16 Facts About Austin Bukenya

Austin Bukenya was born on 10 February 1944 and is a Ugandan poet, playwright, novelist and academic administrator.

Austin Bukenya is the author of the novel The People's Bachelor, and a play, The Bride.

Austin Bukenya has taught languages, literature and drama at Makerere University in Uganda and universities in the UK, Tanzania and Kenya since the late 1960s.

Austin Bukenya has held residences at universities in Rwanda and Germany.

Austin Bukenya's father was a staunch Catholic who would narrate biblical stories which he would alternate with his mother's folk stories.

Austin Bukenya attended Gayaza primary school and joined Kisubi Seminary where he studied three languages, French, English and Latin.

Austin Bukenya's growing passion for literature was cemented at Namilyango College, where he took his O- and A-level exams.

Austin Bukenya studied the Language Linguistics and Literature and Education for his undergraduate course.

Austin Bukenya was inspired by linguistic teachers including Wilson Whitely, a British author famous for his book Kiswahili: the Rising of a National Language.

Austin Bukenya joined Makerere as a postgraduate student in 1968 and later developed the oral literature course.

Austin Bukenya studied at universities in Madagascar and England, and took his higher degrees at Makerere and Kenyatta Universities.

Austin Bukenya has taught languages, literature and drama at Makerere University in Uganda and universities in the UK, Tanzania and Kenya since the late 1960s.

Austin Bukenya wrote his first prizewinning play in 1964, based on stories told to him by his mother.

Austin Bukenya has since written numerous plays and radio dramas, but only managed to publish two of his plays, The Secret and The Bride.

Austin Bukenya has taught in Kenya at Kenyatta University, and Bayreuth University, Department of African Studies in Germany.

Austin Bukenya's work has been featured on the pan-African poetry platform Badilisha Poetry Radio.