UNESCO Learning CityLira, Uganda
Lira, located in Uganda, was inducted into UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022.
Lira is an industrial and commercial city; hence, the majority of the tribes that have settled in Lira are from neighbouring subregions. Its main economic activities include agro-processing.
Lira is an industrial and commercial city; hence, the majority of the tribes that have settled in Lira are from neighbouring subregions. Its main economic activities include agro-processing.
Lira’s lifelong learning strategy
As a learning city, Lira intends to
The municipality also aims to promote a participatory and integrated approach to planning education services and strengthening the city’s e-learning and management information systems.
- increase literacy rates among children and adults,
- reduce unemployment rates,
- reduce vulnerability and gender inequality in the city,
- and promote a knowledgeable, skilled, and ethical labour force.
The municipality also aims to promote a participatory and integrated approach to planning education services and strengthening the city’s e-learning and management information systems.
Sam AtulMayor of Lira City
“As a city, we are beginning to work on a number of learning challenges. We think being a part of this network will allow us to grow our knowledge and share our experience with other cities.
As a newly promoted city - formally we were a municipality - we are grappling with the challenge of garbage management. We want to see how best we can deal with this in such a way that we can sustainably manage garbage in a manner that we don’t only see it as garbage but also use it as a source of income for our communities. ”
As a newly promoted city - formally we were a municipality - we are grappling with the challenge of garbage management. We want to see how best we can deal with this in such a way that we can sustainably manage garbage in a manner that we don’t only see it as garbage but also use it as a source of income for our communities. ”
Sustainability and health in Lira
Lira promotes sustainability and health in its learning city strategy by providing policy guidelines for health care and monitoring health on a quarterly basis.
The municipality also has 26 licensed health facilities and Village Health teams that provide functional community health care.
The municipality also has 26 licensed health facilities and Village Health teams that provide functional community health care.
Sam AtulMayor of Lira City
"We are also working on integrating ICT knowledge in our educational sector.
Currently, the government is rolling out a lower school curriculum for secondary schools in Uganda. It focuses on skills learning. This is a new area for us, both for the national government and the local government, and we are looking forward to exchanging with cities who have already had experience in these areas. "
Currently, the government is rolling out a lower school curriculum for secondary schools in Uganda. It focuses on skills learning. This is a new area for us, both for the national government and the local government, and we are looking forward to exchanging with cities who have already had experience in these areas. "
Promoting equity and inclusion
Lira prioritizes equity and inclusion.
The city gives equal rights to refugees to access public services, and provides education for all students irrespective of age, gender, disability, or social status.
Moreover, the city has two schools for the deaf, two schools for the blind, and disability-friendly infrastructures.
The city gives equal rights to refugees to access public services, and provides education for all students irrespective of age, gender, disability, or social status.
Moreover, the city has two schools for the deaf, two schools for the blind, and disability-friendly infrastructures.
Sam AtulMayor of Lira City
“We are pressed with a challenge of young people who are moving away from rural areas and coming to the city.
We are working together with partner organisations to try and deal with this influx of young people who are looking for alternative ways of life within the city. We want to see a safe city and an inclusive city, safe for the young people – both genders.
We are also working on a strategy to develop adult learning, most especially for our women, who for many years because of the effects of the war that has been in this part of the country, were not able to finish formal education.”
We are working together with partner organisations to try and deal with this influx of young people who are looking for alternative ways of life within the city. We want to see a safe city and an inclusive city, safe for the young people – both genders.
We are also working on a strategy to develop adult learning, most especially for our women, who for many years because of the effects of the war that has been in this part of the country, were not able to finish formal education.”
Decent work and entrepreneurship
The city has integrated aspects of decent work and entrepreneurship into their learning city strategy by implementing programmes that encourage participants to form enterprise groups and cooperatives.
These groups subsequently receive business training and are equipped with tools for employment.
These groups subsequently receive business training and are equipped with tools for employment.
Improving school facilities
Lira is in the process of installing electricity and solar panels on all school premises, as well as providing hand-washing facilities. The city furthermore supplies learning materials for special needs schools.
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: © Shutterstock / Dennis Wegewijs; Shutterstock / Christiaan Triebert; Shutterstock / Adam Jan Figel; Shutterstock / Travel Stock; Shutterstock / africasearching
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: © Shutterstock / Dennis Wegewijs; Shutterstock / Christiaan Triebert; Shutterstock / Adam Jan Figel; Shutterstock / Travel Stock; Shutterstock / africasearching
Providing inspiration and best practice
The UNESCO Learning City of Lira is dedicated to its learning goals and will continue to promote lifelong learning for all of its citizens.
Having joined the vast network of learning cities, Lira will enter into a dialogue with cities around the globe. Other members of the network will learn from its good practices and, in turn, inspire Lira to further develop its learning strategies.
Having joined the vast network of learning cities, Lira will enter into a dialogue with cities around the globe. Other members of the network will learn from its good practices and, in turn, inspire Lira to further develop its learning strategies.
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Lira, Uganda
Lira’s lifelong learning strategy
Sam Atul
Sustainability and health in Lira
Sam Atul
Promoting equity and inclusion
Sam Atul
Decent work and entrepreneurship
Improving school facilities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Providing inspiration and best practice