• Church of Uganda and U.S.-based ACEII signed a 3-year deal to improve rural literacy.

• The project targets dioceses of Luwero, Nakasongola, and Nakaseke with kits and teacher training.

• Uganda’s rural education faces high dropout rates, overcrowded classes, and gender disparities.

The Church of Uganda and the American NGO African Children's Educational Initiative (ACEII) launched a joint three-year initiative on July 28, to improve literacy in rural Uganda.

The program targets primary schools in Luwero, Nakasongola, and Nakaseke dioceses. It will deliver teaching kits—such as dictionaries and locally adapted textbooks—and provide focused training for teachers.

This partnership responds to serious gaps in reading and writing skills in Uganda’s rural areas. Despite the introduction of universal primary education, many children still lack basic literacy. In 2022, Uganda's national literacy rate stood at 80.6%, below the East African average.

Girls remain at a disadvantage. A 2020 study by the Uganda Communications Commission showed only 55% of rural girls attend school, compared to 75% of boys.

Overcrowded classrooms, high absenteeism, and a 45% dropout rate plague Uganda’s primary schools. In rural areas, nearly 1 in 5 children leave school early, often due to the absence of nearby schools. Long travel distances especially affect girls, making consistent attendance difficult.

The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) backs ongoing education reforms in Uganda. These reforms emphasize improved teacher training and school management.

Using its extensive community networks, the Church of Uganda seeks to reduce inequalities between urban and rural schools, between boys and girls, and across social classes.

The project’s success depends on how well it scales, how effectively it is monitored, and how engaged local communities remain over time.

Other grassroots initiatives—like the East African Book Development Association and the Kitengesa Community Libraries—have proven that investing in local reading programs increases school attendance and fosters a culture of learning.

To ensure lasting results, the program will require strong government support, reliable funding, and replication across other regions.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou (intern)

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum