Catherine Amia
I am the Coordinator of the Community Libraries Association of Uganda (COLAU) and a volunteer with the Wikimedia User Group Uganda (WUGU). I am mainly active in Wikimedia projects under the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM).
As a librarian by profession, I started actively participating in Wikimedia projects through the 1lib1ref campaigns organised by the African Libraries and Information Institutions Association (AfLIA).
I also participated in the library mapping exercise in which we created wikidata items for the libraries mapped and uploaded their photos on Wiki Commons. A Geo map was created using the open street map platform showing the exact locations of community and public libraries in Uganda.
This is one of the best deliverables achieved through a partnership between COLAU and WUGU.
In 2024, I participated in a GLAM mentorship program in a Wikisource training as a meentee. Later on in May 2025, I participated in the Women in Wikisource training as a mentor.
Earlier this year, the 'Newspaper project' was launched. In this, we are creating Wikipedia articles and wikidata items about newspapers in Uganda and uploading their photos on Wiki Commons. (This is still ongoing).
Furthermore, I have also participated in the WikiGap and Wiki Loves folklore, Wiki Loves Africa campaigns.
I have special interest in open knowledge and digital literacy; and in my current role as the Coordinator, I hope to liase more partnerships to support libraries in Uganda to close the digital divide so that we remain relevant in this paradigm shift.
I hope to expand knowledge about Wikimedia projects to librarians in Uganda, across Africa and in the global village.
Session
Community & Public libraries play a crucial role in knowledge dissemination, digital access, and literacy. However, many libraries in Uganda remain undocumented, making it difficult for communities and policymakers to support them effectively. This session will showcase how OpenStreetMap (OSM) and uMap have been used to map community public libraries across Uganda, creating an open, accessible dataset that benefits researchers, policymakers, and the general public.
We will explore the methodology used in mapping these libraries, data collection challenges, and how Wikimedia projects can integrate and amplify such open datasets. Additionally, we will discuss how community-driven mapping efforts can bridge digital access gaps and partnerships in the Global South.