Femrite
Encyclopedia
FEMRITE - Uganda Women Writers' Association is an NGO based in Kampala, Uganda, whose programs focus on developing and publishing women writers in Uganda and—more recently—in the East African region. FEMRITE has likewise expanded its concerns to East African issues regarding the environment, literacy, education, health, women's rights and good governance.
, currently (as of 2011) a member of the 8th Parliament of Uganda
, but at that time a lecturer at Makerere University
. Okurut was joined by Lillian Tindyebwa, Ayeta Anne Wangusa
, Susan Kiguli, Martha Ngabirano, Margaret Ntakalimaze, Rosemary Kyarimpa, Hilda Twongyeirwe, Philomena Rwabukuku and Judith Kakonge.
FEMRITE was officially launched as a Non-Governmental Organization on May 3, 1996. Goretti Kyomuhendo
, who would later found African Writers Trust
, served as FEMRITE's first coordinator. Other notable early members include Beverley Nambozo, Glaydah Namukasa
, Beatrice Lamwaka, Doreen Baingana
, Violet Barungi
, Mildred Barya
(also known as Mildred Kiconco), and Jackee Budesta Batanda.
Of FEMRITE’s origins and mission, Kyomuhendo, in a 2003 interview with Feminist Africa, stated: "To talk about FEMRITE is to talk about Uganda's literary scene, about Ugandan politics, and especially about the connections between women, politics and writing in Uganda."
History
FEMRITE was founded in 1995 by Mary Karoro OkurutMary Karoro Okurut
Mary Karoro Okurut is a Ugandan politician. She is the current Minister of Information and National Guidance in the Ugandan Cabinet. She was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. She replaced Kabakumba Masiko, who was appointed Minister for the Presidency...
, currently (as of 2011) a member of the 8th Parliament of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, but at that time a lecturer at Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
. Okurut was joined by Lillian Tindyebwa, Ayeta Anne Wangusa
Ayeta Anne Wangusa
Ayeta Anne Wangusa, born in Kampala, Uganda, on 9 September 1971, is a writer and activist.A founding member of FEMRITE, the Uganda Women Writers Association, Wangusa first achieved broader recognition in literary circles for her novel...
, Susan Kiguli, Martha Ngabirano, Margaret Ntakalimaze, Rosemary Kyarimpa, Hilda Twongyeirwe, Philomena Rwabukuku and Judith Kakonge.
FEMRITE was officially launched as a Non-Governmental Organization on May 3, 1996. Goretti Kyomuhendo
Goretti Kyomuhendo
Goretti Kyomuhendo, born Maria Goretti Kyomuhendo on August 1, 1965, is a novelist from Hoima, Western Uganda. A participant at the inaugural International Literature Festival Berlin in 2001, Kyomuhendo has been recognized for her “internationally renowned novels.” She has also earned notice in...
, who would later found African Writers Trust
African Writers Trust
African Writers Trust was established in 2009 as "a non-profit entity which seeks to coordinate and bring together African writers in the Diaspora and writers on the continent to promote sharing of skills and other resources, and to foster knowledge and learning between the two groups."The current...
, served as FEMRITE's first coordinator. Other notable early members include Beverley Nambozo, Glaydah Namukasa
Glaydah Namukasa
A founding member of FEMRITE - Ugandan Women Writer's Association, Glaydha Namukasa is a prolific Ugandan writer and Midwife. She was the winner of the The 2005 Macmillan Writers Prize for Africa-Senior Prize.-Early life:...
, Beatrice Lamwaka, Doreen Baingana
Doreen Baingana
Doreen Baingana is a Ugandan short story writer. Her book, Tropical Fish won the 2006 Commonwealth Writers' Prize, best first book, Africa, and an AWP Short Fiction Award....
, Violet Barungi
Violet Barungi
Violet Barungi is a novelist and writer from Uganda, well-known in East African literary circles both for her own writing and her prolific career as the Editor for FEMRITE - Uganda Women Writers’ Association.-Career as a solo author :...
, Mildred Barya
Mildred Barya
Mildred Kiconco Barya , born Owemigisha Patricia on 1 August 1976, is a writer and poet from Uganda. She was awarded the 2008 Pan African Literary Forum Prize for Africana Fiction, but had earlier gained recognition for her poetry, particularly her first two collections, , and .Barya has also...
(also known as Mildred Kiconco), and Jackee Budesta Batanda.
Of FEMRITE’s origins and mission, Kyomuhendo, in a 2003 interview with Feminist Africa, stated: "To talk about FEMRITE is to talk about Uganda's literary scene, about Ugandan politics, and especially about the connections between women, politics and writing in Uganda."
Major Achievements of FEMRITE members and alumni
- Monica Arac de NyekoMonica Arac de NyekoMonica Arac de Nyeko is a Ugandan writer of short fiction, poetry, and essays. She was educated at Makerere University and the University of Groningen...
won the Caine PrizeCaine PrizeThe Caine Prize for African Writing is an annual literary award for the best original short story by an African writer, whether in Africa or elsewhere, published in the English language. The £10,000 prize was founded in the United Kingdom in 2000, and was named in memory of the late Sir Michael...
in 2007; Beatrice Lamwaka was shortlisted for the same in 2011; Doreen BainganaDoreen BainganaDoreen Baingana is a Ugandan short story writer. Her book, Tropical Fish won the 2006 Commonwealth Writers' Prize, best first book, Africa, and an AWP Short Fiction Award....
shortlisted in 2005. - Doreen BainganaDoreen BainganaDoreen Baingana is a Ugandan short story writer. Her book, Tropical Fish won the 2006 Commonwealth Writers' Prize, best first book, Africa, and an AWP Short Fiction Award....
won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for First Best Book, Africa Region (2006); Baingana was also shortlisted for the Hurston/Wright Award (2006). - Beatrice Lamwaka was short listed for the 2009 PEN/Studzinsky Literary Award (2009).
