Musician inspires UPE schools by revamping libraries, reading

O.P.U chats with pupils before the National Writing Competition.

With most pupils and people in the country less interested in reading, a new initiative, by a musician, to encourage learners to appreciate reading, might pay off. 

Reading Is Cool (RIC) is social change campaign or project that started in April 2016, by a musician. East Kololo Primary School is the first beneficiary of the initiative. It was conjured up by a renowned hip-hop artiste from Koboko in West Nile, Opu Isaac a.k.a O.P.U. 

When he saw the lacking and almost dilapidated library of the school, it deeply touched his heart as an Old Boy of the school, according to Roland Agaba the partner of this project. 

Through RIC, Opu seeks to establish 100 reading clubs in Primary schools around Kampala with Membership of 5,000 pupils by the end of by end of 2026. He also plans to restore and restock the 48 libraries in the country by end of 2021, he further says. 

"The project was given backing by the Education department of Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA)," says Agaba. He decided to roll up his sleeves and bring about the change he wanted to see using music to promote the RIC idea, he adds. 

According to Florence Kyoshabire the education officer at KCCA, Reading Is Cool project is a huge leap toward development of great young readers and writers in Uganda. 

A ROW Records representative hands out scholastic materials procured from proceeds of the first Drink Party Series at Big Mikes to pupils.

"The RIC initiative is very impressive as noticed at East Kololo Primary School," says Kyoshabire.

"We have granted you permission to do more 10 schools.  After that, you will be allowed to proceed to more of the KCCA schools in Kampala which add up to 81 schools." 

Opu is also an old student of East Kololo Primary where he was a head boy. Opu who is known by his famous songs like; Unheard Music, My Journey, Embrace Hip-hop, Inside My Heart, More Than Dear and his first break through song Warrior among other hits, was appalled by the school's lack of books for readings and the misery faced by underprivileged pupils who can't afford basic scholastic material such as school bags, pens, pencils and mathematical sets. 

East Kololo primary, through this initiative got enormous support from various organizations, which have given those books and other scholastic materials. 

But it is not the only organisation which has helped this school of late. The Uganda Revenue Authority, in their celebration of 25 years anniversary, it donated textbooks to East Kololo Primary School. 

Every week, nowadays, pupils of Primary Five to Seven meet in this school's library to read stories from the selected books. 

Pupils are also involved in debates, to help them understand the value of building confidence in their studies. 

"Most pupils showed confidence and enthusiasm as they read and argued about everything discussed," explains Opu. "Spelling sessions are also part of the reading session." 

In every session a mentor or guest speaker is invited to the school. 

Apart from improving the reading culture, he also uses music to encourage pupils to stay in school. Opu says edu-entertainment (Education through Entertainment) is a viable stage to deliver inspiration especially to young minds such as primary going children. 

"Once you are entertained, you are most likely to learn," he adds. "Music rather can have a powerful, energetic and boundless social impact on society and communities we live in, thus the best opportunity to change the world." 

Opu says, "That's why I chose to use my talent to bring hope and inspiration to children through boosting reading culture." 

"I like reading, I'm widely read though its perceived artistes don't read as much as academicians or they don't really go far in education," Opu asserts. 

"I will not rest until this campaign spreads its wings to a good number of UPE schools across the country," he affirms. "I hope every UPE primary school child will benefit from this project." 

This project is not alone in the effort to promote reading culture in Uganda. "We are in partnership with a social enterprise known as Ewa-Africa and its partners and promoters -R.O.W Records," Agaba explains. 

Beneficiaries speak out 

The headmaster of East Kololo Primary School adds that, "The RIC campaign shows that indeed we can change our schools, if we serious look at new ways of encouraging them to read." 

 "When we read on our own, it helps us understand better. This new campaign is really interesting," says Jackson Atugonza, a Primary Six pupil in the school. 

Most of the children come from low income families where accessibility and affordability of books are hard, according to Byaruhanga Ambrose the deputy head teacher. 

"When Reading Is Cool was established, the school Management Committee that is made up of parents, teachers and well-wishers welcomed it with a passion," he adds. "Our pupils have greatly improved their reading and spelling skills owing to the restoration of the school library and creation of educational activities such as debates and sports."

The second deputy head teacher of East Kololo Primary School, Wakale Ketty expressed her gratitude toward project, saying their school was always forgotten on most projects. "East Kololo Primary School is one of the oldest schools in Kampala yet for a long time it hasn't been recognized for educational development," asserts Wakale. "We thank the RIC team for recognising the school as one of the oldest schools that have educated, thus impacted people's lives out there." 

"RIC has played a significant role of nurturing the reading culture in the school," she adds. "Our pupils can now go to the library because they have the zeal to read. It was a different story before the restoration of our school library and the push for reading activities by RIC team." 

Another teacher Olivia Abigaba says that, "We can't thank RIC team enough." "I was relieved from struggling to teach pupils to read and spell," clarifies Abigaba. "Since RIC project started at school, my work has been easy because pupils know what to do." 

She adds my pupils can now even try to challenge me with new and hard words they have learned during the Reading is Cool sessions. 

Elizabeth Kisakye a Primary Five pupil at the school says she is proud to be a beneficiary of Reading Is Cool project, "It helped me discover myself. I used not to be confident when reading, but now I read well to my dad and mum, my siblings, teachers and people in my neighbourhood." 

Another pupil, Hamuza Tumukunde a pupil of Primary six appreciates the RIC project for supporting him academically. "I'm so happy that RIC project started in our school. I have benefitted from it so much that I can't thank the founders enough for ensuring the pupils of this school have the basic reading and writing materials such as pens, pencils, crayons and mathematical sets." 

Charles Tamale the East Kololo Primary School head teacher.

Annet Twonobusinge says that, she has noticed an improvement with her child's reading, this academic year.  "At first, my daughter in Primary Six could not read alone. She is now more focused, and this is really encouraging. The schools' projects might be transforming my child." 

 Challenges 

However, according to Agaba, they face lots of challenges to push the cause. Financial constraints and lack of enough media support is making their work difficult. 

‘We at R.O.W Records make apparels such as T-shirts, caps, jumpers, sweatshirts, and produce music and promote events,' says Agaba.  "Part of the proceeds is used to support communities through projects like Reading Is Cool (RIC) and One Dollar Foundation. 

Agaba calls upon NGOs, Corporate companies, government, and civil society and well- wishers to join the cause of impacting the society positively.