COLAU 2022 ANNUAL REPORT

1. Community Libraries Association of Uganda
P. O. Box 34004, Kampala
+ (256) 783 830 160 - Chairperson
+ (256) 773 559 103 - Coordinator
Email: ugcomlib2007@gmail.com
Website: www.uclia.org
Annual report
2022

2. ii
Table of Contents
Acronyms................................................................................................................................... iii
1. About Community Libraries Association of Uganda............................................................. 1
2. Board Composition ............................................................................................................. 2
3. Membership........................................................................................................................ 3
4. Highlights from community libraries..................................................................................... 4
5. Community Reading Awards............................................................................................... 6
6. Annual conference and General Meeting 2022 ................................................................... 7
7. Projects............................................................................................................................... 8
8. Books donations ................................................................................................................. 9
9. Library visits.......................................................................................................................10
10. Partnerships ...................................................................................................................11
11. Areas for support to COLAU and the members ..............................................................13
12. Conclusion .....................................................................................................................14
Appendix I: Annual Work Plan 2023..........................................................................................15

3. iii
Acronyms
BAI Book Aid International
COLAU Community Libraries Association of Uganda
FAVL Friends of African Village Libraries
GC Girls Centre
HPU Health Partners Uganda
ICT Information Communication Technology
NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations
NLU National Library of Uganda
RAU Reading Association of Uganda
UgCLA Uganda Community Libraries Association
URSB Uganda Registration Services Bureau

4. 1
1. About Community Libraries Association of Uganda
The Community Libraries Association of Uganda is a networking organization for
community libraries in Uganda. It was registered as a national NGO in 2007 and has since
then been joined by over 100 member libraries, more than 20 of which were founded as
a result of COLAU’s existence and encouragement. Other libraries that were established
before joining COLAU had their capacity increased as a result of their membership of the
organization. Our mission is to complement the education system of Uganda and promote
the development of productive literacy practices by encouraging and supporting the
growth of community libraries. Our vision is of “A library in every village of Uganda.”
COLAU aims to establish and maintain a network of such libraries throughout the country
and cooperates for the purpose with other national organizations with similar interests as
well as with international organizations that are concerned with the promotion of literacy
for development. The association is guided by the following objectives;
1. To promote a reading culture in Uganda through the establishment and
development of community libraries.
2. To create a forum through which community libraries in Uganda can network, and
share knowledge and best practices for better service delivery.
3. To enhance the capacity of community libraries in Uganda to deliver quality
services.
4. To monitor and evaluate the development of community libraries in Uganda.
5. To lobby and advocate for a supportive environment that promotes and sustains
community libraries.
The Association has already transformed from its previous name “Uganda Community
Libraries Association (UgCLA)” to now “Community Libraries Association of
Uganda (COLAU)” which was a guidance from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau
(URSB) during the renewal of the association permit of operation, that anything starting
with ‘Uganda’ as an organization/company represents a Government body yet the
Association is NGO. Currently, the Association is still being hosted at Kawempe Youth
Centre Uganda one of the active community libraries.

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2. Board Composition
The new board of trustees elected by the general assembly at the July 2022 Annual
General Meeting is composed of 10 members:
Board of Trustees 2022 - 2025
S/N Name Position Duty Station/ Location
1 Prof. Solomon Ochwo-
Oburu
Chairperson Tororo/Kampala
2 Ms. Olivia Mugabirwe Vice Chairperson Kampala
3 Ms. Esther Kyazike Treasurer Kampala
4 Mr. Enoch Magala Secretary Kampala
5 Prof. Kate Parry Member 1/Founder / past
chairperson
New York/
Kampala/ Masaka
6 Mr. Augustine Napagi Member 2 /past chairperson Kampala
7 Mr. Justin N. Kiyimba Member 3/past chairperson Jinja/Kampala
8 Dr. Jane Kawalya Member 4 Kampala
9 Mr. Issa Maganda Member 5 Jinja
10 Mr. Ivan Kaibo Member 6 Butaleja
All the board members run community/home based libraries within their localities and are
dedicated to service.

