Let us ignite the spark of poetry within you, and together, let us create a world where words can change lives.
Atim Priscilla Ariance
Atim Priscilla Ariance is the President of Uganda Poetry Society (UPS), a young poet and creative whose leadership and artistic vision contribute to the growth of poetry and the empowerment of emerging voices in Uganda’s literary landscape.
Born on 28th March, 2004, in Lira, Northern Uganda, Atim is a Ugandan poet, creative writer, filmmaker, public speaker who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with Education at Makerere University, majoring in Literature, English, and studying French for purposes of Communication.
Atim’s commitment to writing has seen her participate in several literary and creative-writing competitions and initiatives including the Youths Innovation Poetry Challenge organised by FEMRITE, the Makerere University Short Story Competition, Writers’ Space Africa competitions, and Fasihi Magazine initiatives which have further strengthened her writing skills.
In 2026, she won the Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Awards and received the award on 28 March 2026. She also ventured into filmmaking, writing and producing the short film entitled “The Dream I Never Chose”. Her interest in public speaking has seen her represent Makerere University at the 2026 East African Universities’ Debate Championship in Public Speaking.
As the UPS President, she has been involved in organising poetry events, creative initiatives, and spaces that bring together poets, writers, and young creatives while encouraging them to develop and share their voices.
Through poetry, literature, film, and leadership, Atim continues to develop her creative voice and hopes to contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s growing literary and creative community.
Professor Timothy Wangusa
Professor Timothy Wangusa is the Patron of the Uganda Poetry Society (UPS), offering his experience, literary wisdom, and mentorship to the Society as it works to promote poetry and nurture Uganda’s literary community.
Born on 20 May 1942 in Bugisu, Eastern Uganda, Professor Wangusa is a distinguished Ugandan poet, novelist, academic, literary scholar, and public intellectual. He received his early education at Nabumali High School before proceeding to King’s College Budo for his A-Level education. He later studied English at Makerere University and pursued his Master’s degree in Literature at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
He subsequently earned a PhD in Literature from Makerere University in 1975, becoming the first person to graduate with a PhD in Literature from Makerere after the university became independent.
Professor Wangusa began his academic career at Makerere University in 1969 and rose through the ranks to become Professor of Literature in 1981, becoming the first Ugandan
Professor of Literature at the university. He served as Head of the Department of Literature and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, among other academic responsibilities.
He later served as Vice Chancellor of Kumi University and played an important role in establishing the Department of Languages and Literature at Uganda Christian University.
As a writer, Professor Wangusa has made a lasting contribution to Ugandan and African literature. His notable publications include Salutations: Poems 1965–1975, Upon This Mountain, A Pattern of Dust: Selected Poems 1965–1990, Anthem for Africa, Africa’s New Brood, and Betwixt Mountain and Wilderness
His first novel, Upon This Mountain, has been widely studied in Ugandan secondary schools, making his work particularly influential in the country’s literary and educational landscape.
Beyond academia and literature, Professor Wangusa has also contributed to public service. He served as Minister of Education from 1985 to 1986 and later as a Member of Parliament. He was also the founding President of PEN Uganda, helping establish the Ugandan Centre of PEN International in 2001.
His remarkable career has been recognised
through numerous academic and literary milestones. Among his most notable achievements are being the first PhD graduate in Literature at Makerere University after independence and the first Ugandan Professor of Literature at Makerere University. His enduring body of literary work, academic leadership, and mentorship continues to influence generations of Ugandan writers and scholars.
As Patron of the Uganda Poetry Society, Professor Timothy Wangusa represents
a living bridge between Uganda’s literary heritage and its emerging generation of poets, writers, and literary enthusiasts.
Moses Serugo
Former Interim President, Uganda Poetry Society
Moses Serugo is a Ugandan writer, arts journalist, curator, and cultural enthusiast. As the former Interim President of the Uganda Poetry Society, he contributed to the growth and promotion of poetry while fostering spaces for poets and creatives to connect, express themselves, and grow.
Linda Nunu Umuringa Butare
Linda Nunu Umuringa Butare, popularly known as Nunu Umuringa, is a poet, writer, creative artist, designer, and entrepreneur with a notable presence in Uganda’s poetry and creative arts scene. She is the Former Interim Vice President of the Uganda Poetry Society, having contributed to the leadership and development of the Society.
Nunu is also the founder of Kwivuga Poetry Session, a platform that created space for spoken-word poets and connected poetry with wider audiences in Uganda. Her creative journey extends beyond poetry into fashion, jewellery design, and other artistic expressions.
Through her creativity, leadership, and contribution to the poetry community, Nunu remains a notable figure in Uganda’s evolving literary landscape.
Mbabazi Eron: Where Law, Leadership and Words Meet
At the intersection of law, leadership, poetry, faith, and advocacy is Mbabazi Eron, a young Ugandan leader and law student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Main Campus.
Eron currently serves as the Vice President of the Uganda Poetry Society (UPS), where she is part of a growing community that believes in the power of words and the voices behind them. For her, poetry is more than an art form — it is a way of connecting, expressing, questioning, and inspiring.
