[4][5] The university is on land that measures 640 acres (1.00 sq mi), in Kalagala sub-county, Bamunanika county, Luweero District in the Central Region of Uganda.

The main campus is approximately 33 kilometres (21 mi), by road, northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.

[8] The institution started in 1948 as a training school for teachers and pastors for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in East Africa.

The campus was then relocated to the church's youth camp (at Watamu just north of Mombasa) until Amin fled Uganda.

While the college was at Watamu, Reuben Mugerwa finished his graduate degree at Andrews University and joined the faculty.