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3. Membership
COLAU’s library, institutional and individual membership now stands at 150 members
from 140 in 2021 (view list on www.uclia.org ). Membership is for individuals who have
demonstrated interest in COLAU’s objectives, recognized community libraries, NGOs,
other kinds of libraries, institutions and commercial companies established in Uganda. In
2022, a number of 28 libraries paid their annual subscription.
List of paid up members 2022
S/N Library/Institution District
1 Nyarushanje Community library and
Empowerment Centre
Rukungiri
2 Youth Corps Learning Centre Kampala
3 Nyungu Streams Community
Resource Centre
Sheema
4 Dr. Jane Kawalya Kampala
5 PEFO Busia community library Busia
6 PEFO Jinja Community library Jinja
7 Art of a child Uganda Wakiso
8 Nyaka Blue Lupin community
library (Kutamba)
Rukungiri
9 Nyaka Blue Lupin community
library
Kanungu
10 DWW Children’s library Sironko
11 Centre For Youth Driven
Development Initiatives
Wakiso
12 Namanya Memorial Community
Library
Wakiso
13 Uganda Martyr’s University Masaka
14 YMCA Library Kampala
15 Access Knowledge Africa Mukono
16 Caezaria public library Buikwe

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17 Nagongera Public Library and
Resource Centre
Tororo
18 Arlington Junior School and
community library
Mbale
19 Lutex Community Library Mukono
20 Pallisa Public Library Pallisa
21 Kawempe Youth Centre Uganda Kampala
22 Adult Education Centre Buikwe
23 Book Drive –Read to learn
Foundation
Kampala
24 Gulu Book Point community library Gulu
25 Busesa Community Library Iganga
26 Youth Rising Community Library Mukono
27 YMCA Jinja Jinja
28 Leadership Resource Centre Kagadi
There has been an increase in subscription compared to the year 2021. During the AGM,
members agreed to increase the fees from 50,000 shs to 100,000 shs. We urge members
to clear their library subscriptions in time.
4. Highlights from community libraries
Kawempe Youth Centre community Library (Kampala district)
Kawempe Youth Centre
community Library located in
Kawempe division in
Kampala city, because of the
pandemic children's activities
and library usage was on
hold. After opening the
economy, the library is now
open for use. Library users

8. 5
returning to school are making use of the library. The library staff and volunteers made
efforts to have the children's section ready by sorting books and shelving according to the
levels. Weeding of information material to create space for new information material was
done.
Zinunula community library (Mukono District)
They get pupils from different schools around to access the facility. There are 10 primary
schools within the reach of the library. With the limited space they have, they are working
hard to have shelves for the library in order to well arrange their information materials.
Currently, the books are displayed as below
This library was founded by Vicent Zinunula pictured above.

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Kutamba Blue Lupin Community library (Rukungiri district)
Kutamba Blue Lupin Community
library is located in Nyakishenyi sub-
county Rukungiri district in south
western Uganda under Nyaka to
enhance knowledge and community
awareness through the use of ICT
and increased reading culture.
The Library opens at 8:00am-
5:00pm Monday to Friday throughout
the year.
The library provides a free reading room for students and members of the community to
read newspapers and textbooks to enhance knowledge and community awareness.
The library also provides a computer room comprised of 9 desktop computers and 4
laptops with access to wireless internet. There is a librarian responsible for advising
library users on how to get books, repairing and ordering new books, keeping order in the
library, computer training, printing, photocopying, scanning services and management of
the functional rooms.
“Free computer lessons are provided to Nyaka staff members, primary and secondary
school students during the holiday” Tusiimire Mark, Librarian.
5. Community Reading Awards
Book Aid International awarded £1400 each to 4 community libraries to implement
reading programs in the communities surrounding them. COLAU’s role was to monitor
progress of such projects which was done successfully. The libraries implemented the
following projects;
1. Mummy Foundation community Library - I am the story champ aimed at forming
book clubs that conduct reading activities.

