Describe the main features of the measure/initiative:
The National Book Week Festival is one of the book development activities that has been implemented by the National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU) since 1998. NABOTU and its members that include associations and institutions in the book industry have been working to develop authorship, promoting publishing, trade in books locally and cross border, advocacy, library development and the nurturing of a culture of reading in Uganda. The National Book Week Festival is a major activity that celebrates books, brings visibility to writers and the book sector and rallies government support in terms of policy and funding towards the book sector. During the week, several activities are held. The include: the Uganda International Book Fair which is organised by the Uganda Publishers Association attracting local and regional publishers to exhibit and showcase new books and use the event to advocate issues that impact publishing and trade in books; Library Exhibitions which are coordinated by the National Library of Uganda taking place in public and community libraries across the country to keep Ugandans everywhere a chance to celebrate reading and books; the Children's Reading Tent which are conducted by the Reading Association of Uganda and the Uganda Children's Writers and Illustrators Association which demonstrate the value of leisure reading; the NABOTU Literary Awards which celebrate excellence and achievement and work to stimulate and encourage creativity. Other activities held during the week include capacity building training, public readings, storytelling etc. The National Book Week Festival is Uganda's premier event on the book calendar of Uganda.
Website of the measure/initiative, if available:
What are the results achieved so far through the implementation of the measure/initiative?:
Uganda's book value chain has been strengthened as a result of working together to address common challenges including agreeing on codes of practice and growing participation in local book procurement by government. Capacity issues especially in the area of skills have partly been addressed through the numerous training activities targeting authorship, book design, marketing and distribution, book selling, reading promotion, library services etc. Several schools individually organise and celebrate a book week to interest and keep children reading.