The study examined the challenges faced by tutors in the teaching of the visual arts education (VAE) in national teachers' colleges (NTCs) in Uganda. The study adopted a qualitative approach where tutors' and pre-service visual arts teachers' (PVATs) views about the challenges facing them in the teaching and learning in visual arts were expressed. Data were collected from two purposively selected NTCs, and ten tutors. Yet, the 48 second year PVATs who participated in this study, were randomly selected from the many who were available. The researchers used interviews, document reviews and focus group discussions to collect data. The findings show that the challenges facing tutors in the teaching of visual arts have a great impact on what PVATs learn. Some visual art disciplines have too much content to be covered within a short period of two years. There is a general lack of teaching resources, such as art materials, tools and equipment, textbooks, and inadequate teaching space. The researchers recommended the reduction of the content of some visual art disciplines to fit the available time; provide art materials, tools and equipment as well as adequate teaching space which would allow the use of more appropriate teaching methods which would avail tutors with the opportunity to perform to their expectations in visual arts teaching.