Young Ugandan Software Engineer Wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa

A 25-year-old software engineer from Kampala has captured the 2025 regional Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa with a deeply personal tale that explores generational tensions and the unexpected paths to personal growth.

Joshua Lubwama’s winning story, “Mothers Not Appearing in Search,” stood out among fierce competition from across the continent, earning praise from judges for its “witty, elegant” prose and powerful thematic exploration. The story follows a football-obsessed young man who befriends Fatima, an unconventional new arrival in his neighbourhood, much to his mother’s disapproval.

“Winning the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Africa Region has given me licence to dream,” Lubwama said following the announcement. “For this story to appeal to an international panel of judges means the world to me. One day you’re spending lonesome hours at the dining table wrestling a story into existence—with the entire process shrouded in self-doubt-and then the next, these Commonwealth Foundation people are telling you they’re absolutely thrilled.”

The victory is a significant milestone for Lubwama, who had previously been longlisted for the prestigious prize. He now advances to the final round of judging, where he will compete against regional winners from four other continents for the overall title. The global winner will be announced during an online ceremony on June 25.

A Story Rooted in Personal Experience

Lubwama’s story draws from deeply personal experiences, rooted in memories of his family’s encounters with literacy challenges and generational divides. “Our late grandmother’s illiteracy and her diligent efforts to conceal it were suddenly brought to our awareness by the arrival into the neighbourhood of a young, charitable woman,” he explained. “This set up the stage for a clash of generations, which, looking back, had a lot more to it than I could ever have figured out at ten years old.”

Judges Praise “Elegant Prose” and Cultural Authenticity

The narrative resonated powerfully with judges, particularly Cameroonian author, poet and scholar Nsah Mala, who represented the Africa region on the judging panel. “‘Mothers not appearing in search’ stands out in many ways, especially its elegant prose, sense of humour, and thematic novelties,” Mala said. “Coming out from Africa as the most youthful continent on Earth, this story is an arresting narration of youthfulness and football. And it also wittily evokes fate, love and women’s empowerment.”

Mala particularly praised the story’s nuanced approach to destiny and personal growth, noting how “the path to one’s destiny is not paved with angels only.” The judge described Lubwama’s work as “a memorable story” that skillfully balances multiple themes while maintaining accessibility and emotional depth.

Fierce Continental Competition

Lubwama’s victory came after intense competition from five other talented writers across the Africa region: Dorechi from Kenya, Stephen M Finn from South Africa, Priscilla Ametorpe Goka from Ghana, Vashish Jaunky from Mauritius, and Nigerian Olákìtán T Aládéṣuyì. The diversity of voices and stories from across the continent highlighted the rich literary landscape emerging from African writers.

Global Recognition Across Five Continents

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize, administered by the Commonwealth Foundation, stands as one of the world’s most accessible and international writing competitions. Unlike many literary prizes that accept only English submissions, this competition welcomes entries in 13 languages, including Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, and Turkish, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries.

This year’s regional winners represent a remarkable range of storytelling traditions and cultural perspectives. Alongside Lubwama’s African victory, the other regional winners include Faria Basher from Bangladesh for “An Eye and a Leg” (Asia), Chanel Sutherland from Canada/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for “Descend” (Canada/Europe), Subraj Singh from Guyana for “Margot’s Run” (Caribbean), and Kathleen Ridgwell from Australia for “Crab Sticks and Lobster Rolls” (Pacific).

The World’s Most Accessible Literary Prize

Chair of the Judges Vilsoni Hereniko emphasised the geographical and cultural specificity that made these stories compelling. “These stories illuminate many aspects of human nature and demonstrate true mastery of the short story form,” Hereniko said. “Each tale shows that geography matters in storytelling. They are works of fiction that are inseparable from the local culture and history from which they have sprung.”

Publication and Final Ceremony Ahead

The winning stories will be published online by the prestigious literary magazine Granta before the overall winner announcement. Luke Neima, Granta’s Deputy Editor and Managing Director, praised this year’s selection: “Every year, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize brings us a thrilling wave of new literary voices, and this year’s winners are no exception. These stories are urgent, imaginative, and deeply human—a testament to the power of storytelling across borders.”

For Lubwama, who cites Dick Gregory and Harper Lee as literary inspirations, the recognition validates the power of stories to transcend boundaries and connect diverse audiences through shared human experiences.