Commonwealth book prize: Ugandan author chosen to be judge
Kyomuhendo will be taking her turn judging authors from different backgrounds. NET PHOTO
What you need to know:
Books. Her brief is to read so many well-written books from around the world in a very short time.
Goretti Kyomuhendo, a Ugandan writer has been selected as a judge for the prestigious Commonwealth Book Prize. The Commonwealth Book Prize is an annual award for fiction administered and funded by the Commonwealth Foundation. For the 2013 prize, the book must have been published between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2012.
Kyomuhendo is the founder and Director of African Writers Trust based in London, United Kingdom. She was born on August 1, 1965, in Hoima, Western Uganda. Kyomuhendo has written three novels and a number of children’s novels. Kyomuhendo is a founding member of FEMRITE – the Uganda Women Writers’ Association– and worked as its first programmes coordinator for ten years (1997-2007).
When contacted on email, she said: “It is a great honour and privilege to be invited to join this distinguished panel of judges comprising academics, publishers, acclaimed writers and journalists, and an attorney from across the whole of the Commonwealth”.
Five judges
Kyomuhendo is one of the five judges representing the five regions of the Commonwealth: Africa, Canada and Europe, the Pacific, the Caribbean and Asia. She is represents Africa.
“I will get to read so many good books in a short period and I believe this will be a learning experience, an education for me as a novelist. I believe the whole exercise will open up more windows of opportunity as I get to interact with various key individuals and organisations in the literary fraternity internationally,” Kyomuhendo said.
This is a big achievement for Ugandan writers. “For me, this is an endorsement and recognition for the good work we have done as Ugandan writers over the years. African Writers Trust main goal is to bring together African writers in the Diaspora and writers on the continent for mutual exchange of resources, and I believe my role as judge for the Commonwealth Book Prize will enhance and broaden our mandate,” Kyomuhendo said.
Kyomuhendo is the fourth Ugandan writer to be selected as a judge; Ayeta Wangusa, Susan Kiguli and Prof Arthur Gakwandi have also served as judges.
