Uganda PEN
Today I went to meet Beatrice Lamwaka, who is a member of Uganda PEN. Since I am a member of Danish PEN, we are both members of the same international organization, International PEN. Beatrice herself is a teacher of the English language and literature. She holds a degree in education and human rights from Makerere University. Beatrice also does editing, counselling, general workshops, etc.
Beatrice
told me, that Uganda PEN is engaged in projects concerning Writers in Prison.
The activists of PEN Uganda simply go to prisons and invite the inmates to
write. This is a big success, and PEN Uganda even publishes books with the writings
of inmates. Of course, funding is always an issue, but PEN Uganda from time to
time receives modest amounts from PEN International. PEN Uganda also works with
PEN America.
Workshops for displaced persons
There are
many refugees from other countries in Uganda, many of whom are writers and many
of whom can move freely around. PEN Uganda also organizes workshops in critical
writing for this target group. Also workshops about human rights at schools is
an activity worth mentioning. Sometimes PEN Uganda also organizes workshops in
local languages. Online security and selfcensorship are other subjects for the workshops.
Books
The books
published by PEN Uganda are on sale at the African National Bookstore at the
Uganda National Museum. Also, the Uganda Society, of which I am a lifelong
member myself, resides at the National Museum. Visit my blog to read more about
these institutions here.
Global
Press Journal
Upon
leaving we decided to partner up as members of International PEN, to exchange
information and to keep in touch.
Buy the books
As I stood
dead before the world, ISBN: 978-9970-618-01. Published 2018.
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