Luuka district adults go back to 'school'

______________

LUUKA

In a push to tackle illiteracy and poverty, over 277 adults in Luuka district have taken part in a functional adult literacy (FAL) programme, equipping them with skills to read, write and engage in socio-economic development.

The initiative organised by Jinja city-based Cultural Research Centre (CRC) and funded by eRKO-Slovakia, targets marginalised residents across 11 centres, including Bulike, Idoome and Bukoova, who missed formal education opportunities. 

At the graduation ceremony held at St Mary’s Primary School, Bukoova, CRC chief executive officer, Fr Richard Gonza Kayaga, emphasised the programme’s ripple effect: “These graduates will act as catalysts, teaching others to develop their villages.”

Participants received training in pedagogy, Lusoga orthography, sustainable agriculture, human rights, hygiene and herbal medicine—a holistic approach to foster self-reliance. 

Kayaga also criticised the region’s overreliance on sugarcane farming, where land leased to corporations leaves families impoverished.

“Instead of renting land for sugarcane, residents should grow fruits and vegetables for commercial use,” he said, highlighting the link between land use and food security. 



A lifeline for social and economic growth 

Eng. George Inhensiko, Issabalangira of Luuka Chiefdom, praised the programme’s potential: “Literacy improves health, productivity, and social engagement. It also encourages parents to educate their children.”

For graduates like 65-year-old George Ntaala, the training bridged lifelong gaps.

“My two wives and I can now read and write in Lusoga,” he said, while fellow graduate Peter Lukungu requested adding English lessons to future modules. 

Roots of the programme 

The CRC launched the FAL initiative in response to Busoga’s illiteracy. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics(UBOS) 2024 census report indicated that 26% of Ugandans are illiterate. The same report indicates that 71.7% of the population above 10 years in Busoga region are literate.

The programme, taught in Lusoga, integrates practical skills like modern farming and income-generating activities, ensuring knowledge translates into action. Graduates showcased their progress through food exhibitions at the ceremony, symbolising a community reclaiming its future.