More than 700 delegates expected at the 2nd International Conference on Curriculum Development.
By Brian Mugenyi
[email protected] | Watchdog Uganda
KAMPALA, UGANDA — The National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) is marking 50 years of shaping Uganda’s education system with a bold shift toward artificial intelligence, innovation, practical skills, and forward-looking curriculum reforms.
To commemorate the golden jubilee, the Centre will host the 2nd International Conference on Curriculum Development from August 20 to 21, 2026, at the Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala. The conference is themed: “Innovative Curriculum Approaches for Sustainable Education in a Globalised World.”
The high-level gathering brings together curriculum experts, researchers, policymakers, educators, assessment bodies, and international development partners to tackle emerging trends and systemic challenges in education.
Rethinking Education for the Modern Era
Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr. Bernadette Nambi Karuhanga, Director of NCDC, emphasized that global shifts are forcing education systems to adapt rapidly.
“The answer increasingly requires us to rethink not only what learners know, but what they can do with what they know,” Dr. Karuhanga stated.
She noted that modern employers demand adaptability, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving alongside core technical knowledge—qualities traditional rote learning fails to deliver.
“Curriculum cannot remain static in such an environment,” she added, reiterating that Uganda’s competency-based learning model is designed to ensure students apply knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Integrating AI and Technology Ethically
Addressing the rapid rise of digital tools, Dr. Karuhanga stressed that technology must enhance—not replace—the learning experience.
“The question for education will not simply be whether learners should use technology, but how we prepare them to use it intelligently, creatively, ethically, and responsibly,” she observed. “Technology should strengthen learning rather than replace the essential human relationships at the heart of education.”
The conference will cover 11 thematic areas:
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ICT and Artificial Intelligence
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Sustainability & Global Citizenship
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Competency-Based Education & TVET
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Indigenous Knowledge Systems
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Climate Change & Green Jobs
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Entrepreneurship & Instructional Innovation
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Inclusivity, ECE, & Teacher Training
Strong Global Representation
Dr. Richard Irumba, NCDC Deputy Director of Research, Consultancy, and Library Services—who also chairs the organizing committee—revealed strong global interest in the event.
Out of 130 submitted papers, 77 were accepted following a rigorous double-blind peer-review process. The accepted research includes contributions from scholars and practitioners across more than 11 countries, with over 700 physical and virtual delegates confirmed.
Government Backs Hands-On Learning
Supporting the initiative, Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo, Acting Minister of Education and Sports, called for a decisive push toward practical education and digital literacy.
“Hands-on education is the way to go,” Dr. Muyingo asserted, emphasizing that Uganda needs an education framework capable of translating knowledge into production, innovation, and economic opportunity.
A Turning Point for Ugandan Education
The two-day conference will feature keynotes from global and regional educational leaders, including Prof. Benson Banda, Dr. Tony Devine, Dr. Mary Goretti Nakabugo, and Dr. Anna Greene.
As NCDC celebrates a half-century of service, the conference serves as a strategic gut-check for the nation: is the curriculum keeping pace with a rapidly evolving world? For experts meeting in Munyonyo, the consensus is clear—the learner of tomorrow must not merely memorize knowledge, but must be empowered to think, create, adapt, and solve.
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