In our rapidly changing world, literacy stands as a fundamental pillar of progress, empowerment, and equality. As societies grow more interconnected and knowledge-driven, the ability to read, write, and critically engage with information has become an essential skill rather than a mere privilege.
On 8 September 2025, Uganda joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Literacy Day (ILD) 2025 under the global theme “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era.” DVV International supported the MGLSD in two impactful events, the ILD Symposium and the Commissioning of CLC.
At the symposium, over 160 key stakeholders, including representatives from civil society organizations, academia, various government sectors, advocates, and development partners, highlighted the urgent need for digital inclusion in literacy initiatives in the digital age. Hosted by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the event provided clear guidance: literacy must be practical, inclusive, and attuned to the digital landscape.
The guest of honour, the State Minister for Gender and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Dr Peace Regis Mutuuzo, urged a step-change in delivery, calling on stakeholders to prioritise digital literacy, invest in infrastructure, and support government efforts so that adult learning reaches those who need it most. She reaffirmed government commitment to adult learning and community education, spotlighting a national push to establish Community Learning Centres and saluting DVV International for sustained support.
DVV International’s Regional Director, Frauke Heinze, emphasized the organisation’s long-term support for adult learning and community education in Uganda as part of a global effort to make literacy practical and useful in everyday life—not a short-term project. She noted that foundational literacy is the gateway to digital literacy, enabling people to participate in and benefit from digital transformation, and that Community Learning Centres (CLCs) are a key platform for delivering these skills.
DVV International is supporting Community Learning Centres and the Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation (ICOLEW) programme by working with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and district authorities to design and operationalise centres, train instructors and CLC Management Committees, and equip learning spaces for blended delivery. The support includes integrating foundational literacy with practical digital skills, developing simple digital modules for everyday use (basic device use, online safety, mobile money, and market information), strengthening livelihood pathways through demonstration plots and value-addition training, and using community radio for outreach and learning. DVV International also helps districts with monitoring tools, mentorship for centre staff, and small start-up inputs so new cohorts can practice skills immediately. Throughout, attention to gender and inclusion ensures women, youth, and rural learners can participate fully and turn new skills into better incomes and opportunities.
UNESCO’s perspective reinforced the shift in mindset: “To be literate today is to be digitally empowered,” noted Mr. Charles Draecabo of the UNESCO Antenna Office, emphasizing the ability to access, evaluate, and create digital content safely and critically.
During a keynote by Dr. Dianah Nampijja who is a Lecturer in the School of Distance and Lifelong Learning, Department of Adult and Community Education at Makerere University Uganda put numbers to the challenge. About 24% of Ugandans—nearly 12 million people—still lack literacy skills. Only 28% of the population uses the internet. With the gender gap roughly 13% of women versus 24% of men use the internet. Her call was direct: integrate practical digital skills into literacy programmes and expand access to technology to close this “double exclusion.” She highlighted the complexity of digital literacy being just one part to ensure digital transformation. “It is about safety, tools, culture of learning, and media competence”.
The symposium’s conversations echoed this view, urging human-centred design, ethical use, and locally relevant digital tools so that rural and marginalised learners aren’t left behind. In the panel discussion, speakers pointed out that the Government and civil society are linking literacy with livelihoods through programmes such as the Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation (ICOLEW) and REFLECT (Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques). With DVV International’s technical and financial backing—channelled through the Support to Implementation of Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation (SUICOLEW)—districts are establishing and operationalising Community Learning Centres (CLCs) as the local delivery platform for adult learning, skills training, and enterprise support. National frameworks, including the National ICT Policy and the Education Digital Agenda Strategy, provide the policy scaffold for rolling out digital literacy within these programmes.
Resolutions from the symposium focused on immediate, practical actions to advance literacy in the digital era. Stakeholders resolved to:
Integrate digital skills into adult literacy curricula and programmes, with a strong emphasis on safety and critical use of online information.
Equip adult literacy instructors with core digital competencies and ongoing support.
Expand affordable connectivity and infrastructure to enable blended and community-based learning.
Scale up and resource CLCs as trusted hubs for community learning, digital access, and livelihoods—leveraging SUICOLEW for nationwide operationalisation.
Review and update the 2014 Literacy Policy to reflect digital realities and protect learners online.
Promote localized digital tools and content, including radio/online hybrids that reach rural learners.
On 10 September 2025 at Nyakagyeme, Rukungiri, DVV International’s Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa, Frauke Heinze, led a delegation to commission the Nyakagyeme Regional Model CLC. Before the launch, the high-level delegation comprised of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the LC5 Chairperson, and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), reflecting district ownership and coordination.
At the centre, the CLC Management Committee (CMC) and sub-county team presented a progress report covering enrolment, training areas (tailoring, computer basics, value addition), achievements, and immediate needs. The Regional Director responded with feedback and next steps agreed with district leaders.
The tour highlighted the digital dimension of “literacy in the digital era”: a computer training room for digital skills, and a community radio corner used for outreach, learner mobilisation, and blended learning with on-site sessions. Agricultural demonstration plots, value-addition stalls, and youth spaces showed how literacy is directly tied to enterprise and livelihoods.
The climax of the event was the commissioning of the CLC by the Resident District Commissioner and the DVV regional Director, turning policy direction from the symposium into a working hub for skills and livelihoods. District speeches (LC3 Chair, CMC Chair, CAO, LC5) reiterated how CLCs operationalise ICOLEW—linking functional literacy to household income and community development—with DVV International’s technical and financial support provided through MGLSD and the SUICOLEW mechanism.
Conclusion
Uganda's message during the week was clear: everyone has the right to read and write, and literacy helps improve lives. Digital Literacy should be part of our daily lives, where we live and work. It should help people find information, understand it, create with it, and use it safely online.
The government emphasised this through its policies and partnerships. The symposium brought people together to share ideas, while the Nyakagyeme centre demonstrated how this works in practice. DVV International played a key role in both situations, supporting the government and local teams. This support helps learners, farmers, and young business owners gain new skills to make better choices and increase their income.