MESSAGES District Governor GEOFFREY MARTIN KITAKULE
THE JOURNEY TO FULL ACCESS TO BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY IS STILL LONG
Education is the cornerstone of development; a pathway through which individuals and communities rise above poverty and create sustainable futures. In Uganda, significant progress has been made in expanding access to education through initiatives such as Universal Primary Education (UPE). Yet, challenges remain; making it evident tthat our continued support for basic education and literacy is both urgent and necessary. Statistics remind us of the task before us, as 36% of Ugandans are still illiterate. While enrollment rates are high, many children do not complete primary school. Some leave early due to poverty, child labor, lack of access to proper menstrual hygiene or early marriages. Others attend school but struggle with poor learning outcomes - too often sitting in overcrowded or no classrooms, lacking textbooks, pencils, exercise books or being taught by overstretched teachers. According to recent reports, literacy and numeracy levels among Ugandan learners remain below the desired standards, threatening the nation’s aspirations for growth and progress. Rotarians in Uganda have witnessed these realities firsthand. Across our communities, we meet children eager to learn but held back by limited resources. We encounter adults who long to read, write and count but have never been given the chance. Literacy is more than the ability to decode or read words on a page - it is the ability to access opportunities, participate in civic life, and support families with dignity. Without it, cycles of poverty, unemployment and inequality persist. This inequality is worsened when one talks about digital literacy in a world that is becoming so digital. A survey presented at the, “Building the Future of Fair and Inclusive Digital Work in Uganda,” Workshop held in 2024, highlighted Uganda’s low ICT skills and literacy levels, revealing that a lack of knowledge or digital skills prevents 75% of Ugandans from accessing the internet. An illiterate population is not an empowered population. This is why Rotary continues to place basic education and literacy at the heart of its service. Rotary clubs in Uganda have built classrooms, equipped schools with books and learning materials, provided scholarships to vulnerable children and organized adult literacy programs. These initiatives change lives - a book in a child’s hands sparks imagination; a girl who stays in school delays early marriage; and an adult who learns to read opens new opportunities for work and self-reliance. Yet our work must go further. We need to champion teacher training, strengthen partnerships with government and civil society and explore innovative solutions like digital learning to bridge the Digital Divide. We must ensure that education is inclusive, reaching the rural child, the girl child, the refugee and the adult learner alike. As Rotarians, we are uniquely positioned to make a lasting difference. Through our networks, resources and commitment to service, we can help build a Uganda where every child can read with understanding and every adult can write their own future. Supporting basic education and literacy is not charity; it is an investment in peace, progress and prosperity for our nation. Let us, therefore, renew our commitment to this vital cause. Together, United for Good, we can light the lamp of knowledge in every corner of Uganda, ensuring that no child or adult is left behind.
#RotaryEyamba District Governor Rotary District 9213
The Golden Wagon . Issue One 5
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