to conduct seminars aimed at strengthening lecturer capacity in teacher education.
Prof. Ezati urged the college to ensure proper use and maintenance of the equipment, warning that donated ICT resources are often underutilized. “The purpose of donation is to ensure that learners benefit from the program,” she said.
“The computers should be maintained, and all students should get access to the ICT lab.”The Commissioner for Teacher Education and Trainer Development at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Annet Mugisha Kajura, said Moroto PTC is the first institution to receive the digital hub, with plans underway to roll out similar facilities to other colleges.
She said digital literacy is now a core requirement for teachers to ensure they can effectively transfer ICT skills to learners.
Dr. Kajura added that UNITE will also train lecturers across its five campuses to strengthen digital competence in teacher education.The Chief of UNICEF’s Moroto Field Office, Rebecca Kwagala, said the initiative aligns with Uganda’s education policies and ongoing reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes in Karamoja.
She noted that UNICEF has been working with the government and partners on issues such as gender equity, minimum standards in education, and child protection. She also highlighted support for teacher incentive frameworks to address demotivation, alongside collaboration with the Embassy of Ireland and Mary Immaculate College to expose teachers to global learning opportunities.
“I believe that by empowering the teachers, we are going to make a very big change, not only in this region, but the whole country,” she said. She called on stakeholders and the Board of Governors to ensure the sustainability of the pilot project, noting that its success will determine expansion to other teachers’ colleges nationwide. URN