2013 Writers' Workshop - Uganda 

In 2013 the Caine Prize hosted its annual workshop in Uganda which saw twelve writers from seven different African countries convene at the Garuga Resort Beach Hotel for nine days (16 April – 25 April) to write, read and discuss work in progress and to learn from two experienced writers, Véronique Tadjo and Pam Nichols. 

The Writers 

The participants included the 2012 winner, Rotimi Babatunde (Nigeria), three 2012 shortlisted writers; Billy Kahora (Kenya), Melissa Myambo (Zimbabwe) and Stanley Kenani (Malawi) and eight other promising writers; Michael Phoya (Malawi), Wazha Lopang (Botswana), Elnathan John (Nigeria), Abubakar Ibrahim (Nigeria) and Harriet Anena, Davina Kawuma, Lillian Aujo and Hellen Nyana from Uganda. During the workshop, the writers wrote a short story for inclusion in the 2013 Caine Prize anthology, which was published by New Internationalist on 1 July 2013 and subsequently by seven co-publishers in Africa. Each year the stories conceived at the workshops are automatically entered for the following year’s Prize. 

Schools Visit 

In collaboration with FEMRITE and The British Council, this year’s programme will incorporate a schools’ event on the afternoon of 23 April, at St Mary’s College, Kisubi. The Caine Prize Administrator, Dr Lizzy Attree said, “it is important that during the workshops we take the opportunity to inspire the next generation of writers. We hope to build on our first schools’ event in Uganda and continue to increase our commitment to literacy, literature and education in Africa.” 

Femrite Launch 

An official launch of the Caine Prize 2012 anthology with the Uganda Women Writers' Association, FEMRITE, one of seven co-publishers of the Caine Prize anthologies, also took place at The Barn Steakhouse, 34 Windsor Crescent, Kololo, Kampala. The public event included readings from the workshop participants FEMRITE co-ordinator, Hilda Twongyeirwe who stated, “We are very excited that the Caine Prize is coming to Uganda, and we would like to use this opportunity to highlight the importance of creative writing and literature to people of all ages and backgrounds.”