Top 40 Under 40 Women Executives in Uganda

Here I am,  in June 2015, amongst the Top 40 Under 40 women Executives in Uganda, for the work that my team and I were doing to promote, export, and nurture homegrown poetic talent.

It was a great honour to be placed amongst other noble under 40-year-old women from Uganda.

I used to admire my friends who would feature in the newspapers for their writing. 

When I stopped dwelling on it, the opportunities came flooding in and it was not only Uganda but other countries as well, that became interested in our work.

 I remain grateful to 'The New Vision' for this recognition and to other mainstream media like The Monitor, The East African, leading dailies from Africa; Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania, that have supported the work of the Beverley Nambozo Poetry Award and the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation.

When you stop dwelling on your desires, they come flooding in. I have tested this time and again. You attract when you stop chasing. 

Beverley's Review of Albert Camus' The Stranger

 I complete the final pages of my PDF version of ‘The Stranger,’ by Albert Camus.

The suspension is excruciating. The balance between life and death. Camus blends the fickleness, fragility and potency of death, in such a remarkable way.

Monsieur Meursault, the protagonist, receives news of his mother’s death and his unusual reaction raises one’s eyebrows. He may easily be described as flippant, because of his brisk and forthright nature, or just brutally honest and authentic, because he does not seek validation from systems or from persons in positions of authority.

Throughout the novel, the reader encounters death in various forms; death of relationships, imminent death of frail and sick people, death of dreams, unrequited love and more. It is these various stages of death that make life more valuable and enables the reader to try and understand the pragmatic nature of the protagonist.

It is this pragmatism, though, that leads to an unfortunate series of events that escalate quickly and put his Monsieur Meursault ego and intellect to the ultimate test.

The French culture offers unique insight into their legal system, their social etiquette and their fashion. Algeria is positioned as a booming economy of the last century, with people from all walks of life, navigating gender dynamics and interactions with the predominantly Arab culture.

It is these interactions with the Arabs that offer crucial understanding of the setting.

‘The Stranger’ is an extremely well-written story. It is pivotal to reader from all cultures, and important in its rich description dialogue, monologue and plot.

 

The book is available for free online, and is notably amongst the past century’s classics, first published in 1942 in France.

 

Reviewed by Beverley N Nsengiyunva

Dr. Ignatius James Bawala

Akusa used to talk about her seven sisters and one brother and I would marvel. She rolled their names off her tongue,

Barbara, Rebecca, Susan, Dorcas, Moses, Akusa, Fiona, Pauline. The elder sisters would confuse me with their close resemblance. It was Moses, Akusa, Fiona and Pauline whom I became more acquainted with and Akusa (Axa), classmates in Kampala Parents and for a few years at Gayaza High School, who became a friend.

Our friendship grew over our competitive love for sports, our mothers both good friends and members of the United Tropical Planters Association (UTPA) in Uganda, and belonging to larger communities together.

On 31 December of 2025, Axa's dad, Dr. Ignatius James Batwala died.

(courtesy photo)

He was a renowned obstetrician gynaecologist in Uganda, whose care and expertise were well known in Uganda and beyond. A loving father, whose tributes from the children left man hearts warmed, and a loving husband to Ida, his wife of over 50 years.

When they speak of legacy, Dr. Batwala surely created a powerful legacy as a strong and supportive member of his community and a genuine loving father and husband. 

In addition, was his work as a doctor. The testimonies from his patients are worth writing down in a book.

Axa may not remember but when m own father died in 1991, she actually made a wreath for us.

To hear the countless tributes poured in for Dr. Batwala is touching and well-deserved.

I pray that for us who are still here walking this earth, we make it a better  place everyday; knowing that we do not know  when God will call us. It is our duty to bless His name with our work and love our families and communities.

As parents, our children will emulate and embody us. 

May they embody a life that is enriched by purpose and faith.

Bless!

Bev