Title: The Readiness of Ugandan Universities to Train Kiswahili Teachers for the Competence-Based Curriculum in Primary Schools
Authors: Edwin Nyachwara Mobegi
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
Pages: 116-120
Publication Date: 2026/04/28
Abstract:
The integration of Kiswahili as a compulsory subject in Uganda's primary school Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) since 2020 created an urgent need for adequately trained Kiswahili teachers. This study examined the readiness of Ugandan public universities to train such teachers by assessing their curricular alignment, staffing capacity, instructional resources, and institutional preparedness. A mixed-methods design was employed, drawing on document analysis, structured questionnaires, and key informant interviews with 142 participants drawn from six universities, the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), and the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES). Findings revealed that the majority of Ugandan universities had not adequately aligned their Kiswahili teacher-training programmes with CBC requirements. Only two universities Makerere and Kyambogo offered formal Kiswahili education programmes, and even these exhibited critical gaps in qualified staffing, contemporary instructional materials, and competence-based pedagogy. The study concluded that systemic reforms were urgently required at policy, institutional, and resource levels to ensure that Ugandan universities could produce competent Kiswahili teachers capable of implementing the CBC effectively in primary schools.