Category: Uganda

The community mountain bike mobile library is an initiative of Marko Lukooya memorial community library which is going to support communities access books through and after Covid- era supported by book aid micro projects grant.
On 20th of October, we received funds for the Book Aid Micro project to implement the mountain mobile library in the communities of Bbanda Bugenderadala, Kyandanza, Nantula, Nakayaga and Sunga and surrounding areas. The project started with identifying youth who will be involved in the project. We decided to have 14 youth trained as they will be switched and working in groups, this is because there was interests of our youth to learn more of being community mobile librarians. The One-day training was done and the group have been taken through learning how to ride bikes especially the girls who did not know how to ride. The next steps is make a community survey as planned which will guide on books purchase that are missing in our library also the request by the community through our survey. Photo 1 Purchased Mt. Bikes ready for use in the project at Marko Lukooya Memorial Community Library Veranda. Photo 2 is of the girls at Marko Lukooya Learning how to ride bikes before community survey. The next steps will be shared in the upcoming report.

From Emmanuel Anguyo, an update from Mpolyabigere community library about the ongoing progress of the SOAKO project. 

SOMAKO – READit project in Namayumba, Wakiso District has raised so much interest among the children. The enthusiasm to read and write has is gaining momentum among all ages as you can see from the pictures. We managed to set up the ten SOMAKO clubs in October and distributed reading materials mostly in English. Some of them were large volumes. Interestingly, children and adults picked up all kinds of books large and small and I could hear some reading in Luganda. This meant that the pictures where the main source of the reading. We then supplied some charts and the writing materials. The children designed books, drew pictures and were so interested in sharing their books. It is raining and the reading spaces are messy, the children are dirty and the parents are busy in the gardens. Excuses about making the books dirty are emerging. We continue to encourage the adults not to mind so much about dirt but to train them in handwashing. There has been a delay in delivery of washing equipment and solar because of competing activities especially delay in producing labels. The focus this month is to role out on the reading and writing challenges related to covid and Christmas. We are also faced with the challenges of teachers and parents in some clubs who are inclined to teaching and not allowing the children to enjoy themselves. 
Rev. Dr Gulere, Director Education and Research, Mpolyabigere Libraries Uganda

From Kate Parry, recently in Uganda:

Last Friday I visited the library, unannounced; it was my first visit in weeks. The place was busy: 17 young children were there, reading or at least looking at the storybooks, and 8 teenagers, who were working with our three computers (this is why we want to buy some new ones if we can afford it). Mr. Mayanja, who leads our Library Band was also there and eager to tell me about a project he has for Christmas: a special performance for some of the poorest people in the village, with a small gift to each of them of sugar and other necessities. He’s fundraising for it now, so I’ve promised him a contribution. I will hand it over next Friday, when the Band’s putting on a special performance for me to celebrate my recovery from surgery. I got no photographs of the Band last week, but here is an older picture of them. The drumming and dancing are terrific!

Good morning members how are you, greetings from M-LISADA. It’s been long since we last communicated but our library is doing so well,our children are committed to coming everyday and they are so active in participating. During this period of the lock down we have engaged our children with different activities that are in the library and these are some of the activities that we have been doing in the library. Reading out loud, most of our children have been able to read audibly a story book to their friends. Story telling, this has helped our children to be attentive and participate during the activity,and most of them have been able to ask questions were necessary. Debates, this has helped to build confidence among the children. Riddles, this has helped our children to know the hidden meanings of some words. Playing games, this has helped our children to be active, be great thinkers and learn how to plan for something very well. Games like puzzles, cheese, Ludo and cards(matatu).

Mpolyabigere community library and users of the library received their donations of books from Book Aid International through UgCLA. They will use these books for the on-going SOMAKO (read) project.

Good intro to Busolwe community library in Uganda: “The role of Busolwe community library in improving the children’s reading culture in lunyole language“. More information about the library in Busolwe is here.

Kikulu Zone Community Library is one of the (16) sixteen community-based libraries linked to PeerLink Initiative Uganda (PELI-U) an organization that works through a Community Library and Empowerment Center model and facilitates and supports the setting up of community-based libraries.

Kikulu Zone Community Library is located in Kikulu Zone, Kikaaya Parish, Kawempe Division, Kampala District. It was started by Kikulu Zone LC1 leadership and is housed in a space donated by Kikulu Zone Chairperson. The library serves as a venue through which community members’ access information, reading space, reading and learning materials, guidance and counseling services and network and partnership opportunities. The goal is to increase access to reading and learning materials to Kikulu zone community members.

The library was launched on 15th September 2021 at its premises in Kikulu Zone. The library currently holds over 500 books both new and old received from Uganda Community Libraries Association (UgCLA) through Book Aid International (BAI) purchases and gifts. The library has got a committee of 5 members headed by Bukenya Ismail.

The Mpolyabigere Community Library received 256 new books from UgCLA through Book Aid International donations. Below are two photos: 1. Father Cornelius Wambi Gulere and the readers, and Cornelius, Ugcla Coordinator, and the books received.

UgCLA member libraries participated in a community reading award micro project by Book Aid International where 4 managed to go through; Marko Lukooya Community Library, Mpolyabigere community Library, Mummy Foundation Community Library and Katakwi community Library. The award called for project ideas where all those winners selected are to receive 1400 pounds each to implement the project from September 2021 to June 2022. UgCLA will be the supervising partner on behalf of BAI.

Muhammad, an assistant librarian at Kitengesa Community Library in Uganda, sent a short note that the library held a reading day event, with
16 pupils from the local school for the deaf, 20 pupils from St. Joseph Lwannunda, 35 village youth including some teachers. A big turnout for reading and promoting the library!

Bugolobi library in Uganda was operating normally in 2020 until the pandemic hit in March. A lockdown was announced and remained in place until June. The library remained closed for the duration of the lockdown. Children were prohibited from the library due to difficulties in enforcing the health and safety measures, but teenagers and adults had access. The library was closed again in October due to the public atmosphere but had become fully operational by January 2021 with health measures fully in place. The librarian faced many challenges, particularly in the difficulty of traveling, but has persevered and made headway in reorganizing the library and adopting good hygiene practices.