Employee engagement is an important element for the sustained competitive advantage of organisations. Therefore, it is important to examine practices likely to enhance it among employees. This article examined the relationship between initial person-environment fit practices and academic staff engagement in private universities in Western Uganda. Particularly, the study examined whether the initial person-environment fit practices, namely recruitment, selection and socialisation, were significantly related to the employee engagement of teaching staff. The study was correlational, involving a sample of 222 academic staff from three private universities. Data was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicated that the model was appropriate, for the constructs were fit for structural modelling. Hypothesis test results revealed that recruitment, selection and socialization were significantly related to employee engagement among teaching staff. It was concluded that the implementation of an appropriate recruitment and selection process, as well as the proper socialisation of new academic staff, promotes their work engagement in terms of absorption, dedication and vigour. Therefore, it was recommended that appointment boards and human resource directorates in universities implement appropriate recruitment and effective selection practices that promote academic staff engagement. Further, human resource directorates, deans of faculties and heads of departments should make an effort to socialise new teaching staff to promote work engagement among teaching staff.