Robert Serumaga

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Robert Bellarmino Serumaga (1939 September 1980) [1] was a Ugandan playwright. He was also an important political figure in Uganda during the late 1970s, being the leader and co-founder of the Uganda Nationalist Organization militant group and Minister of Commerce in the government of President Yusuf Lule.

Contents

Life

Born to a Roman Catholic family in Buganda, Serumaga was raised by his mother, Geraldine Namotovu. He won scholarships to study at St Mary's College, Kisubi and St Henry's College, Kitovu. [2] He studied economics at Trinity College, Dublin, where he encountered Irish theatre and the Theatre of the Absurd. [3] He returned to Uganda in 1966 [4] or 1967. [3] Initially employed as a government economist, he soon moved towards the theatre. He founded the National Theatre Company in 1967, writing A Play (1967), The Elephants (1970) and Majangwa (1971) for it. These plays were all influenced by absurdism, the lack of narrative action mirroring the stagnation of Ugandan society under Milton Obote. [4]

In 1971, the year Idi Amin came to power, Serumaga founded a private theatre group made up of fourteen school leavers. [3] Initially known as Theatre Limited, [2] the group was later renamed the Abafumi ("Storyteller") Theatre Company. [5] Serumaga drew on the theories of Constantin Stanislavski and Jerzy Grotowski to train his company in the psychological identification of actor and character. More fundamentally, he created a new dramatic form for Abafumi. By means of an abstract drama of physical movement and dance, political criticism of Amin could be enacted without censorship: [3]

He developed modes of drama - based mostly on ritual and mime - that could represent the climate of violence and death that dominated this period without drawing the unwanted attention of the ruthless military class. [2]

Amayrikitti was even performed at Amin's invitation at the 1974 Organization of African Unity Meeting in Kampala, with Amin describing it approvingly as "gymnastics". [4]

Becoming disillusioned with Amin, Serumaga left Uganda in 1977. [1] In exile in the late 1970s, he became a major figure among the Ugandan opposition. [6] At the time, he became well known as a monarchist, supporting Mutesa II, the deposed Kabaka of Buganda. [7] [6] He became involved in militant opposition groups such as the Save Uganda Movement, [8] and co-founded the Uganda Nationalist Organization (UNO) in 1978. [9] In late 1978, the Uganda–Tanzania War, whereupon Serumaga helped to organize armed UNO fighters to assist the Tanzanians against Amin's regime. He trained as fighter at the Tarime rebel camp. [7] However, two rebel raids into Uganda which Serumaga helped to organize ended in complete failure. [10] Regardless, there were discussions among the opposition in March 1979 which included Serumaga as one of those who could be appointed as president once Amin was removed. [6] Serumaga was ultimately part of the pro-Tanzanian Uganda National Liberation Army that helped to oust Amin in April 1979. [2]

As supporter of newly installed Ugandan President Yusuf Lule, Serumaga initially served as assistant minister [6] before being appointed Minister of Commerce. [2] [6] However, Lule's government was short-lived. When Lule was removed from office amid general political turmoil and replaced by Godfrey Binaisa, Serumaga went back into exile and announced the reactivation of the Uganda Nationalist Organization. He was alleged to have seized a "missing arms depot", and journalist Victoria Brittain judged at the time that Serumaga's group could "cause difficulties in Uganda". [6] However, Serumaga died in mysterious circumstances in Nairobi in 1980, [2] reportedly of a brain haemorrhage. [1] [11] The Serumaga Organization, a non-profit organization run by Serumaga's daughter, is named in his memory. [12]

Works

Plays

Novels

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idi Amin</span> President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979

Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern world history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milton Obote</span> Ugandan prime minister and president (1925–2005)

Apollo Milton Obote was a Ugandan politician who served as the second prime minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and the second president of Uganda from 1966 to 1971 and later from 1980 to 1985.

The Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of military dictator Idi Amin. The UNLF had an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). UNLA fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Uganda–Tanzania War that led to the overthrow of Amin's regime. The group ruled Uganda from the overthrow of Amin in April 1979 until the disputed national elections in December 1980.

