It is right there in our name: Lapatutu WRITING Creations.

We are all about writing. And whereas football clubs have academies where young talent is nurtured, for us at Lapatutu, our young talent is the young learners.

The vision is clear: to inculcate a deep love for reading and writing while they are still young, so as to nurture the next generation of writers.

There is something profoundly special about honoring the craft that you do and instinctively desiring that it is passed on to the next generation. It is, after all, the very foundation of legacy.

This year, through our partnership with the Education Department of the Entebbe Municipal Council, we are channeling this nurturing energy to the students at Nakiwogo Primary School in Entebbe. Founded in 1995, the school recently celebrated three decades of giving education to the children of the nation. It began as a community school, born out of the local need to uplift the children in Nakiwogo, before eventually transforming into a government-aided Universal Primary Education (UPE) school.

Our journey with them began in Term I, when we held a story reading session at the school and gave out original Lapatutu Storybooks to the learners. The goal then was to encourage a love for reading. There is an unspoken connection between reading and writing; often times, the love for reading unlocks a child’s capability to love writing.

We are fully cognizant of the times we are in.

The digital video craze has made the entire world more inclined to video consumption compared to reading. And yet, reading remains the only assured way to sharpen intelligence. This is why we shouldn’t be comfortable with the defeatist mantle that “people don’t read anymore.” Accepting that would be like affirming a harmful mantra that was alive a while ago: “If you want to hide anything from an African, put it in a book.”  

We have purposed to change that narrative.

For Term II, we have now transitioned from reading to letter writing. Letter writing remains a critical pillar of the professional world. Whether it is a school application, a job application, or a passport application—you name it, a letter opens the door. This means a well-written letter can go a long way; it carries a person’s dignity, intention, and voice to places their feet haven’t even stepped yet. Therefore, learning this craft early is an undeniable benefit to a young learner.

With this competition, we are seeking to hit two birds with one stone. The first is mastering the technical structure of how to write a letter. The second sits deeply within the topic itself. The students are tasked to write a letter to a friend who always litters the compound, telling them why this is wrong and how they can better dispose of waste.

The hope is that while writing this letter, in retrospect, they will instinctively be writing to themselves, choosing never to litter again.

On 13th June 2026, we officially launched the competition. Our day started with an essential briefing session with the educators of the English Department, led by the Head of Department, Teacher Grace. Clad in beautiful matching uniforms, there was an immediate sense of unity and shared purpose in the room before we even spoke a word.

Right from the start, the dedication of the educators was exceptional. Teacher Grace exemplified this leadership and sharp attention to detail, writing down every guideline and technical requirement in her notebook to ensure absolutely nothing was missed. Alongside her, Teacher Gilbert and Teacher Suubi offered valuable insights that made the briefing a truly collaborative and impactful session.

With the teachers fully on board, we stepped out into the classrooms and took the exciting news directly to the students as well.

Seeing the students listen with the utmost attention, leaning forward in their desks, and watching their eyes light up as we broke down the competition was the greatest feeling of it all. They asked sharp questions that really mattered—showing a genuine interest in the craft.

As we saw this, it became vividly clear that the love for writing is very much alive in them. It just needs to be called forth.

None of this would be possible without the remarkable leadership at the helm of the school. We deeply thank and appreciate the supportive collaboration of the Headteacher, Teacher Kobusinge Phoeb, who doesn’t just welcome our initiatives, but actively champions them to ensure her learners get the best out of every Lapatutu program.

The journey to nurturing Nakiwogo Primary School’s next generation of wordsmiths has officially begun.

Good Luck to all the participants!

More on this in a month’s time, when we share the winning entries and celebrate the remarkable progress of these young writers.