Hilda Twongyeirwe

Hilda Twongyeirwe is a Ugandan writer, literary activist, and editor. For ten years, she taught English language and literature in secondary school, before she retired to do development work in 2003. She is a published author of short stories and poetry, and a recipient of a National Medal of the government of Uganda in recognition of her contribution to women's Empowerment through Literary arts (2018). She is also a recipient of a Certificate of Recognition (2008) from the National Book Trust of Uganda for her children's book, Fina the Dancer. Quotes "They understand their story. They have lived it. They have experienced it and so they are able to tell it correctly or at least to imagine it truthfully. Although women are not a homogeneous group, there are basic things that cut across, whether one is an African, an Indian, a Muganda, a Motswana, or an English," "If you're quiet about your pain, your pain will kill you. And someone will say that you enjoyed it, which again takes me to the fact that we must speak. Otherwise, our pain will kill us. Our pain will become a thorn. It will grow into something that we cannot control and we shall die." "Writing is an Act of Activism." "I am a Mukiga from the Lake Bunyonyi region. I used to say I am from Kabale District but I was stripped of that identity in the multiplication of Uganda’s districts. Now I say Lake Bunyonyi region because I am hoping that is a birth-right and I decide where Lake Bunyonyi region begins and ends depending on my agenda. I am a bit of a jack of all trade. I studied literature, social administration, and public administration. I guess that is how I came to be where I am in terms of work; Executive Director of FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association." "I am a human rights enthusiast and this interview coming in the wake of the revolution happening in the United States gives me the opportunity to say that all human beings are equal and deserve equal dignity. Those who feel aggrieved might probably need to find an alternative planet. I have just written a short poem titled; We shall remember you George Floyd." "I am a firm believer in women’s emancipation and women empowerment for the betterment of the universe. I am a family woman too – mother and wife. I am an editor but have also written and published some short stories, some poetry, essays, and true-life stories." "My guiding philosophy in life is that he who never has anything waiting for him will have nothing to wait for. I draw a few other principles from some great minds. For instance, while growing up, our mother (RIP), used to tell us that the concept of lack of enough space is not physical but psychological. I believe her. Especially now." "Small things like having time with my children and doing things together give me joy. At a professional level, there are lots of accomplishments big and small that I am proud of such as being a recipient of a National Medal awarded by the President of Uganda in March 2018 in recognition of my contribution to Uganda’s literary heritage and Women emancipation. In addition, I am very pleased that I and my colleagues at FEMRITE have managed to keep the organisation up and running in the face of dwindling resources for the creative sector. This is always a struggling sector. I serve on Uganda’s National Culture Forum and we have petitioned the government of Uganda to establish a Creative Industries Fund in the wake of COVID-19, to support the sector in the recovery process. The creative sector has always been relegated to the periphery which has negatively impacted its growth and development. I am proud of contributing to the opening up of FEMRITE to regional programmes which have contributed a lot in making the organisation a household name in Africa and beyond." "I speak with my children. I read a nice book. I take a long walk in nature or climb a mountain. I love being in the wild of mountains although I have climbed only a few; Tororo Rock which I climbed with my daughter Stella, Mt. Muhabura, Mt Elgon, and Mt Kilimanjaro all of which I climbed with friends who I believe will be friends forever. "I may not be so sure but Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens is among the first books I read which fascinated me. I could see Oliver Twist, listen to his mischievous plans, and follow his movements. But I think it was the humanistic element of the novel which was so strong that I became part of Oliver’s story and even begun to fight his wars." "This half of the year I am reading a lot of non-Ugandan books. I am reading an old book which I should have read years ago read; The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison. It is more than a novel. It is history. It is psychology. And reading it today in the wake of the USA Revolution is interesting because it is a deep reflection that answers a lot of the whys that people are asking about the USA conflict; the deeply entangled history. My last read was Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadadwi. Previously I read Confessions of a Slot Queen Machine by Sandra Adel. After The Bluest Eye, I will swing to new Ugandan Writer – Rachael Mutabingwa. I bought it from the Uganda Book Market a few months back. And a big Thank you to Lantern meet for being part of the Book Market from its initial stages when we started it in May 2018. Talking about the Book Market, I really miss it. We can’t wait to re-open. I am sure more Ugandans are writing and there will probably be a lot to publish after the lockdown. "I do not have a single process I follow. Maybe that is because I am not a fulltime writer. I write when I have what to write about and when I have the medium of delivery and when I have time. And no, it never comes easily. But I have also discovered that editing takes a lot of creative energy but it is also a joy to work with others as they birth their stories." "When I was at school, I read a lot of books and I ended up in love with literature that I chose to study and which I taught for almost ten years. While still at University I joined other women who wanted to write when Mary Karooro Okurut was in the process of founding FEMRITE – Uganda Women Writers Association. So I became one of the Founding members of the organization. But I did not join the staff of the organization until several years later." "Writers need to support one another. No one can make it alone in this sector. We all need each other; read each other, critique each other, promote each other, work on projects together." External links Category:Living people Category:Women authors from Uganda Category:Editors from Uganda Category:Poets from Uganda Category:Short story writers from Uganda Category:Feminists