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Uganda Community Libraries Association (UgCLA)
P. O Box 34004, Kampala
+ (256) 773 559 103 / 0700 633 727
Email: ugcomlib2007@gmail.com
Website: www.uclia.org
Facebook: Community Libraries Association of Uganda
Annual report
2021

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Table of contents
List of acronyms .......................................................................................................................................... iii
1.0 Background of Uganda Community Libraries Association..............................................................1
1.1 Mission..............................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Vision................................................................................................................................................1
1.3 Aim/Purpose .....................................................................................................................................1
1.4 Objectives .........................................................................................................................................1
1.6 Membership ......................................................................................................................................1
1.7 Board members .................................................................................................................................2
1.8 Annual General meeting and conference..........................................................................................3
1.9 Book donations .................................................................................................................................3
1.10 Community Library Awards .............................................................................................................5
1.11 Running Project with BAI – Community Reading Micro project ....................................................6
1.12 Partners and contributions.................................................................................................................7
1.13 Major challenges faced by UgCLA ..................................................................................................8
1.14 Major challenges faced by UgCLA members...................................................................................8
1.15 Achievements....................................................................................................................................8
1.16 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................9
Appendix 1: Annual Work plan for 2022 ...................................................................................................10
Appendix II: Annual Budget 2022..............................................................................................................11

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List of acronyms
AGM ________________________ Annual General Meeting
BAI __________________________Book Aid International
F.A.V.L ______________________ Friends of African Village Libraries
ICT__________________________ Information Communication Technology
NGO _________________________Non-Governmental Organization
NLU_________________________ National Library of Uganda
PEFO ________________________Phoebe Education Fund for Ophans
UgCLA _______________________Uganda Community Libraries Association
URSB ________________________Uganda Registration Service Bureau

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1.0 Background of Uganda Community Libraries Association
The Uganda Community Libraries Association (UgCLA) 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
UgCLA’s existence and encouragement. Other libraries that were established before joining
UgCLA had their capacity increased as a result of their membership of the organization.
1.1 Mission
To complement the education system of Uganda and promote the development of productive
literacy practices by encouraging and supporting the growth of community libraries.
1.2 Vision
A library in every village of Uganda.
1.3 Aim/Purpose
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.
1.4 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.
1.5 Community Libraries
UgCLA has 140 registered members. Some of these are active and others inactive. We expect this
number to rise in the coming years.
1.6 Membership
A number of 14 community libraries numbers were able to pay their annual subscription fees to
UgCLA. The fees remain at 50,000 Ugandan shillings. We encourage members to continue
subscribing to the association since our numbers are more than that.

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List of paid up members 2021
No. Name of library District
1 Katakwi Community Library Katakwi
2 Youth Corps Learning centre Community Library Kampala
3 Nyarushanje Community Library and Empowerment
Centre
Rukungiri
4 Friends International Community Library Kampala
5 Mummy Foundation Community Library Kampala
6 Nyaka Blue Lupin Community Library Kanungu
7 Kutamba Blue Lupin Community Library Rukungiri
8 Uganda Martyrs University Masaka
9 Adult Literacy and Entrepreneurship Association Tororo
10 Kawempe Youth Centre Kampala
11 Art of a child Community Library Wakiso
12 PEFO – Jinja and Busia Jinja and Busia
13 Mpolyabigere community library Kamuli
14 Jane Kawalya Kampala
1.7 Board members
UgCLAs board is comprised of 10 members; Justin Kiyimba (chairperson), Enoch Magala (vice
chairperson), Esther Kyazike (Treasurer), Daniel Ahimbisibwe (secretary), Kate Parry (Past
Chairperson), Olivia Mugabirwe (member), Jane Kawalya (member), Augustine Napagi (past
chairperson) and Ivan Kaibo (member). Elections will be made in the next AGM since the current
members term of office ended.

