Vision Group donates books, challenges schools to revive reading culture

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In a bid to foster a love for reading among young people, Vision Group, a leading media house, has donated books to Greenhill Primary School as a way of challenging educational institutions to promote a reading culture among learners.

Vision Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Don Wanyama, who was the chief guest at the 2025 Sports Day held at Buwaate Parish in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, emphasised the importance of reading in a child’s personal, social, and academic development.

Wanyama noted that reading lies at the heart of the school curriculum, from primary to university level. He lamented the decline in Uganda’s reading culture, attributing it to the advent of technology and social media.

According to Wanyama, a journalist and professional English and literature teacher, reading is essential for a child’s success, and it is crucial for schools to prioritise it.

“We have a book publishing arm of our business, Vision Publishing, and as one of the partners sponsoring the event, we have donated 110 textbooks of Integrated Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, and English readers' books,” he said.

He added that parents need to be part of the learners’ initiative by embracing efforts that promote understanding, critical and cognitive thinking, in line with the new curriculum directed by the Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda.

As part of its engagement strategy, Vision Group challenged both school administrators and parents to join the education fraternity in promoting a reading culture in schools—one that has slowly declined due to the influence of technology and social media.

“Much as we push forward to move with the technological world, nobody can ably comprehend technological works and publications without key basic standards of language understanding, which can only be realised through intensive reading of printed literature,” he said.

He praised Greenhill Primary School Buwaate for integrating sports with classroom learning, saying it cultivates well-rounded learners with critical thinking capacity, something that reading facilitates.

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote reading, Vision Group has been supplying reading materials and books to schools. The company’s publications, including teen pull-outs, university guides, and Toto Magazine for children, aim to make reading engaging and accessible.

These publications feature stories in simple English, designed to help children comprehend complex ideas. Wanyama called on parents to support their children by buying books for home reading.

Benon Takirambudde, head teacher at Greenhill Primary School Buwaate, appreciated Vision Group’s initiative, saying it motivates schools to prioritise reading, which is a step in the right direction.

“By promoting reading culture, we can empower young people with essential literacy skills, improve their academic performance, and bridge the gap between introverted children and outspoken learners who share a lot with others at school,” he said.

Takirambudde is committed to strengthening partnerships that cultivate a love for reading among young people and set them up for future success.