11/08/2025
Did you know about John Rugunda and his contribution to Uganda 's literary space?
JOHN RUGANDA: THE VOICE THAT SPOKE TRUTH TO POWER
John Ruganda (1941–2007) is remembered as the father of Ugandan theatre and one of East Africa’s sharpest literary minds. His plays were not just scripts for the stage, they were mirrors held up to society.
In The Burdens (1972), Ruganda dives deep into the struggles of post-independence life, broken dreams, political betrayal, and the silent weight ordinary people carry. It is a play that strips away illusions, showing us that freedom without justice is an empty promise.
Ruganda’s genius was in making theatre travel beyond big cities. Through groups like the Makerere Free Travelling Theatre and the Nairobi University Free Travelling Theatre, he brought art to the people. Villages, towns, and marketplaces became his stage.
Even in his final years, battling illness, Ruganda remained committed to telling stories that mattered. His words still echo, reminding us that art is not just entertainment, it is a weapon, a voice, a memory.
The Burdens still speaks today. The question is, are we listening.
