NABOTU pushes for libraries
Jun 20, 2004
JANE is a senior four student from a poor family deep in a rural area of Nakapiripirit district. Neither can her parents afford to buy for her textbooks, nor does she have access to books to read free of charge.
By Denis Ocwich
JANE is a senior four student from a poor family deep in a rural area of Nakapiripirit district. Neither can her parents afford to buy for her textbooks, nor does she have access to books to read free of charge.
In a world which is getting more driven by the Information and Communication Technology (IT), the rural communities in Uganda are not yet getting a fair share.
“We have seen the penetration of mobile phones and FM radios in rural areas...but we haven’t seen the penetration of libraries in rural areas,†said James Tumusiime, the chairman of the National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU).
Which is the reason this year’s Uganda Book Week Festival, which runs from July 5th to 10th, is laying emphasis on upcountry library development.
With the theme “Libraries for Knowledge and Developmentâ€, NABOTU is bringing all stakeholders on board to brainstorm on how to boost book readership and information dissemination in the rural areas.
As an umbrella NGO set up to promote reading and the book industry in Uganda, NABOTU brings together the key players in the book industry, including the government, NGOs, and international partners.
“The Government is still giving lip service to the development of libraries. We want a co-ordinated approach to setting up libraries and information resource centres at every sub-county level all over the country,†Tumusiime who is also the managing director of Fountain Publishers, told Education Vision last week.
“There are many people who have left school, UPE products and those who have undergone adult education so they can read. We need to encourage them to read by setting up a centre where they can get reading materials,†Tumusiime added. To chart the way forward, NABOTU is hosting a one-day conference for about 50 stakeholders on libraries, including district secretaries for information. The Rockefeller-funded workshop is to take place at Hotel Equatorial.
The 12th Book Week Festival will also see NABOTU donate primary school books (Readers) worth $10,000 to 36 schools in 12 districts in western Uganda. Last year books worth $8,500 were given.
Jackie Kateera, the Executive Officer of NABOTU said after aiding schools in the west, they will move over to other regions. She said giving books to primary schools is important because children are part of NABOTU’s significant target groups.
“Because when you start with somebody who is still young, you are more likely going to develop the reading culture,†said Kateera.
As an annual event to mark the Book Week Festival, NABOTU is also to host the 9th Uganda International Bookfair (UGIBF 2004), whose main venue will be at the Constitutional Square in Kampala. Other fairs will be at upcountry public libraries.
This year’s chief guest at the UGIBF, which will have children’s readers tents and all types of books and cultures, is scheduled to be the king of Bunyoro Kitara, Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru. Last year the chief guest was Tooro child King, Oyo Nyimba.
“We are emphasising the cultural aspect into reading because the main form of transmitting information has been through culture,†said Kateera.
Over 70 exhibitors, including regional and international publishers and book sellers are expected to attend the exhibition.
Ends
JANE is a senior four student from a poor family deep in a rural area of Nakapiripirit district. Neither can her parents afford to buy for her textbooks, nor does she have access to books to read free of charge.
In a world which is getting more driven by the Information and Communication Technology (IT), the rural communities in Uganda are not yet getting a fair share.
“We have seen the penetration of mobile phones and FM radios in rural areas...but we haven’t seen the penetration of libraries in rural areas,†said James Tumusiime, the chairman of the National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU).
Which is the reason this year’s Uganda Book Week Festival, which runs from July 5th to 10th, is laying emphasis on upcountry library development.
With the theme “Libraries for Knowledge and Developmentâ€, NABOTU is bringing all stakeholders on board to brainstorm on how to boost book readership and information dissemination in the rural areas.
As an umbrella NGO set up to promote reading and the book industry in Uganda, NABOTU brings together the key players in the book industry, including the government, NGOs, and international partners.
“The Government is still giving lip service to the development of libraries. We want a co-ordinated approach to setting up libraries and information resource centres at every sub-county level all over the country,†Tumusiime who is also the managing director of Fountain Publishers, told Education Vision last week.
“There are many people who have left school, UPE products and those who have undergone adult education so they can read. We need to encourage them to read by setting up a centre where they can get reading materials,†Tumusiime added. To chart the way forward, NABOTU is hosting a one-day conference for about 50 stakeholders on libraries, including district secretaries for information. The Rockefeller-funded workshop is to take place at Hotel Equatorial.
The 12th Book Week Festival will also see NABOTU donate primary school books (Readers) worth $10,000 to 36 schools in 12 districts in western Uganda. Last year books worth $8,500 were given.
Jackie Kateera, the Executive Officer of NABOTU said after aiding schools in the west, they will move over to other regions. She said giving books to primary schools is important because children are part of NABOTU’s significant target groups.
“Because when you start with somebody who is still young, you are more likely going to develop the reading culture,†said Kateera.
As an annual event to mark the Book Week Festival, NABOTU is also to host the 9th Uganda International Bookfair (UGIBF 2004), whose main venue will be at the Constitutional Square in Kampala. Other fairs will be at upcountry public libraries.
This year’s chief guest at the UGIBF, which will have children’s readers tents and all types of books and cultures, is scheduled to be the king of Bunyoro Kitara, Omukama Solomon Gafabusa Iguru. Last year the chief guest was Tooro child King, Oyo Nyimba.
“We are emphasising the cultural aspect into reading because the main form of transmitting information has been through culture,†said Kateera.
Over 70 exhibitors, including regional and international publishers and book sellers are expected to attend the exhibition.
Ends