- Glaydah NamukasaGlaydah NamukasaA founding member of FEMRITE - Ugandan Women Writer's Association, Glaydha Namukasa is a prolific Ugandan writer and Midwife. She was the winner of the The 2005 Macmillan Writers Prize for Africa-Senior Prize.-Early life:...
won the Macmillan Writers Prize for Africa, Senior Category (2005). - Mildred BaryaMildred BaryaMildred Kiconco Barya , born Owemigisha Patricia on 1 August 1976, is a writer and poet from Uganda. She was awarded the 2008 Pan African Literary Forum Prize for Africana Fiction, but had earlier gained recognition for her poetry, particularly her first two collections, , and .Barya has also...
won the Pan-African Literary Forum Award for Africana Fiction (2008). - Jackee Budesta Batanda won the Commonwealth Short Story CompetitionCommonwealth Short Story CompetitionThe Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction . The prize is open to Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and over...
, Africa Region (2003). - Violet BarungiViolet BarungiViolet Barungi is a novelist and writer from Uganda, well-known in East African literary circles both for her own writing and her prolific career as the Editor for FEMRITE - Uganda Women Writers’ Association.-Career as a solo author :...
won the British Council International New Play Writing Award for Africa and the Middle East (1997). - Goretti KyomuhendoGoretti KyomuhendoGoretti Kyomuhendo, born Maria Goretti Kyomuhendo on August 1, 1965, is a novelist from Hoima, Western Uganda. A participant at the inaugural International Literature Festival Berlin in 2001, Kyomuhendo has been recognized for her “internationally renowned novels.” She has also earned notice in...
(Novel: 1999), Susan Kiguli (Poetry: 1999), Mary Karoro OkurutMary Karoro OkurutMary Karoro Okurut is a Ugandan politician. She is the current Minister of Information and National Guidance in the Ugandan Cabinet. She was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. She replaced Kabakumba Masiko, who was appointed Minister for the Presidency...
(Novel: 2003), and Mildred BaryaMildred BaryaMildred Kiconco Barya , born Owemigisha Patricia on 1 August 1976, is a writer and poet from Uganda. She was awarded the 2008 Pan African Literary Forum Prize for Africana Fiction, but had earlier gained recognition for her poetry, particularly her first two collections, , and .Barya has also...
(Poetry: 2003) won the National Book Trust of Uganda Literary Award.
Public response to FEMRITE Programs
FEMRITE, as reported by various journalists, has been active in Uganda and the greater East African region in the areas of promoting literacy, educational reform, women’s rights, and good governance. These activities have generally received positive notice.- Emmanuel Ssejjengo, as reported in AllAfrica.com for July 14, 2011, stated that "the FEMRITE Literary Week" was "one of the most celebrated events in Uganda's literary arts."
- Dennis Muhumuza, in the Daily Monitor (Uganda) for July 23, 2011, discussed FEMRITE's influence on Uganda's National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), and the resulting inclusion of more Ugandan works of literature in the high school and college curriculum.
- Muhumuza, also for the Daily Monitor (Uganda) on January 9 , 2011, reviewed the FEMRITE anthology Pumpkin Seeds and Other Gifts: Stories from the FEMRITE Regional Writers Residency, 2008 (ISBN 978-9970700226), calling it a “delicious treasure” that “you will want to take along with you on a journey, or cuddle on the sofa and read in the beauty of solitude, or even read aloud to your children around the fireplace.” .
- Halima Abdallah, in The East African (Kenya) for August 14, 2011, reviewed the FEMRITE anthology Never Too Late (ISBN 9789970700233), concerning the AIDS/HIV epidemic, declaring it “a must read for all age groups as it raises questions and most times provides answers that require collective action” while noting that the collection was “born out of a desire by Femrite to generate literature for positive change aimed at addressing social issues facing not just the youth but society at large.”
- Dora Byamukama for New VisionNew VisionNew Vision is one of two main national newspapers in Uganda.-History:It was established in its current form in 1986 by the Ugandan Government. New Vision is broadly sympathetic to the government of President Yoweri Museveni. It was founded in 1955 as the Uganda Argus, a British colonial government...
(Uganda) favorably reviewed the FEMRITE collection of non-fictional stories Beyond the Dance: Voices of women on female genital mutilation (ISBN 9789970700196), and stated that the testimonies presented "call for support to end the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM)." - The American news program Wide Angle (PBS) featured FEMRITE’s collaboration with IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the United Nations Office, to produce “Today you will understand,” a collection of the personal war stories of 16 women affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebellion.
- Also commenting on “Today you will understand,” Martyn Drakard for the Observer (Uganda) on December 10, 2008 stated that the collection is “a voice for the voiceless” and “Compulsory reading for anyone wanting to know how the LRA war has affected people’s lives.”
- David Kaiza, in a 2007 editorial entitled ""Women writers rule" for The East African, also discussed albeit somewhat sardonically the growing regional impact of FEMRITE.