By KT Reporter
Kabale University has officially taken over Kisoro Primary Teachers’ College from Kisoro District Local Government to establish a Faculty of Health Sciences campus. The handover ceremony was held on Monday at the former PTC premises in Mikingo Village, Gasiza Ward, Southern Division in Kisoro District.
It was witnessed by officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, Kabale University, Kisoro District Local Government, and Kisoro Municipal Council. Rev. Canon Baker Habimana, the Chairperson of the Kisoro PTC Board of Governors, handed over key assets to the Ministry of Education and Sports. These included documentation for about 13 acres of both titled and untitled land, staff quarters, an administration block with computers and accessories, a library and laboratory blocks, four dormitories, a main hall, five classrooms, two kitchens, two vehicles, furniture, stores, stamps, keys, and other institutional property.
Rev. Canon Habimana raised several challenges that require urgent attention, including untitled land portions, encroachment, faulty electricity meters, frequent lightning strikes due to the absence of lightning arrestors, and vandalism of buildings and equipment. He also provided historical context, explaining that Kisoro PTC was founded on July 2, 1982, following the merger of two study centers in Rubanda and Seseme. The institution operated as a government-founded National Community College, training both in-service and pre-service primary teachers.
The land was donated by the local community under the initiative of then Kisoro District MP, Dr. Philemon Mateke. The college borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and also hosts Kisoro Demonstration Primary School, established in 1988. Representing the Commissioner for University Education and Training, Dr. Eric Gutti, a Principal Education Officer at the Ministry of Education and Sports, urged Kabale University to prioritize quality education.
He noted that Kisoro District previously had only one private university, Metropolitan International University, which enjoyed a monopoly, adding that Kabale University’s presence will improve competitiveness and learning outcomes. Kabale University Vice Chancellor, Professor Joy Costance Kwesiga, thanked the Kisoro leadership for approving the facility.
She said the university will initially roll out diploma programmes, pending approval of specific courses by the National Council for Higher Education. Kisoro District LCV Chairperson, Abel Bizimana, welcomed the development, saying it will increase access to affordable higher education, generate rental income for the district, and boost local markets for food and services.
He appealed to the university to consider offering scholarships to needy students from Kisoro and to prioritise local labour where possible. However, Bukimbiri County MP Eddie Kwizera Wa Gahungu opposed the handover, citing concerns over its legality and the lack of clear land titles for the college. In response, Bizimana warned against attempts to derail the project, saying the district followed the required procedures.
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