NABOTU News

February 17, 2010: NLU stands to Lose Nakawa land

It is a shame that all 8 governments that Uganda has had since 1962 i.e. Obote I, Amin, Binaisa, Lule, Military Commission, Obote II, the Okellos, and Museveni have failed to adequately provide for public library and now national library development. How come from 1964 when the Public Libraries Act was enacted through the transformation 2003 National Library Act we can not even point to a piece of land or purpose built library for the now NLU- the National Library of Uganda? It appears even the 3rd (fifth depending on where you stand) NRM government is failing in this noble mission. Some years back, we thumped our chests and some of us toasted champagnes on learning that the NRM government had finally set itself to solve the jinx. Only to learn today from press reports (http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/710310) that the piece of land that had been apportioned to the National Library out of the Nakawa housing estate is about to be taken away! According to the report, the Attorney General in his September opinion to government advised that the titles for the small developers except for the ones belonging to Besigye and IUIU be cancelled. Unfortunately the small developers include NLU. It was reported further that a committee under Ahabwe will resolve the issues and ensure that the titles are given to the UK developer Opec Prime Properties to start work immediately. In real terms this means that NLU may require another 40 years from now to get land from government. Could this be a measure of the value that the political elite attach to knowledge and learning? Or is it a failure on the part of the Library and Information professionals to act on this important matter? Please join the debate here: http://www.nabotu.or.ug/forums/index.php?topic=4

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