Ivan Matthias Mulumba is a Ugandan writer[1] and valuation surveyor.[2] He is the author of two collections of poems, Poetry in Motion[3] and Rumblings of a tree,[4][5] and a novel, The Honking.[6][7] His work has appeared in The Kalahari Review,[8][9][10][11] Reader's Cafe Africa,[12] Africa Book Club,[13][14]Munyori literary journal,[15]Lawino-magazine,[16] and Sooo Many Stories.[17]
He was nominated for the 2018 Young Achievers Awards.[18]
Early life and education
Mulumba was born in Masaka District in the Central Region of Uganda to Gerald Jjagwe and Dorothy Namakula Jjagwe. His father worked as a valuation surveyor while his mother ran a bookshop. When his mother's bookshop closed, the books were stocked at home, something that introduced Mulumba to reading early in his life and sparked a desire for storytelling.[19]
He studied at Bishop Ddungu Boarding Primary School, Blessed Sacrament Kimaanya Primary School, St. Henry's College Kitovu, and then Makerere University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Land Economics.[20]
Writing
Mulumba's first collection of poems, Poetry in Motion, was called "an enterprising first" by the Africa Book Club.[21]
The Daily Monitor called it "an anthology that chronicles the first steps of a poet, and captures the beliefs, experiences and some ideologies in society".[22]
His story "Chasing my tail" was runner-up for the October 2013 Africa Book Club short reads competition.[13] Another story, "Into the Bush", was the winning story in December 2013 for the same monthly competition.[14]
"Children of the Wind", "Listen", "Froth", in Mildred K. Barya, ed. (2015). Boda Boda Anthem and other poems: A Kampala Poetry Anthology. BN Poetry Foundation. ISBN9789970923427.
"Doorway", in Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva, ed. (2014). A thousand voices rising: An anthology of contemporary African poetry. BN Poetry Foundation. ISBN978-9970-9234-0-3.
"Urchin" and "Naked thief", in Vivian Nyame, ed. (2011). Whispers from Africa: a poetry anthology. WordArts Publishers. ISBN9781466323742.
"Mary has a ball", in Okaka Dokatum, Rose Rwakasisi, ed. (2010). The Butterfly Dance: words and sounds of colour. Femrite Publications. ISBN9789970700233.
"Into the Bush" and "Chasing my tail", in Daniel Musiitwa, ed. (2014). The Bundle of Joy and Other Stories from Africa: Africa Book Club Anthology: Volume 1. Aalvent Books. ISBN978-1941221044.
