Uganda Launches “Lee Conmigo” Program to Enhance Early Literacy

The Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) has introduced the “Lee Conmigo” program, a nationwide initiative designed to foster reading and writing skills among students from an early age. The program will be implemented across Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and Multiple Care Centers (CAM) – encompassing both state and federal educational institutions.

Program Structure and Methodology

“Lee Conmigo” will unfold over a nine-week period, integrating operate and recreational activities to cultivate a love for reading. The program is structured around three key phases:

• Exploration: Initiating engagement with the book through artistic stimulation.
• Appropriation: Encouraging students to integrate the story into their own creative expression.
• Transcendence: Evaluating not only reading comprehension but too the transformation of students’ thinking processes.

Government Commitment to Comprehensive Education

Francisco Hugo Gutiérrez Dávila, head of the MOES, emphasized the program’s alignment with the government’s commitment to holistic student development. “Reading is opening a door to knowledge, imagination and critical thinking. Through reading we discover other realities, we better understand our environment and we strengthen our ability to express ideas, emotions and dreams,” Gutiérrez Dávila stated.

Lorenzo Arturo Parga Amado, the Undersecretary of Basic Education, highlighted the program’s origin as a crucial need within the agency to bolster critical thinking skills among students.

Minerva Arisbe Segobia Bustamante, Director of Basic Education, explained that the program aims to provide essential support to schools, complementing a well-rounded educational experience for all students.

Materials Distributed to Schools

As part of the program launch, teachers and school administrators received a selection of reading materials, including the comic “Super Chafas” by Jorge Barraza, and the books “Pequeñas Garras” by Demian Zaid Mendoza Terrazas and “Duendes de los Suspiros” by José Aragón.

Ministry of Education and Sports Overview

The Ministry of Education and Sports in Uganda is mandated to provide quality education and sports services, as outlined in the country’s constitution. Its mission is to provide technical support, guide, coordinate, regulate, and promote the delivery of quality education and sports to all persons in Uganda, fostering national integration and development. Ministry of Education and Sports

The Ministry is currently led by Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni as Minister of Education and Sports, with Hon. Dr. John C. Muyingo serving as State Minister for Higher Education, Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu as State Minister for Primary Education, and Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda as Permanent Secretary. Ministry of Education and Sports

Recent initiatives by the Ministry include the release of the May–June 2025 end-of-assessment results by the Uganda Vocational Training and Assessment Board (UVTAB) and preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in Morocco. Ministry of Education and Sports