Rodney Muhumuza

The Weganda Review is produced at the intersection of art and ideas, by and for those interested in African stories. It aspires to be the most instructive journal of its kind south of Khartoum, a world-class periodical right here in Kampala. This is the inaugural cover:

“Literature will always remain a game for me.” — Vladimir Nabokov

@BernardSabiti I had my bumpiest flight ever from Juba to EBB on March 11. I believe we were seconds from disaster as we approached EIA. We flew into a thundering storm.

Was on an Entebbe-bound morning KQ flight Monday and as we made the approach to land the captain announced that visibility was poor and that we had to return to NBO. This has been happening more frequently at Ebb lately I don't know if there is a particular reason for this.

“It is a mistake to think there is ever a single language.” — literary critic Helene Cixous

A macabre dispute has kept the body of Zambia's former president unburied for months (from @Roduza for @AP's Religion Team) apnews.com/article/zambia…

For The Associated Press, I wrote about a macabre dispute in Zambia, where former leader Edgar Lungu remains unburied eight months after he died in South Africa: apnews.com/article/zambia…

The South African film director William C. Faure died young. But he left behind a masterpiece that hasn't been equaled in these parts: the TV miniseries Shaka Zulu, a fictitious drama of the life of the Zulu warrior-king. We, the 80s kids, grew up on Margaret Singana:

The cover of the 11th issue of @WegandaReview, which comes out in mid-Jan. This is a compelling issue, with the usual diverse mix of prose, poetry and art. Cover art is a painting on paper by Victoria Nabulime. @BBatwooki @PTabaire @Gyezaho @TioKauma @cobbo3 @OdokiJ @ahpetite

Zora Neale Hurston was born today in 1891 in Alabama. The American writer executed one of the most famous opening lines in modernist literature: “Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.”

“One either has a subject, or one has not.” ~ the Australian painter John Brack

"The true subject of art is man in his universe... The universal language is that of familiar objects, of the bread on which the knife rests." -- the French art critic Jean Bouret

I was invited to curate "Ugandan Elections Through the Lenses," an exhibition of photographs describing local elections over the decades. The powerful show of about 100 photos, organized by NMG, opened today and will be on view for 30 days at Kampala's Commercial Plaza:

Wildlife authorities in Uganda describe the process of making chimps appear comfortable around humans as “habituation,” a term that fails to account for the struggle between man and beast as they try to understand — and tolerate — each other.

"Within & Without: Painting Burundi," an exhibition of two dozen paintings made by Burundian artist Pacy Ndayiheke and curated by me over the last year, will open on Saturday at Kampala's Weganda Gallery. All those who love art and ideas are invited:

@CraryAP @AP Thank you for the support, David.

More and more Ugandan men seek DNA paternity tests, often with heartbreaking results (from ⁦@Roduza⁩ with support from @AP Religion Team) apnews.com/article/uganda…

Global Anglican ties are under stress. It's unclear if they're at the breaking point (From @AP Religion Team’s ⁦@PG_PeterSmith⁩ and ⁦@Roduza⁩) apnews.com/article/anglic…

@patrickoyulu @ZohranKMamdani I represent The Associated Press, not Reuters. Thank you for the shoutout, and for reading @patrickoyulu

‘East Coast’ 'Buzigan' on the Verge of Running New York! By the time New York woke up this morning, Kampala group chats were already five voice notes deep. Somewhere on the campaign trail, a random New Yorker says, “I used to live in Muyenga," and @ZohranKMamdani replies "Oh, I lived in Buziga. Now, yours truly for two years lived in Konge. My hommies and I -who lived that side of town, used to call ourselves the "East Coast" boys. If you lived in Muyenga, Kabalaga, Konge, Buziga, Munyonyo, Gaba etc you were #EastCoast Suffice it to say, we are now claiming 'joint custody' of Zohran, who ironically, also lives in the East Coast of USA. 'East Coast' Buziga to East Coast, New York, game meets game! Today, that once soft-spoken, but curious intern who - according to @Opiaiya (cited in @Roduza beautiful artcle in Reuters) once tiptoed into the @DailyMonitor newsroom, notebook in hand, is staring down the biggest headline of his life – and this time, he is the story. Back then, his job was to chase quotes. Tonight, he might become the quote every newsroom scrambles for: 34-year-old, Muslim, Buziga-raised kid may become #MayorOfNewYorkCity. From that newsroom in Namuwongo to the blue subway line in Queens, the through-line has always been curiosity and stubborn hope. The boy who had to brief his dad @mm1124 every evening on current affairs is now the man about to be the lead item on every bulletin from New York to Namanve. The one who wanted to be a “top reporter” may end up as “top story” instead. And Ugandans? From Arua to Zzana, Astoria to the Bronx, they’re holding their breath. Aunties in Boston have already cooked, uncles in Masaka are pretending not to care but quietly refreshing timelines. The “East Coast” crew are drafting captions in advance, just in case: “From Buziga hill to City Hall – Ki ekiriwo, New York City?” But history doesn’t confirm itself. It needs voters. So if you’re in #NewYorkCity and you haven’t voted yet, this is your cue. Grab your jacket, your MetroCard, your hopes and your doubts – and head to your polling place. Stand in that line like it’s the Rolex queue at 2 a.m. in Wandegeya. Cast that ballot and help seal this wildly improbable, beautifully Ugandan, thoroughly New York story. Today, New York writes its headline. Don’t just read it. Be part of it. #voteZohran

In Uganda, where Zohran Mamdani was born, NYC mayoral hopeful is recalled with pride. The view from the East African nation on Election Day eve, by @Roduza: apnews.com/article/uganda…

"The poet is nothing if he does not ceaselessly apply myth to the world around him." -- Elias Canetti

"Painting is the truth and life is a lie." -- the American artist George Condo