By Guest Writer/Otuke
When readers buy a copy of Brownie Ebal’s memoir, Law, Life & Laughter: A Witty Memoir of Faith, Failure & Finding Purpose, part of the purchase goes beyond the pages of the book.
The book retails at UGX 50,000, with UGX 5,000 — 10 per cent of every copy sold — going to the Kitabu-Buk Project, a local charity working to improve access to books and scholastic materials for children and underserved schools across Uganda.
That commitment has now translated into UGX 3 million worth of educational support for 332 pupils at St. Barnabas Primary School in Otuke District.
The donation, handed over on September 25, included 131 textbooks, pens, pencils, chalk, dusters and other teaching and office supplies. Footballs were also provided to support recreation and teamwork. The entire UGX 3 million was spent on the intervention, while MK Publishers contributed additional books to supplement the materials purchased. St. Barnabas Donation Article.docx
For Ebal, an Otuke native and founder of the Kitabu-Buk Project, directing proceeds from her book towards education in her home district brought together two initiatives — writing and expanding access to books.
Founded in 2014, the Kitabu-Buk Project is a local charity that collects, reuses and redistributes books and scholastic materials to schools and communities in need. St. Barnabas Donation Article.docx
St. Barnabas Primary School’s own story began with a community effort to make education more accessible. In 2017, Mr. Odongo John Bosco, then LCV Chairperson of Otuke District, identified the need for a nearby school and engaged St. Barnabas Church of Uganda to help establish one.
Today, the school serves 332 pupils, comprising 134 boys and 198 girls. St. Barnabas Donation Article.docx
The September 25 handover brought together the Otuke District Education Officer, PTA Chairperson, a representative of the LCV Chairperson, parents, school leadership and the Kitabu-Buk Project team. Beyond delivering the materials, the gathering provided an opportunity to hear from the school community about its progress, challenges and aspirations.
Welcoming the initiative, the school’s Head Teacher, Mr. Okabo John, thanked the Kitabu-Buk Project for providing much-needed learning materials. He said the support would supplement the limited resources available to learners while motivating both pupils and teachers. He encouraged the children to make good use of the materials and reiterated the school’s commitment to their academic and personal development.
Mr. Okabo explained that parents remain the school’s core funders, sustaining its operations through their contributions. He also highlighted some of the challenges facing the school, including hunger among pupils and the need for fencing. St. Barnabas Donation Article.docx
The school also hopes to introduce Primary Seven. It currently stops at Primary Six, requiring pupils to transfer elsewhere to complete their primary education. St. Barnabas Donation Article.docx
The Guest of Honour, Otuke District Education Officer (DEO), Mr. Ochero Patrick, urged learners to view education as more than passing examinations, stressing the importance of discipline, confidence, critical thinking, good character and preparing for future opportunities.
He also called on parents, teachers and the wider community to work together to keep children in school and support their development.
Mr. Ochero further emphasised the importance of the school meeting the necessary requirements for registration and complying with the standards expected of educational institutions, particularly as it looks towards further growth. His remarks were especially relevant to St. Barnabas’ ambition to introduce Primary Seven and enable pupils to complete their primary education at the school.
Speaking on behalf of the Kitabu-Buk Project, Sindy Apio encouraged the pupils to make full use of the learning materials, participate actively in class and ask questions whenever they did not understand. She also challenged them to believe in their potential and develop the confidence to pursue their dreams.
For Achen Joyce, a Primary Six pupil, the donation came with a personal commitment. She thanked Kitabu-Buk for the scholastic materials and promised to work hard, participate actively in class and ask questions whenever she did not understand.
She also set herself an ambitious target: to be the best pupil in her class by the time the Kitabu-Buk Project returns to the school.
Parents also contributed ideas about strengthening learning at the school. One parent proposed introducing regular debates to help pupils build confidence and improve their spoken English, giving children more opportunities to express themselves and participate confidently in learning. St. Barnabas Donation Article.docx
For a school sustained largely through the efforts of parents, the donation provides practical support beyond a single school term. The textbooks can be shared among pupils and used by future classes, while stationery and teaching supplies support everyday classroom activities. St. Barnabas Donation Article.docx
But the visit also highlighted needs that extend beyond books. Hunger, fencing, the introduction of Primary Seven and meeting the requirements necessary for the school’s continued development remain among the issues facing St. Barnabas as it grows.
The model behind the donation is straightforward: every UGX 50,000 copy of Law, Life & Laughter purchased contributes UGX 5,000 to the Kitabu-Buk Project.
Individually, UGX 5,000 may appear modest. Pooled together, those contributions have now generated UGX 3 million and translated into books, scholastic materials and other support for 332 children in Otuke.
What began with readers choosing to buy a locally authored book has therefore travelled beyond its pages — into classrooms and onto the desks of children who need the materials to learn.
For St. Barnabas, the donation addresses an immediate shortage of learning materials. For the initiative behind it, it demonstrates how the sale of one Ugandan book can help put other books into the hands of children who need them. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