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1.8 Annual General meeting and conference
We were unable to hold AGM and conference in 2021 because of the covid19 pandemic and the
restrictions from the Government over gatherings. We are looking forward to 2022 to have one.
AGM and conference fees remain at 100,000 Ugandan shillings for each library that participates.
1.9 Book donations
In our donations from Book Aid International, we distributed
3,614 books to 18 community libraries in different parts of the
country. These donations are received once in a year and are
supposed to be distributed to the members of the association.
We thank our partner National Library of Uganda (NLU) for
always receiving the consignment on behalf of UgCLA.
List of libraries that benefitted from the Book Aid Donations in 2021
S/N Community Library Name District No. of books
received
1 Youth Learning Corps Uganda Kampala 115
2 Nyarushanje Community Lib. &
Empowerment centre
Rukungiri 238
3 Nambi Sseppuuya Community
Resource Centre
Jinja 103
4 Improve The Youth Uganda Katakwi 252
5 Art of A child Uganda Ltd Wakiso 332
Figure 1: Received donations from BAI

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6 Centre For Youth Driven
Development Initiative
Wakiso 194
7 Friends International Wakiso 105
8 Mummy Foundation Community
Library
Kampala 140
9 Condominium Community Library Kampala 184
10 Clarke Junior School Kampala 94
11 Marko Lukooya memorial
community Library
Mukono 178
12 Nyaka Blue Lupin community
library
Kanungu 263
13 Uganda Martyrs University Masaka 115
14 Nyarushanje community library
and empowerment centre
Rukungiri 528
15 Adult Literacy and
Entrepreneurship Association
Tororo 118
16 Kawempe Youth Centre Kampala 186
17 PEFO Jinja Jinja 202
18 Mpolyabigere Community library Kamuli 267

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Our target as UgCLA is to increase the number of beneficiaries for
donations. UgCLA covers the transport and clearing costs for the books
it receives from Book Aid International through National Library of
Uganda. It recoups these costs from the libraries that receive the books,
at a rate of 30,000 Ugandan shillings per box of books received.
Communications are always made in time to the members who are
interested in the donations and selections made to suit their needs and
interests. Our volunteers at Kawempe Youth centre also help us a lot in
sorting, selection and organizing these materials ready for distribution.
Figure 3: Volunteers arranging books
1.10 Community Library Awards
Kawempe Youth Centre community library
Kawempe Youth centre emerged the winner for the most outstaning community library in the Janzi
awards. Kawempe Youth Centre, Bundibugyo community library and Kitengesa community
library were nominated for this award.
Figure 2: Isaac
receiving donations for
Katakwi Community
Library

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Figure 4: Users in making use of the computers
1.11 Running Project with BAI – Community Reading Micro project
This project runs from 2021 to 2022 and each library received a grant of £1,400 to conduct reading
programs in communities through outreach.
Beneficiaries of the Grants
S/N Community library Name District
1 Mpolyabigere community library Kamuli
2 Katakwi community library Katakwi -Magoro
3 Marko Lukooya memorial community library Mukono - Kisoga
4 Mummy Foundation community library Kampala - Katwe

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Figure 5: Mpolyabigere community library outreach beneficiaries
Figure 6: Olir reading club in Magoro-Katakwi
1.12 Partners and contributions
a. Absa Bank provided 5 computers to Kawempe Youth centre
b. Airtel Uganda provided free internet to UgCLA at their host premises Kawempe Youth
centre
c. Book Aid International provides over 5000 books for community libraries each year and
has projects with them.
d. Friends of African Village Libraries provides financial support for administrative purpose
to UgCLA
e. Maendeleo Foundation has worked with several community libraries in providing ICT
training

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f. National Library of Uganda has continued to lobby, receive books and train both public and
academic librarians in the field of library management.
g. Reading Association of Uganda also provided local reading materials in local language to
community libraries starting with the central region
h. World Literacy Foundation (Sun Books) has just come on board and we are waiting for their
offers.
1.13 Major challenges faced by UgCLA
UgCLA is still in a rented space hosted by Kawempe Youth Centre. UgCLA has not yet got a
home of its own.
UgCLA lacks funding for its activities and requires more support from local, national and
international organizations.
UgCLA also lacks systems in place to carry out activities effectively and efficiently. We are
supposed to carry out audits each year and also we are still finalizing with the NGO registration
process. URSB asked us to adopt the name Community Libraries Association of Uganda which
we did.
Covid19 and its related effects making activities to be on hold.
1.14 Major challenges faced by UgCLA members
 Lack of ICT facilities like Internet, computers
 Lack of skilled man power to run the libraries
 Lack of funding for activities
 Some libraries have no permanent home
 Covid19 and its related effects
1.15 Achievements
 Books distributed to libraries over 18 libraries
 Communications made to members through phone calls, email, SMS, social media.
 Two library visited that is Adult Literacy and Entrepreneurship Asociation in Tororo and
PEFO Jinja.
 Projects implemented
 Networks maintained
 New partners on board like airtel
 New members registered; Katakwi and Youth Corps

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 Mailing list, contacts and member database updated
1.16 Conclusion
We thank all the partners for the continuous support and work with UgCLA in achieving its goals
and also the community libraries for the good work they are doing in their respective communities.
We also thank the board for the endless efforts especially in guidance, decision making and
initiating of projects on behalf of UgCLA and its members.

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Appendix 1: Annual Work plan for 2022
UGANDA COMMUNITY LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION
2022 ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
No Activities Time Frame in Months Responsibility
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
A Institutional Strengthening
1. 2022 Annual Report preparation Coordinator
2. 2021 - 22 Organizational Audit Auditor
3. Staff Meetings Coordinator
4. Executive Board Meetings
Coordinator
5. Annual General Meeting (AGM)
2022 Host and UgCLA
6. Partnership, networking and creating
linkages
All members
7. Staff Capacity Building
All members
8. Resource mobilization/Fundraising All members
B Program/Project Activities
9. Visit to UGCLA Members Coordinator
10. Book Distribution Coordinator

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Appendix II: Annual Budget 2022
Uganda Community Libraries Association Annual Budget 2022- Exchange Rate 1 $ = 3,680
S/N Activities Qty Cost Total Ugx Total Usd
1 Projects/Activities to be Implemented in 2022
1.1 Visit to UGCLA members 1 2,000,000 2,000,000 543
Sub-Total 2,000,000 543
1.2 Board Meetings 3 1,000,000 3,000,000 815
Sub-Total 3,000,000 815
1.3 UGCLA AGM and conference 1 20,000,000 20,000,000 5,435
Sub-Total 20,000,000 5,435
1.4 UGCLA Members Capacity Building 1 15,000,000 15,000,000 4,076
Sub-Total 15,000,000 4,076
1.5 Book Clearing 120 30,000 3,600,000 978
Sub-Total 3,600,000 978
1.6 Networking & Partnership Building 1 2,500,000 2,500,000 679
Sub-Total 2,500,000 679
2 Institutional Strengthening
2.1 Rent 12 100,000 1,200,000 326
Sub-Total 1,200,000 326
2.2 Coordinator Salary 12 1,000,000 12,000,000 3260
Sub-Total 12,000,000 3260
2.3 Audit 2022 1 1,000,000 1,000,000 272
Sub-Total 1,000,000 272
2.4 Utilities 1 1,000,000 1,000,000 272
Sub-Total 1,000,000 272
2.5 Transport 1 1,500,000 1,500,000 408
Sub-Total 1,500,000 408
Total Costs 62,800,000 17,064
EXPECTED SOURCES OF INCOME
1 Book Aid International (BAI) 1 5,000,000 5,000,000 1,359
2 F.A.V.L 1 10,000,000 10,000,000 2,717
4 Executive Board Contribution 10 50,000 500,000 136
5 Member Contribution (Subscription) 50 50,000 2,500,000 679
6 Well-wishers & Friends 1 10,000,000 10,000,000 2,717
Total 28,000,000 9,103