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2. Katakwi Community Library - Magoro mobile bicycle library aimed at taking books
to distant areas and forming of book clubs.
3. Mpolyabigere Community Library - SOMAKO (READit) aimed at providing books
to over 20 households in areas of Namutumba.
4. Marko Lukooya Community Library - Mobile Mountain Bike Library aimed at
delivering books in hard to reach areas.
6. Annual conference and General Meeting 2022
The Association held its annual conference and general meeting from 21st to 23rd July,
2022, hosted by Music For Life Africa Foundation - Marko Lukooya Community Library in
Mukono district. A number of 61 participated took part in this 3 day event. Being an
election AGM, members voted for a new board composed of 10 members to represent
them. The theme for the conference was “Building Resilience among community libraries
during post covid-19 in Uganda”. Libraries were urged to embrace technology in order to
adjust to the new ways of delivering effective and efficient library and community services.
Participants during the Conference and AGM

11. 8
7. Projects
Digital skills camps
These camps were held by partners Meandeleo Foundation and MTN Uganda in 5
community libraries of Caezaria, Saraw Horrowitz, Busesa, Nyungu Streams Community
Resource Centre and Leadership resource centre in districts of Buikwe, Mbale, Sheema
Iganga and Kagadi respectively. These digital camps aimed to equip the local community
about digital basics in access to information. Certificates were awarded to all participants
who fully completed the programs.
Participants at Leadership Resource Centre after receiving certificates
Digital skills at your local library
Community libraries took part in a digital skills training organized by Electronic Information
For Libraries (EIFL) in partnership with Meandeleo Foundation, National Library of
Uganda (NLU) and Peer 2 Peer University (P2PU). Libraries of Kawempe Youth Centre,
Nakaseke Tele centre, Kitengesa community library, Centre For Youth Driven
Development Initiatives, Marko Lukooya Community Library, Nyarushanje community
library and empowerment centre, Pallisa public library, Mbarara Public Library, Bugiri
public library and Mummy Foundation implemented the digital skills acquired using online
course materials from P2PU to enhance digital literacy levels in communities.

12. 9
Librarians and partners after a knowledge sharing meeting at Sojovalo Hotel in Kampala.
8. Books donations
Through Book Aid International donated books, a number of 22 community libraries
received information materials from COLAU in areas of law, medicine and health care,
children and primary, business and finance, fiction, vocational, reference among others.
The following libraries benefitted from the consignment.
S/N Community library/Institution District No. of books
received
1. Nyaka Blue Lupin community library Kanungu and
Rukungiri
430
2. Tusome Reading club Wakiso 162
3. DWW childrens library Sironko 256
4. Nyungu Streams community library Sheema 214
5. YMCA Kampala Kampala 117
6. Malaika Childrens Mobile Library Kampala and
Kayunga
55
7. Centre for Youth Driven
Development Initiatives
Wakiso 61
8. Clarke Junior School Library Kampala 118

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9. Art of a child community library Wakiso 101
10. Namanya Memorial Communty
Library
Wakiso 36
11. Uganda Martyrs University Masaka 110
12. Magale Community library Namisindwa 460
13. Youth Rising community library Mukono 160
14. Bushikori Community Library Mbale 100
15. Buhweju Girls centre Buhweju 100
16. Bishop Ceaser Asili girls centre Luweero 100
17. Kyabirukwa Girls centre Isingiro 100
18. Florence Nightinghale Girls Centre Apac 100
19. Kawempe Youth Centre Kampala 210
20. YMCA Jinja Jinja 89
21. Nyarushanje community library and
Empowerment centre
Rukungiri 46
22. Marko Lukooya Memorial
Communty Library
Mukono 105
NLU has been a key player in making the consignment reach COLAU and its members.
These donations have helped increase reading materials for users in libraries today.
Books are borrowed by users and schools they work with.
9. Library visits
As part of the Associations programs, the coordinator was able to visit the following
libraries for different activities; Kawempe Youth Centre, Marko Lukooya Memorial, Sarah
Horrowitz, Youth Corps Learning Centre, Nyungu Streams Resource Centre, YMCA Kampala
Library, Lutex Community library, PEFO Jinja library, CFYDDI Library, Art of a child library, Nambi
Sseppuuya resource centre, Nagongera community library, National library of Uganda, Bushikoru
community library, Buhweju girls centre library, Florence Nightingale library, Bishop Ceasar Asili
centre, Monica Memorial resource centre, Kyabirukwa Girls centre, Mbarara public library
and Tororo public library.

