By George Bita
As if in respect to the common adage: the early bird catches the worm; the mobile library is on the move as early as 8:00am.
Mounted on a tri-cycle, the book-filled library makes its way across the rural environs of Kagoma county in Jinja district. At several stopover points, eager locals converge to read the numerous books.
The characteristic clamour of the motorcycle engine alerts the readers as the tri-cycle approaches from a distance. At every stop, people are given an opportunity to read for an hour or two before the library continues its journey.
Isa Maganda, the library manager, says the books and newspapers are categorised by the age of readers.
“With a capacity of about 1,200 volumes, the books are stacked in specific boxes,” he discloses.
As adults peruse their category of literature, the young ones have age-appropriate readers. The school-going children also have Vision Group’s PLE pullouts as well as Toto magazines.
Maganda says the library has been subscribing to monthly copies of both New Vision and Bukedde to ensure a steady supply.
“We have come up with a reading timetable that includes schools, trading centres as well as prison visits. The prisoners enjoy the books with the same enthusiasm as pupils,” Maganda says.
GENESIS
Justin Kiyimba, the chairperson of Uganda Community Libraries Association (UgCLA), says the Nambi Resource Centre, to which the mobile library is attached, was opened 15 years ago.
It is based about 15km from Jinja city at Igombe village, Kagoma county in Jinja district.
Kiyimba, also the founder and patron of the Nambi Resource Centre, attributes the achievements to God, saying the task at hand has not been an easy one.
“Several helpers came in including UK-based BookAid to get us this far. Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) gave us 40 computers for the ICT department to boost computer literacy in the locality,” he says.
Kiyimba says some of the local primary schools benefiting from the arrangement include St Peters, St Florence, Good Hope, Muguluka, Infant, Bright Angels, Kagoma and Buwenge Modern.
“The secondary schools include St Gonzaga, Muguluka Parents, Kagoma Hill, Pilkington College, Buwenge High and Modern,” he adds.
Dennis Kamali, the Igombe LCI chairperson, recalls that four years ago, the resource centre secured a bicycle-drawn book container that was utilised in helping locals read.
“Within a short time, we have graduated from the bicycle library to a bigger mobile unit. The villagers are definitely going to benefit from this free service,” Kamali says.
Kiyimba discloses that the mobile library, which was launched in December, is a donation from the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Rivermead in the UK.
CURRENT STATUS
David Balidawa, the director of Good Hope Nursery and Primary School, says his pupils have benefited tremendously from the mobile library.
“Our relationship with Nambi Resource Centre started almost six years ago. Pupils used to move over 5km to the rural library to read, but with the mobile facility, services have been brought closer,” Balidawa asserts.
He says the arrangement has been instrumental in improving the reading skills of the over 600 learners.
Harriet Namwase, a resident of Igombe village, says many villagers have boosted their literacy skills through the library.
“The Igombe women crafts group, with 60 members, often meet to attend an adult literacy class every Tuesday and Thursday. This helps us to effectively manage association matters,” Namwase says.
Grace Musitwa, a resident of Buwenge town, testifies that she relied on the mobile library to check newspaper archives for an advert about a letter of administration for the family estate.
“This saved me a lot of bother. I was able to have the evidence I needed just from a library moving around my neighbourhood,” Musitwa says.
Latifa Nabirye, a Primary Seven pupil at Kagoma Primary School, says she often revises copies of Pass PLE from the mobile library as it passes through the rural neighbourhood.
“My only wish is that my school equally stocks such useful reading material. In fact, on the days when the vehicle doesn’t pass by, I feel unhappy,” Nabirye says.
LITERACY LEVELS
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) data 2021, Uganda’s adult literacy rate stands at 76.53%. Males had a figure of 82.66% as compared to females with 70.84%.
The data for young persons (15-24 years) was slightly higher at 89.4%.
Kiyimba says the literacy rate for Jinja district, at an estimated 73%, is below the national average, thereby calling for interventions.
AUTHORITIES APPRECIATE
Kamali expressed his gratitude to Nambi Resource Centre for being a resourceful facility to the community.
“Now on top of opening the centre’s doors to locals to read freely, there is an arrangement to take services even nearer to those in need,” he says.
Kamali says some children who would have run to video halls to watch movies instead end up being drawn to read books with their peers.
Moses Batwala, the Jinja district chairperson, says the inclusion of women groups on the mobile library timetable is a step in the right direction.
“Once you educate a woman you have educated an entire nation. I am glad that we have not left this important group behind,” he says.
Eria Kisambira, the Jinja district inspector of schools, appreciates the initiative, saying it will improve the reading culture in area.
“It is an undertaking which is worthy emulating elsewhere. This does not only help school[1]going children, but also people out of school to boost their knowledge,” Kisambira says.
CHALLENGES FACED BY MOBILE LIBRARY
Muzafaru Buluke, a Primary Five pupil at Kagoma Primary School, says the time given to the learners to read is limited.
“We need more than the two hours. As one is still enjoying reading the stories, time is up and we have to hand over the books to the librarian,” Buluke says. Noerine Tibaga, a Primary Seven pupil at Good Hope Nursery and Primary School, says there are moments the mobile library comes when she is busy with house chores.
“The timetable is not favourable to every learner. However, since there are beneficiaries every time it passes by, we will forever be grateful,” Tibaga says.
Kiyimba says the increasing fuel prices have affected mobility of the library as it requires more funding to sustain the road trip.
“Since our mission is to get readers on the way, sudden weather changes affect our programmes quite often. It may rain or tend to be so hot, which affects the turnout,” he says.
Maganda says after the COVID-19 break, some teachers keep learners so busy with remedial class work that they have no time to read library books.
He adds that some village pathways are difficult to navigate, especially when it rains and the mobile library at times gets stuck.
“Some playful children often tear books in the process of reading. This compromises the status of our valuable reading materials,” he says.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
SAMALIE IWALA, TEACHER AT GOOD HOPE NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL
I am happy with the service provided by the mobile library. Our children have learnt sharing skills, confidence and proper reading habits.
ANDREW WANDERA, TEACHER
The children keep discussing and learning from each other because of the library. This has greatly assisted them to improve their spoken English.
SUZAN NALUGERA, PARENT FROM KAGOMA PARISH
Children and adults alike are learning every day from this mobile library. It is far better than sitting idle or playing cards at the trading centre.
FRANCIS OJOK, PARENT FROM BUWENGE TOWN
My children keep running after the mobile library motor vehicle whenever it passes our home. This is a testimony that they know the importance of what is carried inside.
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