Uganda Literary Scene: Writers, publishers aim to encourage a culture of reading

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Staying in Uganda, several writers are hoping to turn the page on the country's reading culture. Through a new initiative -- the Uganda Book Market -- the publishing community is opening up to showcase their creativity and encourage a culture of reading. Leon Ssenyange reports from Kampala.

Books, books and lots of books. The Uganda book market offered the opportunity for writers and readers to explore the genre of literature. For some of the writers, the delight was in having told their stories.

JOSEPH KABULETA AUTHOR "I write to give my experiences and to make people's knowledge better and richer."

HOPE BABIGUMIRA AUTHOR "Me sharing my story and being very open. I think that encourages other people and inspires them to also share their stories."

And organisers here say; there is now more to read than before.

WARTSON ATUKWATSE CURATOR, KAMPALA BOOK MARKET "There is a lot coming up in Uganda but because we don't have initiatives such as these, people think we don't write, but there's a lot of publications coming up every year."

LEON SSENYANGE KAMPALA, UGANDA "Most of the books on display here are about history, culture and others tell of personal experiences and with a growing preference for local content, there is more for book enthusiasts to look out for."

Insights into Uganda; is a book convenient enough for Japanese tourist Yusuke Hara. It's about the perceptions within the Ugandan society.

YUSUKE HARA TOURIST "I believe I am going to have a chance to test the knowledge I am going to get from this book."

And literature on management was just the right pick for Geoffrey Mutabazi.

GEOFREY MUTABAZI BOOK LOVER "I found this, the intrapreneur, everybody wants to be an intrapreneur at some point, so I think this is the right book to help you transition to that."

According to World Bank indicators, at least 73 percent of Uganda's adult population can read and write. And it could take more than a book market to get people to read more.

KEVIN O'CONNOR WRITER "Most importantly in schools, somehow people have got to be encouraged to read for enjoyment and not just to pass exams."

For every month for the rest of the year, there will be a showcasing of books. And hopefully, more people willing to have their nose in a book.

LS, CGTN, KAMPALA, UGANDA.