Through an upgrading programme we also train Grade III primary school teachers to Grade V level for Diploma in Education Primary (DEP). 

Candidates who join Diploma in Education Secondary (DES) programme are selected by Joint Admissions Board (JAB) of the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Since its inception, the college has grown in terms of enrollment and infrastructure, for example, enrollment grew from 200 in 1984 to 1,800 in the academic year 2018/2019 for both DES and  DEP programmes.

NTC Unyama inherited the former site and premises of the then Unyama Model Primary Teachers' College (PTC) for training Grade III teachers. Most of the structures taken over from the PTC were inadequate and incomplete.  What followed was 20 years of war in Northern Uganda which forced Displaced persons to camp within the campus.

In 1987, due to insurgency, the college relocated to Masindi, then later to Hoima and was there until 1989. Between 1998 and 2009 the college was occupied by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). During this period, the general infrastructure of the College was delapidated. Against this background, we believe that is why the Ministry of Education and Sports ranked the College high on the proirity list for rehabilitation and expansion having got funds from Islamic Development Bank.