Toro kingdom moves to revive Fort Portal's ageing public library
Toro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomire said the Kingdom had taken it upon itself to restore the facility to its former glory for the benefit of current and future generations.
Fort Portal Public Library, which is set for renovation. (Photo by Jonan Tusingwire)
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Toro kingdom has launched a campaign to restore the Fort Portal Public Library, with plans to renovate the ageing facility, stock it with new books and establish a heritage section aimed at preserving the kingdom's rich history and culture.
For decades, the library has served as the only public library in the Toro subregion, providing students, researchers and members of the public with access to reading and research materials.
However, the facility has fallen into disrepair, with a leaking roof, cracked walls, broken windows, worn-out bookshelves and outdated reading materials.
Speaking during a press conference to launch the initiative at the library, Toro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomire said the Kingdom had taken it upon itself to restore the facility to its former glory for the benefit of current and future generations.
Rwomire noted that the library, which was established in 1963 with the Toro Kingdom serving on its Board of Trustees, has played a significant role in promoting education in the region.
"I used this library, but its current state is not in good shape. If we take responsibility and remember that the Kingdom is the people, then this is our library. Why can't we restore it again?" he said.
"We can work with our friends abroad, and everyone brings in what he or she can afford. As we talk, a container of books is on the way from the United States to help refill these shelves," Rwomire added.
As part of the restoration programme, the kingdom also plans to establish a Toro Heritage Section within the library. The section will house books and publications documenting the history, culture and traditions of the Toro Kingdom, creating a valuable resource for students, researchers and visitors interested in the region's cultural heritage.
The prime minister also called on the government to urgently restore the facility, saying the deteriorating state of the library is denying learners access to a safe and conducive environment for reading and research.
"I call upon government to put in more effort. You cannot have a library without a ceiling and call it a place where children should read from," he said.
He acknowledged that while the Toro kingdom has taken the initiative to mobilise support from partners and well-wishers to renovate the library, the primary responsibility for rehabilitating such a public institution rests with the government.
Faith Muhereza, the librarian, said the kingdom's initiative comes at a critical time when the library is grappling with severe funding shortages that have left it unable to provide adequate learning resources and maintain its infrastructure.
Muhereza said inadequate funding has affected almost every aspect of the institution's operations, limiting its ability to serve students, researchers and other members of the public.
According to her, the facility lacks sufficient computers, while unreliable internet connectivity frequently disrupts research activities.
"We have challenges with funds. It is a big problem. The things we need, we can't get them. The computers are not enough, our internet is on and off, and those doing research are disturbed," she said.
She added that the library also lacks most of the secondary school textbooks aligned with Uganda's competency-based curriculum, making it difficult for learners to access the materials they need.
"Most of the secondary school books, especially those for the competency-based curriculum, we don't have them," Muhereza noted.
Besides the shortage of learning materials, Muhereza said the library building has deteriorated over the years and requires comprehensive renovation to make it safe and conducive for readers.