About Glaydah
Glaydah Namukasa Bwogi is a distinguished Ugandan writer, academic, and healthcare professional whose multifaceted career spans literature, community psychology, and midwifery. Winner of the prestigious Macmillan Prize, her work explores themes of identity, displacement, and the African experience through novels, short stories, and poetry.
With an MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside (2021) and currently pursuing a PhD in Comparative Literature at UC Irvine, Glaydah bridges academic excellence with creative expression. Her BS in Community Psychology (1st Class Honours) from Makerere University and professional midwifery background inform her narrative medicine approach, integrating healthcare experiences with literary storytelling.
As former Chairperson of FEMRITE (2014-2018), Uganda's premier women writers' organization, she has mentored countless emerging African writers. Her international recognition includes residencies at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center and fellowships at the University of Iowa's International Writing Program and Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.
Achievements & Impact
Recognition and milestones that reflect a commitment to literary excellence and cultural dialogue.
Literary Awards
Winner of the Macmillan Prize and shortlisted for the Ken Saro-Wiwa Legacy Award
Published Works
Author of novels, short stories, and poetry including 'Voice of a Dream' and 'Deadly Ambition'
FEMRITE Leadership
Former Chairperson of FEMRITE (2014-2018), mentoring emerging African women writers
International Recognition
International Writing Program Fellow at University of Iowa and Bellagio Center Resident
Literary Journey
Key milestones in a continuing story of literary achievement.
MFA Graduation
Graduated with MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside with Dean's Distinguished Fellowship
FEMRITE Chairperson
Led Uganda's premier women writers' organization, mentoring emerging writers across East Africa
Bellagio Center Residency
Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center residency in Milan, Italy
International Writing Program
Honorary Fellow at University of Iowa's prestigious International Writing Program
Bread Loaf Fellowship
Fairbanks Fellowship at Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, Vermont
Ken Saro-Wiwa Recognition
Poetry shortlisted for Ken Saro-Wiwa Legacy Award
Healthcare Career
Graduated from Kabale Nursing School, began midwifery practice
Writing Philosophy
"As a writer, you are in constant competition with yourself — the writer in you who keeps writing, and the one who doesn't write."
My work explores the intersection of healthcare narratives and literary expression, drawing from over two decades of midwifery practice to inform stories of resilience, identity, and the African experience. Through narrative medicine, I bridge the gap between clinical practice and creative storytelling.
Currently pursuing doctoral research in Comparative Literature at UC Irvine, I focus on cross-cultural narrative analysis and the preservation of African literary traditions within global academic discourse. My work contributes to ongoing conversations about postcolonial literature and the role of women's voices in contemporary African writing.