About Us

Registered as an NGO in 2007, the Uganda Community Libraries Association (UgCLA) is a networking organization for community libraries in Uganda. With about 100 member libraries – more than 20 of them were founded because of UgCLA’s existence – UgCLA holds conferences and workshops for librarians, solicits and distributes grants from donors, as well as places volunteers in libraries.

UgCLA’s mission is to complement the Ugandan education system, by promoting literacy practices through the growth of community libraries. We also team up with national and international organizations whose mandate includes the promotion of literacy for development.

The Uganda Community Libraries Association (UgCLA) has a Board of Trustees that is elected every three years at the Annual General Meeting. The present Board members are:

[PHOTO]	Kate Parry Chairperson	Professor, Hunter College, City of University of New York Executive Director for East Africa, Friends of African Village Libraries (FAVL)
[PHOTO]	Christine Semambo Sempegwa Deputy Chairperson	Director, Forum for African Woman Educationalists (FAWE)
[PHOTO]	Gertrude Kayaga Mulindwa Treasurer	Director, National Library of Uganda
[PHOTO]	Esther Kyazike Secretary	Librarian, Kawempe Youth Centre
[PHOTO]	Dan Ahimbisibwe Member	Librarian, Kitengesa Community Library
[PHOTO]	Augustine Napagi Member	Librarian, Kabubbu Community Library
[PHOTO]	Willy Ngaka Member	Director, Makerere Centre for Lifelong Learning Founder, Uganda Rural Literacy and Community Development Association (URLCODA)
[PHOTO]	Ruth Sebugya Non-voting Member	Part-time coordinator, UgCLA
[PHOTO]	Brenda Musasizi Non-voting Member	Part-time coordinator, UgCLA

Our two part-time coordinators have different tasks. Ruth Sebugya, is responsible for the libraries sponsored by a Canadian NGO called Under the Reading Tree (UTRT), for which UgCLA acts as agent. Brenda Musasizi, serves UgCLA’s other members, administers projects, and takes care of records and publicity.

UgCLA’s Board develops general policies and makes recommendations on constitutional issues to the Annual General Meeting. The issues are then decided by a vote. A Steering Committee comprising the Chair, the Treasurer, and the general coordinator makes day-to-day operating decisions.

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