SQL for Beginners in Uganda: Practical Database Querying

Course outline and learning expectations

This is a tutor-led course. The outline shows what your tutor will cover; teaching materials and examinations are provided directly to enrolled students.

What you will learn

• By the end of this beginner SQL course, the learner will be able to:
• Explain SQL, relational databases, tables, rows, columns, primary keys, and foreign keys in plain language.
• Write `SELECT` statements to retrieve specific data from a relational database.
• Filter and sort records with `WHERE`, comparison operators, logical operators, `ORDER BY`, and `LIMIT`.
• Remove duplicate results, rename output columns, and create calculated columns.
• Work correctly with text, numbers, dates, Boolean values, and `NULL`.
• Summarise business and programme data with `COUNT`, `SUM`, `AVG`, `MIN`, `MAX`, `GROUP BY`, and `HAVING`.
• Combine related tables with `INNER JOIN` and `LEFT JOIN` to answer practical questions.
• Create simple tables and safely add, update, and delete records with SQL.
• Read common SQL error messages and correct syntax or logic mistakes.
• Complete a practical SQL project that turns raw Ugandan or African business data into useful answers.

Modules

1. 1

   Introduction to SQL and relational databases

   What SQL is and why organisations use itDatabases, tables, rows, columns, and relationshipsPrimary keys and foreign keysSQL statement families: querying, defining, and changing dataSQL syntax, keywords, comments, and readable formattingExploring a sample Uganda retail database
2. 2

   Retrieving data with `SELECT

   Using `SELECT` and `FROM`Selecting one, several, or all columnsColumn aliases with `AS`Calculated columns and arithmetic expressionsRemoving duplicates with `DISTINCT`Limiting returned rows with `LIMIT`Practice: viewing products, customers, sales, and districts
3. 3

   Filtering and sorting database records

   Filtering rows with `WHERE`Comparison operatorsCombining conditions with `AND`, `OR`, and `NOT`Searching ranges and lists with `BETWEEN` and `IN`Pattern matching with `LIKE` and `ILIKE`Testing missing values with `IS NULL` and `IS NOT NULL`Sorting with `ORDER BY`Practice: finding sales, transactions, or programme records that meet specific conditions
4. 4

   SQL data types and everyday functions

   Text, integer, decimal, date, time, and Boolean dataText functions for cleaning and presenting names or locationsNumeric functions for totals, prices, and quantitiesDate functions for monthly and yearly reportingConverting values with `CAST`Replacing missing results with `COALESCE`Practice: cleaning customer, school, clinic, and supplier fields
5. 5

   Summarising data with aggregate functions

   Counting records with `COUNT`Calculating totals and averages with `SUM` and `AVG`Finding minimum and maximum valuesCreating categories with `GROUP BY`Filtering grouped results with `HAVING`Understanding how `NULL` affects calculationsPractice: sales by branch, members by district, and services by facility
6. 6

   Combining tables with SQL joins

   Why relational data is stored in separate tablesMatching primary and foreign keysTable and column aliases`INNER JOIN``LEFT JOIN`Finding matched and unmatched recordsAvoiding duplicate rows caused by incorrect joinsPractice: combining customers and orders, farmers and deliveries, or learners and enrolments
7. 7

   Creating and changing data with SQL

   Creating a simple table with `CREATE TABLE`Choosing suitable data typesBasic `PRIMARY KEY`, `NOT NULL`, `UNIQUE`, and `DEFAULT` constraintsAdding rows with `INSERT`Changing records with `UPDATE`Removing records with `DELETE`Safe use of `WHERE` before an update or deletionPractice: maintaining a small inventory or membership table
8. 8

   Beginner SQL project for Uganda and Africa

   Read a simple database structureTranslate practical questions into SQL queriesRetrieve, filter, sort, summarise, and join dataCheck results for missing values, duplicates, and incorrect totalsPresent a clearly labelled set of SQL answersproject contexts: retail salesSACCO membershipagriculture produceschool enrolmenthealth servicesor NGO programme activity