The Uganda Poetry Society (UPS) is a Ugandan literary organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and global visibility of Ugandan poetry. It represents Ugandan poetry nationally and internationally and participates in a broader global movement of contemporary poetry.[1] Founded in 2024, the Society organizes workshops, performances, youth programs, and administers the Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award.[2][3]
The Uganda Poetry Society emerged as a collective of poets seeking to strengthen Uganda's literary identity through cooperation and cultural unity.[2] The Society expanded its activities, including weekly poem features, book reviews, podcasts, visiting poet initiatives, and literary dialogues.[4]
UPS's emergence coincided with a renewed interest in Ugandan poetry, building on traditions shaped by Okot p'Bitek and revitalized by modern collectives such as the Lantern Meet of Poets.[5]
The Society's president is Philip Matogo.[6] The Vice President is Dr. Ampat Varghese Koshy.[7]
Patron
The Society's patron is Prof. Timothy Wangusa, a Ugandan poet, novelist, academic, and former cabinet minister.[2]
Programs and Activities
UPS operates a range of literary initiatives, including:
Poem of the Week features
Book reviews and literary podcasts
Visiting poet programs
Interviews and literary dialogues
Youth poetry development
Songs of Kiguli, a cross-cultural project involving children in Uganda and the United States.[4][5]
Award
The Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award is the Society's annual prize and is one of the highest-value poetry awards in East and Central Africa.[2] Initially open to Ugandans, the award is planned to broaden to continental and global participation. Announced in late 2025 and to be awarded in 2026, the prize currently totals US$1,200, with US$1,000 for adults and US$200 for youth under 18.[2][8][5]
Purpose and Theme
The award was created to "elevate[s] Ugandan talent to global stages"[9] and encourage Ugandans to “pour out their brilliance” and prevent creative potential from remaining unrealized.[4] The inaugural theme is Unity.[9][10]
There is no entry fee, an incentive for marginalized communities to participate.[8]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
