Gulu, Uganda — The University of the Sacred Heart Gulu was selected among five institutions to participate in a pretest exercise for a library assessment tool developed to support the monitoring and improvement of university libraries in Uganda.
The exercise was conducted by the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team of the Consortium of Uganda University Libraries (CUUL) on 29th April 2026, as part of efforts to assess how university libraries are functioning in relation to professional standards, institutional policies, and national higher education guidelines. The pretest at USHG was facilitated by Mr. Halid Namboza from Gulu University, who visited the University to engage with the library team and other university staff.
Although the exercise was initially intended to involve the librarian, several members of staff participated in the session. The discussion focused on the extent to which the University library is guided by approved library policies, professional practices, and relevant standards, including those linked to the National Council for Higher Education guidelines.
A key issue that emerged from the interaction was the importance of having clear and functional library policies. Participants noted that while the University library is operational and serving the academic community, there is need to strengthen policy documentation and align library services more closely with recognized benchmarks.
Purpose and Expected Impact of the Assessment Tool
The information collected during the pretest will help CUUL determine whether the assessment tool is effective for use in monitoring university libraries on a regular basis. Once finalized, the tool is expected to support annual library assessment processes and help identify institutions that may require technical or developmental support.
Opportunities for Library Improvement at USHG
The exercise also provided an opportunity for USHG to reflect on the current state of its library services and areas requiring improvement. These include:
- Policy development and documentation
- Staffing and professional library management
- Alignment with national and institutional quality assurance expectations
- Integration of library services with academic programs
The University appreciated CUUL for selecting USHG to participate in the pretest and welcomed the initiative as a positive step toward strengthening university library systems in Uganda.