Yusuf Kironde Lule was a Ugandan professor and politician who served as the fourth president of Uganda between 13 April and 20 June 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uganda–Tanzania War</span> 1978–1979 armed conflict in East Africa

The Uganda–Tanzania War, known in Tanzania as the Kagera War and in Uganda as the 1979 Liberation War, was fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979 and led to the overthrow of Ugandan President Idi Amin. The war was preceded by a deterioration of relations between Uganda and Tanzania following Amin's 1971 overthrow of President Milton Obote, who was close to the President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere. Over the following years, Amin's regime was destabilised by violent purges, economic problems, and dissatisfaction in the Uganda Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Oyite-Ojok</span> Ugandan military commander

David Oyite Ojok was a Ugandan military officer who held a leadership position in the coalition of Uganda National Liberation Army and Tanzania People's Defence Force which removed military dictator Idi Amin in 1979 and, until his death in a helicopter crash, served as the national army chief of staff with the rank of major general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ugandan Bush War</span> Guerrilla war in Uganda 1980–1986

The Ugandan Bush War was a civil war fought in Uganda by the official Ugandan government and its armed wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), against a number of rebel groups, most importantly the National Resistance Army (NRA), from 1980 to 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall of Kampala</span> Battle in the Uganda–Tanzania War, April 1979

The Fall of Kampala, also known as the Liberation of Kampala, was a battle during the Uganda–Tanzania War in 1979, in which the combined forces of Tanzania and the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) attacked and captured the Ugandan capital, Kampala. As a result, Ugandan President Idi Amin was deposed, his forces were scattered, and a UNLF government was installed.

Moses Ali is a Ugandan politician and retired military general. He is the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament. He previously served in the Cabinet of Uganda as Third Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business from May 2011 until June 2016. He also served as the first First Deputy Prime Minister from June 2016 to May 2021. He has served as the elected Member of Parliament for East Moyo County in Adjumani District since 2011.

David Bugozi Musuguri is a Tanzanian retired military officer who served as Chief of the Tanzania People's Defence Force from 1980 until 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Ibingira</span> Ugandan lawyer and politician

Grace Stuart Katebariirwe Ibingira was a Ugandan lawyer and politician.

The Battle of Masaka was a battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War that took place on 23 and 24 February 1979 in the town of Masaka, Uganda. Following artillery bombardment, most of the Ugandan government forces fled and Tanzanian and Ugandan rebel forces captured the town.

The Battle of Sembabule was a battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War that took place from March to 5/6 April 1979 in the town of Sembabule, Uganda. Tanzania had repulsed a Ugandan invasion in late 1978, and in early 1979 the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) crossed into southern Uganda. The Tanzanians decided shortly thereafter to attack the Ugandan capital, Kampala, and the 205th Brigade was detailed in early March to be sent north from Masaka and then west of the city. Ugandan President Idi Amin declared over radio that his forces were about to surround the TPDF, prompting Tanzanian commanders to dispatch the 205th Brigade to deal with the Uganda Army's Tiger Regiment in Mubende. While moving north, the 205th Brigade encountered the Tiger Regiment at Sembabule, beginning a three-week-long battle. The Tiger Regiment effectively resisted the Tanzanians for some time, prompting a change in command of the 205th Brigade and in its tactics, bringing about the eventual fall of Sembabule to the Tanzanians on 5 or 6 April. The Battle of Sembabule was the longest battle of the 1978-1979 war.

During the Uganda–Tanzania War, the Battle of Bombo was fought in April 1979 at the town of Bombo, Uganda, between Tanzanian forces and Ugandan troops loyal to Idi Amin. After cutting the road between Kampala and Bombo, the Tanzanian 201st Brigade led by Imran Kombe was ordered to head north and seize Bombo. The town was mostly defended by retired Nubian officers of the Uganda Army. The Tanzanians attacked cautiously, and under heavy fire were able to proceed into the town and secure it.

During the Uganda–Tanzania War, the Battle of Bondo was fought on 27 May 1979 near the town of Bondo, Uganda, between Tanzanian forces and Ugandan troops loyal to Idi Amin. A band of Uganda Army soldiers opened fire on the Tanzanian Minziro Brigade as it advanced towards Arua, before fleeing in the face of a Tanzanian charge. Several Tanzanians were killed and wounded by their own artillery. It was the last battle of the war. Arua fell without resistance shortly thereafter.

