Forest Whitaker, the multiple award winning American actor gave books to the Hope North School near Masindi in Northern Western Uganda. The school educates hundreds of former child soldiers from northern Uganda. The actor, won the best actor award at the 79th Academy Awards which was held in Los Angeles on 25 February, was in Uganda for the Celtel sponsored premiere of his film, The Last King of Scotland.

The book donation will be part of Celtel's Build. Our Nation which was first launched in Tanzania in 2004. Since then the programme has been spread to Burkina Faso, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Since Build. Our Nation was launched in Uganda in 2006 Celtel has donated books public primary schools to 56 districts across the country.

Announcing the project Celtel International's Chief Commercial Officer, Tito Alai said, "We are proud that an icon of the world of cinema has found time, just before he goes to Los Angeles, for the Oscars to partner with us on this programme to improve education."

Celtel Uganda's Managing Director Yesse Oenga said; "We are delighted to have Forest Whitaker in Uganda. He's shown his commitment to education by honouring a promise he made during the film that he would come back and do something for the schools in Uganda."

Build Our Nation, Celtel's flagship corporate social responsibility programme, was started to directly support the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of ensuring that by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. In 2006 the company spent more than US$ 1,000,000 across Africa donating books and other school supplies.

Enquiries: Justina Ntabgoba, phone +256 75 2230110