Uganda Revives Public Libraries with Grant Restoration and AI Training for Staff

Uganda’s public information network is entering a new chapter of modernization as the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) breathes fresh life into community knowledge spaces. Following administrative shifts that integrated national library oversight directly into the Ministry under the July 2024 RAPEX reforms, authorities are now pairing structural realignment with tangible financial and technical backing.

A major milestone in this revitalization effort concluded on August 13, 2026, during the wrap-up of a four-day Continuous Professional Development workshop. The intensive program gathered 40 public librarians, ICT personnel, and records officers representing 20 local governments. Organized by the Division of Library and Documentation Services, the curriculum focused heavily on sharpening digital capabilities, mastering social media outreach, and leveraging artificial intelligence to transform everyday library operations.

Dr. Patrick Muinda, Commissioner for Library, E-learning and ICT at MoES, addressed the participants while speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary. He emphasized the indispensable value these information professionals bring to fostering nationwide literacy, supporting academic research, and encouraging lifelong learning.

To ensure these regional hubs can sustain their modernization drives, the Ministry successfully campaigned within the Ministry of Finance to resurrect the previously suspended Public Libraries Conditional Grant. Financial provisions for the grant have been officially secured within the fiscal year 2026/2027 budget framework, with disbursement procedures currently underway.

While local governments retain the fundamental legal mandate for establishing and managing physical library facilities, MoES has committed to providing robust backend support. This includes continuous staff training, policy formulation, rigorous institutional inspections, rural community library expansion, and the promotion of targeted adult literacy and reading initiatives.

By equipping personnel with cutting-edge tools ranging from electronic resource management to AI applications, Uganda is positioning its public libraries to transcend traditional book-lending roles and evolve into dynamic, tech-enabled community innovation centers.