Ntungamo, Uganda – Authorities at the Ntungamo Nursing Training Institute-Nyarutuntu are calling on the Ugandan government to elevate the institution to university status.
The call came during the commissioning of a new 280 million Ugandan Shilling multipurpose building on Thursday, October 17, 2025.
The new facility, serving as both a main hall and lecture rooms, was lauded by officials at the ceremony. Principal Wilber Tukamuhabwa, along with the governing council chairperson Innocent Twesiime and Nyarutuntu Sub County LCIII chairperson Mwesigye Katooma, emphasized the need for the elevation to accommodate the growing student population. They also highlighted the continued water scarcity as a significant challenge facing the institute.
“The increasing number of students requires additional structures and facilities,” Tukamuhabwa stated. “Water access remains a critical issue that needs immediate attention.”
Twesiime, who also serves as the administrator of Itojo Hospital, commended the district leadership for donating the land upon which the institute sits. He urged graduates to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in their future careers.
The Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Isaya Kanyamahane Byarugana, echoed the need for students to focus on their skills and urged them not to blame the government for employment difficulties. “You are trained to work in Uganda, and indeed the entire world. The government empowers you; find your opportunities through the achievements of the country,” he stated. Byarugana also thanked Ntungamo district council for reserving the land for the institution.
Ntungamo District Vice Chairperson Athuman Kigongo, and councilor Bernard Ahabwe Mpenda, representing Ruhaama sub-county and chair of the district’s health committee, both praised the consistent support from parents and the district council. Mpenda also thanked the contractor for delivering the new multipurpose building.
The site engineer from the GRODINA general supplies contractor, while thanking the stakeholders, underscored the challenges faced during construction, including inconsistent water supply and power outages, which delayed completion.
The institute, established in 2011 by the Ntungamo District Local Government, began in Itojo Hospital before relocating to its current site in Nyarutuntu. The institution now offers nursing and midwifery programs.
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