Positioning Academic Libraries as Catalysts for Open Access in Africa with Dr. Fredrick Lugya (ULIA).

Abstract

This episode features Dr. Frederick Kiwuwa Lugya, University Librarian at Busitema University and President of the Uganda Library and Information Association (ULIA). Dr. Lugya discusses the transformative power of Open Science and the critical role academic libraries play in bridging the gap between researchers and public access. He shares insights from his 20-year journey in librarianship, the challenges of high-cost academic resources, and his advocacy for a National Open Access Policy in Uganda to ensure that publicly funded research remains accessible to all. Key themes include: the necessity of open access and institutional repositories; policy and sustainability of open science; the evolving roles of librarians in data curation and AI; and disciplinary information literacy integrated into university curricula at Busitema University.