The Uganda Army, also known as the Uganda Rifles, served as the national armed forces of Uganda during the presidencies of Mutesa II and Milton Obote. As time went on, the military was gradually expanded and increasingly interfered in Uganda's national politics. It played a prominent role in defeating local insurgencies, suppressing opposition to Obote, and intervened in conflicts in the Congo as well as Sudan. Dissatisfied soldiers overthrew Obote in 1971, resulting in the establishment of the Second Republic of Uganda under the dictatorship of army commander Idi Amin. The Uganda Army was purged, with thousands of suspected pro-Obote troops killed or fleeing the country. The military was consequently split into an army serving under Amin – the Uganda Army (1971–1980) – and exiled rebel factions. The latter helped to overthrow Amin's regime during the Uganda–Tanzania War of 1978–79, and became the core of the Uganda National Liberation Army which would serve as Uganda's national military from 1980 to 1986.

The Save Uganda Movement was a militant Ugandan opposition group which fought against the government of President Idi Amin from 1973 to 1979. Described as "specialists in sabotage" by journalist John Darnton, SUM attempted to overthrow Amin by waging a guerrilla campaign of bombings, raids, and assassinations. The movement mainly operated from Kenya and Tanzania. Unlike much of the Ugandan opposition at the time, SUM had no firm ideology and was decentralized, consisting of different groups with similar aims, the principal one being the ouster of Idi Amin. SUM cooperated with the forces loyal to ex-President Milton Obote during the Uganda–Tanzania War (1978–1979) and eventually joined the Uganda National Liberation Front which formed the country's post-Amin governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1977 invasion of Uganda</span> Failed attempt to otherthrow Idi Amin

The 1977 invasion of Uganda was an armed attempt by Ugandan exiles to overthrow the government of President Idi Amin. The exiles were based in Kenya, organized as the "Uganda Liberation Movement", and enjoyed covert foreign support. A Ugandan intelligence agency and a member of the rebel group claimed that Israel was backing the insurgents, but this was not independently confirmed. The Ugandan government learned of the rebels' plans beforehand. The invasion consequently failed when the rebels were confronted and defeated by the Uganda Army after crossing the Kenya-Uganda border in October 1977. Amin stayed in power until being overthrown during the Uganda–Tanzania War.

The Uganda Nationalist Organization was a militant opposition group composed of politically conservative Ugandans who wanted to overthrow Idi Amin, President and dictator of Uganda in the 1970s. UNO operated from 1978 to 1980, taking part in the Uganda–Tanzania War on the side of Tanzania.

In October 1980, Uganda's West Nile Region was the site of a major military campaign, as Uganda Army (UA) remnants invaded from Zaire as well as Sudan and seized several major settlements, followed by a counteroffensive by the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) supported by militias and Tanzanian forces. The campaign resulted in large-scale destruction and massacres of civilians, mostly perpetrated by the UNLA and allied militants, with 1,000 to 30,000 civilians killed and 250,000 displaced. The clashes mark the beginning of the Ugandan Bush War.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Robert Serumaga", in Hans M. Zell, Carol Bundy & Virginia Coulon (eds), A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, Heinemann Educational Books, 1983, pp. 482-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Simon Gikandi (2007). "Serumaga, Robert (1939-1980)". In Evan Mwangi, Simon Gikandi (ed.). The Columbia Guide to East African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press. pp. 161–3. ISBN   978-0-231-12520-8 . Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Anne-Kathrin Wilde (2010). The Development of Theatre in Ugand. GRIN Verlag. p. 9. ISBN   978-3-640-54201-7 . Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Robert Serumaga", Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance. Reprinted online at answers.com.
  5. Gikandi (2007) has the name as Abafumbi.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Horn 2013, p. 111.
  7. 1 2 Avirgan & Honey 1983, p. 99.
  8. Kasozi 1994, p. 125.
  9. Avirgan & Honey 1983, p. 45.
  10. Avirgan & Honey 1983, pp. 74–75.
  11. Douglas Killam, Literature of Africa, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2004, p. 182.
  12. Serumaga Organization

Works cited