Uganda marks world reading day

At 11:00 am Thursday everyone in the country is expected to take 20 minutes off their time to read any publication to commemorate DEAR day.

DEAR stands for Drop Everything and Read. The day was set aside in Uganda by the ministry of education, science, technology and sports.

The literacy activity aims at promoting the reading culture which will in turn contribute to a country's development.

According to a statement from Peace corps Uganda, one of the partners celebrating the day, in low income countries studies demonstrate that improved literacy save lives.

"Researchers have discovered that improved public health in developing countries has a direct link to increased levels of formal schooling and literacy rates."

Juliet Namuddu Nambi, the director education and social services at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) said that reading gives one confidence in articulating facts.

"Good readers comprehend ideas, follow arguments and detect implications," she said.

Nambi was speaking during a press conference at the Kampala library and information center on Wednesday.

Aaron Kirunda, the Chief Executive Officer at Enjuba spelling bee, an organization that promotes reading added that the activity builds a child's imagination and exposes them to values.

Currently Uganda's literacy rate is estimated at 73 percent.

This will be the third year Uganda is joining the world to commemorate the day.

"Initially we had 25,000 participants, last year we had 100,000 and our target this year is 100,000," Emily Lamwaka, the program manager for education at Peace corps said.

Nambi urged the public to also reflect on the ability the libraries have in the transformation of the country.

She followed this up by highlighting KCCA's strategy on reading and library promotion in the country.

"We are in the process of revitalizing the mobile library services in the city with focus on our primary schools," she said.