Nambi Centre takes reading to Igombe

Feb 26, 2008

SCHOOL children walk slowly past the open resource centre in Igombe village near Jinja town. Some stop briefly before wandering in through the ever-welcoming doors.

By George Bita

SCHOOL children walk slowly past the open resource centre in Igombe village near Jinja town. Some stop briefly before wandering in through the ever-welcoming doors.

In an orderly manner, they register their presence at the reception and proceed to select books or newspapers to read. Although their population cannot be sustained by the available space, many resort to reading in the corridors.

A few others play football on the lawn by the roadside, attracting spectators clutching reading materials from the Nambi Sseppuuya Community Resource Centre.

However, a caretaker is on hand to ensure the young learners do not misuse any materials.

Judging by the learners' numbers, it is obvious there is much to read and learn from the centre, in its first phase of construction.

They come from several schools in the area, notably Kagoma Primary, Buwenge Parents Boarding and Igombe Junior School.

The centre, whose initial phase opened as a joint initiative of Justin Kiyimb’s family and villagers on February 24, 2007, is in memory of Kiyimba's daughter, Irene Nambi Sseppuuya.

Kiyimba says rather than set up a memorial church, the community realised their need for enhancement of reading techniques, thus settling for a resource centre.

“The children need reading skills to cope with the challenge from those in other parts of the country,” he adds.

Ruth Nansubuga, a teacher at Buwenge Parents Boarding Primary School, appreciates the reading skills imparted into the pupils who regularly visit the place.

“Much of the reading done here is relevant to school work and pupils have achieved a lot,” she says.

She says some pupils who had difficulties in revising their school work have learnt how to do it after the guidance they get at centre.

Kiyimba explains that the first phase of the work had been completed in time for the official opening last year by the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga. He says the main reading room and computer section with internet connectivity would come later.

The first stage of the resource centre inclusive of a storeroom, reception and office is complete, thanks to a donation from an Austrian NGO called Horizon 3000. A delegation from Horizon 3000 visited the centre two weeks ago.

Franz Hainzl of Horizon 3000 said of the resource centre: “It is one project the people of Austria who provide the cash are satisfied with. The structure in place is strong enough and I believe it can stand the test of time.”

Hainzl categorises the centre among small undertakings to which the NGO has contributed. Horizon 3000 has projects in other areas including Mityana and Masaka. It contributes 30% of the money, while the rest is from the Austrian government, Hainzl says. The organisation has given out over three billion euros in development projects in 28 years.

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