Feeling, a poetry anthology celebrating iconic Ugandan women, launched in Kampala on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Tanya Mugidde gives us this report. All photos are by Painters’ Media.
How does anyone begin to describe this day that was filled with such creative energy and poetic excellence? I was so honoured to be invited as a guest. Witnessing dozens of Ugandan women being honoured through poetry.
On Thursday, July 31, the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation launched its 2025 poetry anthology Feeling at the British Council offices in Uganda. This anthology celebrates iconic Ugandan women, with contributions from poets around Uganda, edited by Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva, the founder and director.
In the anthology were icons like Hon. Canon Rhoda Kalema (may she rest in peace), Dr. Lydia Mungherera, who also shared a testimony of her survival and advocacy around HIV/AIDS awareness, Yvonne Namaganda, who rescued 19 girls from a dormitory fire before succumbing to death, and Betty Mugoya, Uganda’s best landscaper and mother to Beverley Nsengiyunva, Babishai director. And many more icons were honoured.
It was such a celebratory occasion.
The day, 31 July, is also Pan-African Women’s Day, and the dress code was African wear. Everyone looked so regal. The poetry readings and performances were some of the best I have ever witnessed, and one of the unforgettable pieces by a young lady, Tumusuute Nanaazibwa, blew everyone’s mind away.
Each woman who was honoured, expressed appreciation to Beverley and the Babishai Poetry Foundation for their great creative effort towards celebrating women and also promoting poetry.
To be in a room with such distinguished women was humbling. Rev Prof. Sr. Dipio, known worldwide for her work in film and literature, Alice Karugaba, founder of Nina Interiors, Margaret Sekaggya, mother of Human Rights in Uganda. The list is endless. And to imagine that each of them had a poem written in their honour.
Millicent Mugabi, British Council Country Director, hailed the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation for its initiative and, as a sponsor, expressed gratitude for being part of promoting poetry of such literary magnitude.
Babishai Director, Beverley Nsengiyunva, is a well-known poet and speaker and called every contributing poet to receive their honour towards the anthology. There was dancing, plenty of feasting and above all, the celebration of poetry.
Copies of the book are available online at Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation and leading bookshops in East Africa.
Here are images from the launch courtesy of Painters’ Media Uganda
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