Residents Protest Neglect of Former Kisoro PTC as Buildings Turn into Cattle Sheds

Kisoro: Tension and grief have gripped Busamba Ward in Kisoro Municipality as residents protest the continued neglect of the former Kisoro Primary Teachers College (PTC).

The facility, which was approved to become a health institute affiliated with Kabale University, has instead been abandoned and is now being used for grazing animals and hosting private events.

In April 2019, the Government of Uganda adopted the National Teacher Policy, 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 training institute under Kabale University, with the aim of later granting it independent status.

Two years later, however, the premises remain idle. Residents say classrooms have been turned into cattle sheds, furniture is being used for overnight prayer meetings, and the compound now hosts weddings and grazing animals. They describe this as a shocking misuse of public resources.

According to the LC1 chairperson of Bikoro A in Busamba Ward, Southern Division James Kazungu, the land is now being used for animal rearing, while once well-equipped classrooms are occupied by cattle. He condemned the misuse, saying permanent buildings are now treated as temporary structures because they are being used for animals, overnight conferences, and wedding ceremonies.

CUE IN……KAZUNGU…RUF

The LCV councilor for Southern Division James Agaba, asked the community to be patient, explaining that affiliating the former PTC to Kabale University requires several legal and administrative steps, including agreements between the district and the university.

CUE IN……..AGABA…RUF

But the LCV councilor for Nyakinama Sub-County and one of the resolution’s proponents Emmanuel Ndayisaba, accused district leaders including the speaker, LCV chairman, and chief administrative officer of failing to implement the council’s decision.

CUE IN…….NDAYISABA……RUF

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party coordinator is Kisoro district Juliet Musanase, also called on Kisoro’s political leaders to intervene, noting that the college could have been a major source of income for the district but is instead being wasted as grazing land.

CUE ……..MUSANASE….RUF

District LCV Chairman Abel Bizimana admitted that political divisions have slowed the process but insisted progress is underway. He said Kabale University is currently waiting for a final letter from the Ministry of Education and Sports to officially take over the stranded facility.

CUE IN……….BIZIMANA…ENG

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 college once ranked among Uganda’s best teacher training institutions, taking third place nationally in the Grade III certificate exams in 2019 and second in 2020.

Today, however, the same buildings and furniture once used to train teachers are being used for livestock, overnight prayers, and ceremonies with goats, cattle, sheep, and pigs roaming the compound, a sad contrast to its former prestige.