Belgium builds Shs64 billion college

The new administration block of National Instructors College Abilonino in Kole District. The college was commissioned recently. PHOTO BY MOSES KYEYUNE

Kole- The Belgium Development Agency has handed over a Shs64.4 billion college to the government to foster skills development programme.
The National Instructors College Abilonino, Kole District, which was recently commissioned, will produce instructors for business, technical, vocational education and training institutions. It will also compliment national teachers colleges.
While handing over the college last weekend, the Belgian Ambassador to Uganda, Mr Hugo Verbist, said his government is committed to strengthening partnership with Uganda to create sustainable livelihoods.

According to Dr Jane Egau Ekou, the commissioner of Teacher Education and Training (TIET) at the Ministry of Education, the college will equip the country with better capacity to train teachers and improve the quality of knowledge passed on to students.
“With this infrastructure in place, we can now hope for the very best from our vocational learning institutions,” Dr Ekou said.

Through its implementing arm, Belgium Technical Corporation-Uganda, the agency has invested €17.5 million (about Shs75 billion) towards upgrading the TIET project with additional funding to five national teachers colleges in Kabale, Kaliro, Mubende, Arua and Gulu districts.
The TIET project coordinator, Mr Kibedi Abdul Majid Nkuutu, told Daily Monitor that the project started in 2011 to improve teacher training and has since recorded better results.

Mr Ronald Kaweesa, a second year student of Civil Engineering in technical and teacher education, said the new college has given him new hope even after failing to go through Uganda Advanced Certificate Education.