Aliker’s book named 2018 best seller

Feat. Former Eala Speaker Margaret Zziwa hands over a plaque to Dr Martin Aliker in Kampala yesterday after his book was voted the best selling this year in bookshops across the country. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE

Kampala. Fountain Publishers Ltd has said Dr Martin Aliker’s book The Bell is Ringing, could turn out as Uganda’s fastest selling book because of the number of copies which have had to be reprinted since its launch.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Tom Tibaijuka, the publishing manager at Fountain Publishers Ltd, said although they did not publish President Museveni’s Sowing the Mustard Seed, the rate at which copies of Dr Aliker’s book are selling is the fastest in Uganda’s history compared to titles such as the State of Blood and the Incredible Journey.
“Within a month, we had to reprint copies because the first copies were sold out. We have not yet reached a level where we sell millions of copies of a book but a title which sales more than 500 copies in a month is a fast selling book,” he said.
Yesterday, while receiving a plaque and certificate of recognition by bookshops across the country for The Book of 2018 and the 2018 Book of Politics and Governance, the 90-year-old Aliker said he has been told by Fountain Publishers Ltd that his book sales have surpassed those of President Museveni’s Sowing the Mustard Seed, Henry Kyemba’s State of Blood and Justus Byagagaire’s Incredible Journey combined.
“It is a book which talks about the people who have shaped Uganda’s future and destiny; Godfrey Binaisa, Yusuf Lule, Milton Obote and Yoweri Museveni. I have known them personally and I am told the book is on high demand in Kenya, South Africa and India,” he said.
According to Mr Nasser Kakumba, the president Book Forum of Uganda, Dr Aliker’s book was named the book of the year and best seller by 25 bookshops across the country.