Writers asked to unite
May 28, 2007
A renowned Ugandan writer and newspaper columnist has urged creative writers to form a national council and national writers’ association to fight for their rights,
A renowned Ugandan writer and newspaper columnist has urged creative writers to form a national council and national writers’ association to fight for their rights, reports Don Wanyama.
Austin Ejiet, who was addressing members of the Makerere University Literature Association last week, at the arts faculty, noted that writers were being fleeced by publishers because they do not bargain as a group.
“A writer only gets 10% of the total sales made from his work. This is very unfair since it is the writer who does the donkey work.â€
Ejiet, who has written several stories, said creative writing had been ignored by the Government.
“Why can’t we see a Museveni Prize for Literature or a Gilbert Bukenya Prize for the best Luganda play?â€
The chairperson of the Makerere Literature Association, Yusuf Serunkuma, called for the inclusion of more local literature on the secondary school syllabus.
Austin Ejiet, who was addressing members of the Makerere University Literature Association last week, at the arts faculty, noted that writers were being fleeced by publishers because they do not bargain as a group.
“A writer only gets 10% of the total sales made from his work. This is very unfair since it is the writer who does the donkey work.â€
Ejiet, who has written several stories, said creative writing had been ignored by the Government.
“Why can’t we see a Museveni Prize for Literature or a Gilbert Bukenya Prize for the best Luganda play?â€
The chairperson of the Makerere Literature Association, Yusuf Serunkuma, called for the inclusion of more local literature on the secondary school syllabus.