The school sits along the Gulu–Kampala Highway, approximately 329 kilometres (204 mi), by road, north of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.

[3] The school was founded in 1953 by the Verona Fathers, an Italy-based Catholic missionary society, "to produce first-class intellectuals with good Christian values, technical excellence and sportsmanship".

An all-boys technical institution, Layibi emphasizes trade courses that include motor vehicle mechanics, carpentry and bricklaying.

Between 1959 and 1988 purely technical courses were offered at O-Level and A-Level, but were discontinued in 1988.

[1] In the 2000s the school was earmarked as a "Centre for Excellence" by the Uganda Ministry of Education and Sports.