The first twenty five students to train as teachers at Makerere University were admitted in 1924 (Makerere University Faculty of Education Handbook 1950).

These had already been trained as elementary school teachers in teacher training institutions run by Christian missionaries. They graduated from Makerere College as primary school teachers at the end of 1925.

Between 1925 and 1949 Makerere College trained teachers for junior secondary schools (grade 9), and between 1949 and 1962, the college trained secondary school teachers, some of whom held non-graduate diplomas in education and others held post-graduate diplomas in education.

The students who followed the course of non-graduate diploma in education were admitted into Makerere College after completing a total of twelve years of education followed by passing Ordinary Level examination set by Cambridge University.

They spent a total of four years at the college, the first two doing academic work in their respective faculties, and the last two studying professional courses offered by the Faculty of Education.

The graduate teachers studied for a three year degree in their respective academic disciplines followed by one year of postgraduate diploma in education taught in the Faculty of Education.

When Uganda attained political independence in 1962, Makerere was producing two types of secondary school teachers, namely:

In 1965, the non-graduate diploma in education was physically transfer to the National Teachers College, Kyambogo some five kilometers east of Kampala, on Jinja Road.

After 1965, Makerere University produced three types of education graduates, namely;

The Degree of Bachelor of Education was phased out in 1972 and the concurrent diploma in education was phased out in 1983. Between 1983 and 2000, in addition to producing holders of PGDE, another category of graduate teachers, holding degree of BA. WITH Education and B.Sc. WITH Education, was introduced. Graduates of Agriculture, Music or Fine Art could also study for respective teaching qualifications in the School of Education.