Despite growing tensions in and around Kampala, for the fourth time running, the Kampala Book Market was held this month and it didn’t disappointment.
With the growing number of people reading and writing in Uganda the Kampala Book Market is turning into the one stop center for everything literary in here Uganda.
Saturday August 25, saw over six publishers exhibited at the book market including our very own Fountain Publishers and Longhorn among others. There were also a number of different authors whose credited works were showcased, the likes of Alex Nkabahona author of “Cultures at Crossroads: Homosexuality and Human Rights in Uganda”, Kevin O’Conor (Insights into Uganda); Mugabi Byenkya (Dear Philomena); Eunice Apio (Zura Maids) Cathy Kreutter (Old Mzee Books) among many other renowned authors.
According to Mr. Wartson Atukwatse, the curator of The Kampala Book Market, the Market features both established and non-established authors as well as publishing houses, readers, performances and book enthusiasts whose main objective is to promote the reading and writing culture here in Uganda and hopefully it can spread further on the African continent.
This month’s book market registered the most diverse of attendances recorded so far with both children and adults of different nationalities taking part in the long day activities of the event despite the rising political tensions and riots happening in and around Kampala.
This Literary initiative has also well been welcomed at a time when the reading culture among Ugandans is increasing and books in high demand. According to the organizers, the book market will be rolled in different parts of the country in a drive to promote literacy and a reading culture amongst Ugandans nationwide.
The next Kampala Book Market will take place on the September 29, at the Uganda Museum.