Her passion for leadership extends beyond UPS. She serves as the Secretary of the Azania Society, Publicity Officer for Works of the Mind, a mental health organisation, and Vice Chairperson of the Youth and Teens Ministry in Namugongo Diocese. Through these roles, she continues to engage with young people, champion meaningful conversations, and create spaces where people and their ideas can thrive.
Currently pursuing law, Eron finds herself constantly navigating the fascinating space between words on paper and words that create impact — whether they are found in legislation, poetry, leadership, or conversations about mental well-being.
Born on 13 February 2005, Eron represents a generation of young people choosing not only to find their voices, but to use them purposefully.
For Eron, words are not simply written or spoken. They are lived.
Juma Claver Collins
Juma Claver Collins is the Youth and Students Representative of the Uganda Poetry Society, where he advocates for the participation and growth of young people in Uganda’s poetry community. As a poet, he is passionate about using poetry as a tool for expression, storytelling, and connecting people through shared experiences.
Collins is a finalist at Kyambogo University, pursuing a Bachelor of Education in Literature and English. He has also gained teaching experience as an intern at Naalya Senior Secondary School, Bweyogerere Campus.
Beyond poetry and education, Collins serves as the Membership Director of the Rotaract Club of Kyambogo University. Through his various engagements, he continues to grow as a poet, educator, and young leader, committed
to contributing to Uganda’s vibrant literary community.
Okello Bartholomew Ryan
Okello Bartholomew Ryan is the Treasurer of the Uganda Poetry Society, where he contributes to the Society’s growth through responsible financial management and active engagement in its programmes and initiatives.
He is a 22- year old Quantity Surveying student at Kyambogo University with a strong interest in analytical precision, environmental stewardship, and creative communication. Grounded in his Christian faith, Bartholomew combines his technical knowledge of cost management and the built environment with an appreciation for sustainable resource development.
Beyond his academic pursuits, he is passionate about literary writing, particularly poetry and editorial analysis. Through writing, he explores complex systems, policies, and issues surrounding society, natural resources, and sustainable development.
As an emerging professional and creative writer, Bartholomew seeks to apply his skills in project evaluation, data driven planning, and cost management to initiatives that create meaningful impact, while continuing to contribute to the advancement of poetry and literary arts in Uganda.
Derrick Asaba
Derrick Asaba, commonly known as Mwami Asaba, is a Ugandan journalist, communications specialist, poet, author and Christian creative. He serves as the Membership and Welfare Officer of the Uganda Poetry Society.
Asaba is a graduate of Mass Communication from Kampala International University and holds a postgraduate diploma in Public Relations.
With 7+ years in the media, he has reported on stories from entertainment to business. His work has been published in The New Vision, The Kampala Sun, Record FM (Website) and Urban TV for its depth, clarity and impact.
As a communications specialist, he has helped organisations navigate messaging and media relations, for instance The Farmers Media and MeriLee Property Agency, where he worked as a communications assistant and communications officer respectively.
Asaba is the author of his debut poetry collection ‘Tales Beyond The Curtain’ – a collection that tells two sides of his life (before and after meeting Jesus) and ‘The Unseen Chains’ — a play that tells a life from bondage to redemption.
He is a champion of educational literature through poetry and drama, and a regular contributor to Writers Space Africa (WSA) Magazine. Some of his published poems include: All I Remember, Because He is, Let my Spirit Remain, The Guiding Star, Calvary’s Call and What will our graves mean?.
He describes himself as a multifaceted creative who weaves narratives that seek to inform and educate, with a commitment to truth and connection.
Grace Tendo Katana
Grace Tendo Katana serves as the Secretary General of the Uganda Poetry Society, a position she assumed in March 2026 as part of the Society’s new leadership team.
A veterinary doctor by profession, she is also a passionate writer, reader, and mentor with a particular interest in children’s literature. Her writing spans poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, and flash fiction, with much of her work centred on children’s stories and poems. She mentors at Writers Space Africa Academy for Children’s Literature.
She is also the National Coordinator of the Writers Space Africa Uganda chapter and serves as Assistant Chief Editor and Children’s Literature Editor at Writers Space Africa magazine.
Her literary work has earned recognition, including the 2023 Wakini Kuria Award for Children’s Literature, presented in Ghana. She also serves on the judging panel for the African
Writers Awards, further reflecting her contribution to the literary community.
Doreen Awero
Doreen Awero serves as the Outreach and Partnerships Officer of the Uganda Poetry Society, where she focuses on building connections, creating opportunities, and opening platforms for poets and emerging voices.
Her journey into poetry began with a simple but memorable moment a classmate performing a poem on a school stage. The experience sparked something within her and inspired a passion that has continued to grow.
Her poetry finds meaning in the ordinary: emotions, conversations, memories, and quiet moments that often go unnoticed
Writing is both a way of making sense of her own experiences and a means of helping others feel understood.
Through her work at the Uganda Poetry Society, she seeks to give others the same opportunities and encouragement that once helped her find her own voice. She believes that poetry does not have to be perfect to be worth sharing.
Beyond poetry, she enjoys sunsets, cold air, and occasional adventures. Her Christian faith also remains central to her purpose, particularly her desire to share God’s Word and speak truth that makes people feel seen.
For her, poetry and purpose walk together one voice, one platform, and one person finding the courage to begin.
