We hosted our inaugural Early Childhood Development (ECD) Teachers’ Conference in Jinja during the last week of July under the theme, “Building Foundations, Scaling Impact.” The conference brought together educators, policymakers, and practitioners, all united by a single goal: strengthening early childhood learning in Uganda.

The conference created space for teachers (often the unsung heroes of the classroom) to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions. Topics ranged from the role of play in learning to using locally available materials for literacy development, to strategies for supporting children with different learning needs. It was a rich exchange that reminded us that teachers are not just implementers of curriculum, but change-makers who shape the foundation of every child’s education.

Sessions also introduced practical teaching tools such as interactive read-alouds and autonomy blocks, alongside conversations about the role of mindset, teacher leadership, and home-community partnerships in achieving strong foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) outcomes.

Keynote speakers like Ms Leslie White and Ms Flavia Nakajjugo Kizito emphasized the importance of foundational literacy and numeracy in building stronger literacy and executive function skills. Panel discussions and breakout sessions provided teachers with practical tools and strategies they could carry back to their classrooms.

This first conference was a major milestone. The two-day interaction and conversations reaffirmed the power of collaboration, reflection, and teacher-led innovation in building sustainable education systems from the ground up. Most importantly, it reminded us that when teachers are empowered, children thrive.

We are grateful to all the educators who attended, shared, and inspired. This is only the beginning, and we look forward to making the ECD Teachers’ Conference an annual platform for reflection, learning, and action.