Zombo, Uganda: The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has launched the Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation (ICOLEW) Programme in Zombo District, marking a major push to strengthen adult literacy and livelihoods under the nationwide Support to Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation (SUICOLEW) project.
The programme was rolled out on February 05, 2026, in Paidha Town Council, which has been designated as the pilot and model implementation site at lower local government level.
ICOLEW is a community-based adult learning initiative targeting low-literate, neo-literate and semi-literate youth and adults aged 15 years and above, integrating functional literacy and numeracy with livelihoods development to promote lifelong learning and wealth creation.
During the Paidha engagement, Harriet Akello, Assistant Commissioner for Adult Literacy at the ministry, underscored the need for institutional ownership and sustainability beyond project timelines.
“Once you receive this programme, let it stay. It should never exit. Let it influence mindset change because we want you to utilise PDM and change your life,” Akello told local leaders.
The programme aligns with Uganda’s Non-Formal Adult Learning and Community Education Strategy (NALCES) and is designed to support socio-economic empowerment, mindset change and active participation in development processes.
Walter Ongiera, Zombo District’s Senior Community Development Officer, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a strategic intervention for a district grappling with literacy and poverty challenges.
“This is a timely programme. Being selected among a limited number of beneficiaries is an opportunity we must fully utilise,” Ongiera said.
Meanwhile, Judith Fuacan, the Clerk to Council for Paidha Town Council, called for intensified grassroots mobilisation to boost learner recruitment and community participation.
The launch comes against a backdrop of persistent adult literacy and poverty gaps nationally and in West Nile. Available 2022 data from UNESCO and the World Bank estimates Uganda’s adult literacy rate at about 80.59 percent, leaving nearly one in five adults unable to read and write. National poverty levels stand at about 20.3 percent, with rural areas bearing a disproportionate burden.
In Zombo District, the challenge is more acute. Local organisations such as Life Concern estimate that up to 65 percent of youths are unable to read and write, significantly above the national average.
To strengthen community ownership, stakeholder orientation and sensitisation meetings were held on February 4, 2026, at Zombo District Community Hall, and February 5, 2026, in Paidha Town Council. The meetings brought together political and technical leaders, NGOs and FBOs, cultural and religious leaders, media, academia and special interest groups.
Key features of the Zombo rollout include renovation of existing community learning centres for cost-effectiveness, designation of Paidha Town Council as the pilot site, training of local leaders and technical staff, formation of Community Empowerment Groups (CEGs) and development of context-specific learning materials.
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