Who we are

Libraries and National Development

Libraries and information services are critical enablers of national development. By providing equitable access to information, supporting education and research, preserving knowledge, and promoting digital inclusion, libraries contribute directly to socio-economic transformation.

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) advocates for the recognition and integration of libraries into national development planning, policy formulation, and implementation.

Training and Workshops

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) organizes training programmes and workshops to strengthen the skills, competencies, and professional relevance of library and information professionals in Uganda.

ULIA’s training activities respond to emerging trends, national development needs, and evolving professional practices, ensuring that participants gain practical knowledge applicable to real work environments.

Membership and Career Growth

Membership in the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) provides professionals and students with a platform for professional identity, career development, networking, and lifelong learning.

ULIA supports members at all stages of their careers by promoting professional standards, skills development, leadership opportunities, and access to national and international professional networks.

Curriculum Advisory Services

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) provides professional curriculum advisory services to support the development, review, and strengthening of education and training programmes in library, information, records, archives, and knowledge management fields.

ULIA’s advisory role aims to ensure that curricula remain relevant, skills-oriented, ethically grounded, and responsive to national development priorities and emerging global trends.

Professional Development

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) is committed to strengthening the professional capacity, relevance, and ethical practice of librarians and information professionals in Uganda.

Through structured training, continuous professional development, mentorship, and knowledge exchange, ULIA supports members to adapt to evolving information environments, emerging technologies, and national development needs.

Advocacy and Policy

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) serves as the national professional voice for librarians and information professionals in Uganda. Through advocacy and policy engagement, ULIA promotes an enabling environment for access to information, cultural heritage preservation, education, research, and lifelong learning.

ULIA works to influence policies, laws, and institutional frameworks that affect libraries, archives, information services, and knowledge systems at local, national, and international levels.

Access to Information

Access to information is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of democratic governance, education, research, and socio-economic development. Libraries and information centres play a critical role in enabling individuals and communities to discover, use, and benefit from information in all its forms.

The Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA) promotes equitable, inclusive, and sustainable access to information for all people, regardless of location, ability, or socio-economic status.

Cultural Heritage & Preservation

Uganda’s cultural heritage represents the collective memory, knowledge, and identity of its people. It includes documentary records, indigenous knowledge systems, oral traditions, audiovisual materials, and digital resources created and preserved over time.

KAMPALA – The critical role of libraries and the irreplaceable value of librarians in nurturing a reading culture and guiding users through the complexities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) were the central themes of a keynote speech delivered by the President of the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA), Dr. Fredrick Kiwuwa Lugya.

• To unite Library and information professionals, persons and organizations connected with, and interested in the promotion of the library and information services in Uganda
• To promote standards of practice within Library and information science (LIS) in Uganda
• To lobby and advocate for positive legislation and employment related to the LIS profession in Uganda and East African region
• To promote professional development and continuing education of the library and information professionals through meetings, offer scholarships, recommendations, lectures, seminars, w