Umukuuka III Jude Mike Mudoma (in hat),SMTTC Director Dr. Joanes Juma Nyongesa (4th from left) ,Bishop of Mbale North diocese Samuel Gidudu (next to Umukuuka in purple linen)and administrative director of the school  Phillip Wanyonyi Wekesa(4th from right)….Photo/IP

Storyline:

The revival of Bishop Usher Wilson Theological College Buwalasi into a medical and technical hub signals a decisive shift toward skills-based education in eastern Uganda.

The Mbale North diocese of the church of Uganda has partners with a regional medical and technical college to address youth unemployment, healthcare gaps and cross-border labour demand.

The initiative that has answered to the clarion call by Umukuuka Mudoma for  Bamasaaba to invest in education, transforms a long-dormant historic campus into a regional hub for applied learning serving the Mt. Elgon region and its transboundary communities.

BUWALASI, Uganda (IP)

The Kenya’s Southern Medical and Technical Training College (SMTTC) has formally taken over the historic Bishop Usher Wilson Theological College,Buwalasi setting in motion its transformation into a medical and technical training hub aimed at equipping young people with practical, employment-ready skills.

The MOU  was signed on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, when the Church of Uganda (CoU) North Mbale Diocese  led by Bishop Samuel Gidudu agreed to transfer for use as a medical and technical institution the premises of the former Bishop Usher Wilson Theological College in Buwalasi,Sironko District to the institution in the presence of Umukuuka III Jude Mike Mudoma.

In a statement issued Thursday, Jan. 8, Umukuuka III Mike Mudoma described the development as one of the most historic milestones within his kingdom since his enthronement in August 2023.

The king said that  the partnership between the church of Uganda and the Kenya’s Southern Medical and Technical Training College (SMTTC)aligns with his mandate to promote  and support education-driven development within the kingdom.

“This partnership unlocks significant potential for development and directly supports our kingdom mission of empowering the youth through relevant skills,” Mudoma said.

Beginning this month, the Kenya’s Southern Medical and Technical Training College (SMTTC) will offer certificate and diploma programmes in a wide range of medical and technical fields.

These include dental care, chiropractic care, oncology (cancer care), radiology, mortuary science, home-based health care, cosmetology, medical engineering, digital and electrical technologies, hotel and catering management, and fashion design.

SMTTC Director Dr. Joanes Juma Nyongesa said the institution, accredited by Kenya’s Ministry of Education under the Department of Technical and Vocational Training, is committed to competence-based training that prepares students for real-world practice.

“At SMTTC, we are dedicated to transferring knowledge and skills that enable young African men and women to enter medical, biomedical and biotechnological professions,” Nyongesa said, adding that the college is also recognised as a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) provider by Kenya’s Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board.

He noted that over the past 17 years, SMTTC has supported hundreds of graduates to secure employment in healthcare-related fields across East Africa.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the church and the institution, the Buwalasi campus will serve as SMTTC’s Uganda branch, with the Bugisu Cultural Institution providing cultural support and the church providing physical infrastructure as SMTTC manages academic ,administrative operations as well as infrastructure rehabilitation and development.

The partnership also allows eligible youths from Bugisu and other communities to access subsidised advanced training at SMTTC’s main campus in Nairobi.

The initiative targets youths from the Mt. Elgon region, including communities in eastern Uganda, Sebei and Karamoja, as well as neighbouring Kenyan counties such as  Kisumu,Siaya,Busia,Uasin Gishu,Nandi ,Bungoma,Kakamega,Vihiga and Trans-Nzoia which have historically sent students to Bugisu from time immemorial for education.

Dr. Paul Mwambu, the Umukuuka wa Bugisu’s Prime Minister, urged families across the region to seize the opportunity, saying the institution is expected to evolve into a fully-fledged university within two years.

“The proposed menu of courses responds directly to critical human resource gaps not only in Uganda but globally,” Mwambu said. “Programmes such as oncology, radiology, mortuary science and home-based health care position our youth competitively for the expanding global job market.”

Call to Students:
Phillip Wanyonyi Wekesa, Director of Buwalasi Medical and Technical College urged young people from Uganda and Kenya to enrol in the newly revived college.

“As the college opens its doors, I call on youth to take advantage of this historic opportunity to develop practical, employment-ready skills. Our programmes are designed to prepare students for real-world careers in healthcare, technical trades, digital technologies, hospitality and fashion. I encourage all aspiring students to join us and step confidently into a world of opportunities,” Wekesa said.

Founded in the 1940s, Bishop Usher Wilson Theological College once trained some of the earliest African Anglican clergy in eastern and northern Uganda, including the late Archbishop Janani Luwum, who was killed during the Idi Amin regime in 1977.

The campus later became a Grade III teachers’ training college before falling dormant in the 1990s.

Its rebirth as a medical and technical training hub is now being framed as both a restoration of legacy and a forward-looking investment in human capital, aimed at turning education into a driver of employment, regional integration and economic renewal.