Sophie Nuwagira Bamwoyeraki was born in southwestern Uganda, Mbarara. She grew up in Kinoni, Rwampara, but later moved to Kampala after graduating from Makerere University. Sophie holds a Masters in Education and currently teaches at Kampala International School Uganda. She has co-authored text books for secondary schools. She admires, Simon Armitage, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Goretti Kyomuhendo, Sujata Bhatt, Carol Ann Duffy, Antonio Jacinto and Natasha Tretheway. She has had poems and short stories published in various collections. Sophie is currently compiling a poetry anthology.
Emmanuel Monychol was born on the outskirts of a town called Tonj in South Sudan. He has studied in South Sudan and Uganda and is currently taking an MSc in Media management in the United Kingdom. Monychol admires writers such as, Thomas Hardy, Wole Soyinka, Ngũgĩ Thiong’o, Ousmane Sembène, George Orwell, Chinua Achebe, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Thomas Mofolo, Henry Rider Haggard, Mariama Bâ, Mongo Beti, Okot p’Bitek, Nii Parkes and Goretti Kyomuhendo. He has been published by the Kwani Trust and Studio Edirisa. Emmanuel devotes most of his free time to writing.
Lillian Akampurira Aujo is from Uganda and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Uganda Christian University, Mukono. Her work ‘Soft Tonight’ was awarded first prize in The Beverley Nambozo Poetry award. The writers she admires include, Arundhathi Roy, Zukiswa Wanner, Rotimi Babatunde, Leila Aboulela, Lola Shoneyin, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Lillian is currently working on a poetry and short story collection.
Davina Kawuma was born in Lusaka and grew up in Kampala. She used to be afraid of poetry but not anymore. She wishes she had written Godhorse, The Laugher, The Blue Bouquet, Black Mamba Boy, Desertion, Perfume and House of Leaves. In her perfect world, she would write novellas during her lunch break and publish them before going to bed. Davina has written articles for African Woman and is working on a collection of short stories.
Oyet Sisto Ocen is his mother’s third child, but ironically “Sisto” means ‘sixth’ in Italian! He grew up in northern Uganda and currently resides in Lamwo. Having gained a diploma in Clinical medicine and Community health, he worked with humanitarian agencies in South Sudan. After witnessing the destruction caused by HIV/AIDS in Uganda he became a medical officer for, Lamwo Rock Foundation for Children and Youth, a charity which exists to support orphans of the disease. His favourite writers are Chinua Achebe and Binyavanga Wainaina. He is currently working on a novel about his time in South Sudan.
Elone Natumanya Ainebyoona is a Ugandan development worker who writes for pleasure in Runyakitara as well as in English. She has had published her poetry and her adult and children’s fiction. Elone has a degree in Adult and Community education from Kyambogo Uinversity, Uganda. She is currently a programme officer with the Ugandan National NGO Forum and is compiling a set of poems which she hopes to have published one day.
Lillian Akampurira Aujo is from Uganda and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Uganda Christian University, Mukono. Her work ‘Soft Tonight’ was awarded first prize in The Beverley Nambozo Poetry award. The writers she admires include, Arundhathi Roy, Zukiswa Wanner, Rotimi Babatunde, Leila Aboulela, Lola Shoneyin, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Lillian is currently working on a poetry and short story collection.
Gloria Kembabazi Muhatane resides in Kampala and is currently studying International relations. She is inspired by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, Gorreti Kyomuhendo, Mildred Barya, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and other African female writers who have gained international acclaim for their works. More of Gloria’s writings can be found on her blog: fascinated-loria.blogspot.com
Sneha Susan Shibu is from the sleepy town of Alleppey/Alappuzha, also known as the Venice of the East, in Kerala, south India. She is a homemaker and has a Bachelor of Education in English and a Masters in English literature. She loves photography and observing nature. Her favourite writers include, J.M Coetzee, A.J Cronin, C.S Lewis, H.H Munro and Arundhati Roy. Sneha has written humorous stories for children and is working on two novellas