Robert Serumaga

Robert Bellarmino Serumaga (1939 – September 1980) He studied economics at Trinity College, Dublin, where he encountered Irish theatre and the Theatre of the Absurd. He returned to Uganda in 1966 or 1967. Serumaga drew on the theories of Constantin Stanislavski and Jerzy Grotowski to train his company in the psychological identification of actor and character. More fundamentally, he created a new dramatic form for Abafumi. By means of an abstract drama of physical movement and dance, political criticism of Amin could be enacted without censorship: In exile in the late 1970s, he became a major figure among the Ugandan opposition. At the time, he became well known as a monarchist, supporting Mutesa II, the deposed Kabaka of Buganda. He became involved in militant opposition groups such as the Save Uganda Movement, and co-founded the Uganda Nationalist Organization (UNO) in 1978. In late 1978, the Uganda–Tanzania War, whereupon Serumaga helped to organize armed UNO fighters to assist the Tanzanians against Amin's regime. He trained as fighter at the Tarime rebel camp. However, two rebel raids into Uganda which Serumaga helped to organize ended in complete failure. Regardless, there were discussions among the opposition in March 1979 which included Serumaga as one of those who could be appointed as president once Amin was removed. Serumaga was ultimately part of the pro-Tanzanian Uganda National Liberation Army that helped to oust Amin in April 1979. The Serumaga Organization, a non-profit organization run by Serumaga's daughter, is named in his memory.

Works

Plays A Play (produced 1967) The Elephants (produced 1970). Published as The Elephants, Nairobi: Oxford University Press, 1971. Majangwa (produced 1971). Published as Majangwa: A Promise of Rains and a Play, Nairobi, East African Publishing House, 1974. Renga Moi (produced 1972) Amayirikitti (produced 1974)

Novels Return to the Shadows, London: Heinemann, 1969. African Writers Series No. 54. New York: Atheneum, 1970.