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10.Partnerships
Health Partners Uganda
A new partnership was formed with Health partners Uganda (HPU), for a USAID project
Connect Girls Center (CGC), a project aimed at increasing community resilience and
cooperative business performance, improving the cooperative enabling environment and
access to design strategies and solutions. COLAU agreed to;
 Donate reading resources and materials to CGC established in different parts.
 Register girls center libraries after CGC fulfilling the requirements for registration.
 Share contacts of the different community libraries in Uganda.
 Allow GC members to benefit from programs implemented by the association with
a focus on girl’s empowerment in menstrual hygiene.
 Provide ongoing support to GC with an objective of integrating GC libraries into the
network for continuity and sustainability
Five community libraries have been started by the HPU; Bushikori community library,
Florence Nightingale, Buhweju Girls centre, Bishop Caezer Asili and Kyabirukwa GC. A
feasibility study was done by the HPU, NLU and COLAU to assess the needs of the
libraries in order to serve well their communities.
Rotary Uganda
The rotary partners through their Basic Education and Literacy Enhancement Program
(BELEP) signed an MOU with COLAU in order foster reading by working together with
community libraries around the country. Each library was mapped to the nearest Rotary
club in order to design activities and implement projects in line with the goals and
objectives of a given library.

15. 12
The chairperson COLAU Solomon Ochwo-Oburu together with the District 9213 Governor Mike
Kennedy Sebalu signing on MOU and officially launching the BELEP Program

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11.Areas for support to COLAU and the members
COLAU - A home to have its office
- Financial support to be able to visit
more libraries
- Capacity building for staff
- Stationery to conduct activities and
office use
- Publicity support
- ICT Equipment; computers,
internet and digital camera.
- Furniture; office chairs, tables,
lockers, shelves, cabinet etc.
- Links to potential partners and
networks to support its work
MEMBERS - Book donations in English/local
language
- Publicity of activities/services
- Training in library management
- ICT equipment; computers, tablets,
Internet connectivity
- Power supply
- Stationery to conduct activities
- Furniture; office chairs and tables,
lockers, shelves, cabinet etc.

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12.Conclusion
We take this honour and pleasure to thank all the stakeholders and partners for their
tremendous efforts and support either directly or indirectly towards working and
supporting the activities of COLAU and its members;
1. Friends of African Village libraries (FAVL) for providing administrative financial
support towards the work of COLAU and also funding the Conference and AGM of
July 2022
2. Book Aid International for donating over 5,000 books to libraries and funding
projects in relation to reading promotion.
3. Kawempe Youth Centre for hosting the Association.
4. National Library of Uganda (NLU) for support in training community librarians in
library management, involving community libraries in projects and linking
community libraries to potential partners, funders and sponsors.
5. Maendeleo Foundation for promoting digital literacy by training community
librarians and library users in using ICT to boost their capabilities in the technology
world.
6. Airtel Uganda for providing internet to libraries to support digital work and learning.
7. Reading Association of Uganda (RAU) for donating local language books to
community libraries.
8. Enjuba for donating over 5000 books to more than 10 community libraries
registered with COLAU.

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Appendix I: Annual Work Plan 2023
Community Libraries Association of Uganda
2023 Activity Schedule
SN Activities Time Frame in Months Responsibility
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
A Institutional Strengthening
1. 2023 Annual Report preparation
Coordinator
2. 2022 -2023 Organizational
Audit
Auditor
3. Staff Meeting Secretariat
4. Executive Board Meetings Board
5. Annual General Meeting(AGM)
2023
General
Assembly
6. Partnership, networking and
creating linkages
Staff/Board/par
tners
7. Staff Capacity Building Staff
8. Resource
mobilization/Fundraising
Staff/Board/par
tners
B Program/Project Activities
9. Visit to COLAU Members Staff/Board/par
tners
10 Book Distribution Staff
11 Library management training
Staff