Her Story unfolded on the evening of October 24th, 2025, as the Festive Gardens in Tororo buzzed with anticipation. The air was filled with the promise of powerful words and fresh perspectives. This poetry production aimed to do more than just entertain. It sought to fundamentally change the conversation about women’s empowerment.
This unique production was the brainchild of Kened Ngise and his collaborator, Okello Abila. The audience, a vibrant mix of students, artists, and community members, gathered for an evening that would be both thought-provoking and emotionally charged.
The Vision Behind “Her Story”
“Her Story” is the first poetry collection by Bwambale Kened Ngise, a teacher, poet, and law student. His work focuses on women’s emancipation. However, his approach is notably different from many contemporary narratives. He presents a protest against how women sometimes tell their stories solely as laments.
Furthermore, Kened argues that these stories often show pessimism and stored anger towards men. He is against the idea of women deriving strength from making men seem weak and dangerous. Instead, he calls for a narrative built on mutual responsibility.
According to him, some sad stories are results of broken relationships told to draw sympathy. He advocates for women to speak with hope and resilience. This hope, he believes, should be directed towards building a strong family or marriage institution. Ultimately, the goal is not to teach young girls that happiness requires hostility towards men.
A Powerful Collaborative Performance
The main script was brought to life by three talented performers. Kened performed alongside his long-time friend, Emmanuel Okello Abila, a teacher and debate trainer at Tororo Girls’ School. Completing the trio was Ademun Mercy, a student at Makerere University and former President of the Writers’ Club at Tororo Girls’ School.
Their performance was a dynamic blend of voices and emotions. The chemistry between the performers was clear. They moved seamlessly between solo pieces and harmonious dialogues, captivating the audience from start to finish.
Additionally, the event featured other gifted poets. Poet Lakisa Laker Grace, another alumna of Tororo Girls’ Writers’ Club, graced the stage. Now a medical student at Makerere, her poetry added strong, relatable vibes to the night. The event was expertly hosted by MC Teirho, whose charismatic hosting left the audience amazed by his talent.
Honoring a Legacy and Building a Future through “Her Story “
The night was not only about the future but also about honoring the past. The script for “Her Story” was edited by Otim Emmanuel, a respected poetry brother to the main acts. Otim also performed a special piece that moved the audience deeply.
He poetically eulogized the fallen poet, Kule Exevia, who passed away earlier this year. His tribute painted a picture of how brilliant and grounded Kule was. Consequently, he left the audience in a sombre, reflective atmosphere, reminding everyone of the profound loss to the poetry community.
Looking ahead, the team behind “Her Story” has big plans. They are in the process of registering their own independent arts group, called Native Arts Voices. This new group is being guided by one of Uganda’s prolific stage poets, Kagayi Ngobi, founder of Kitara Nation. With this mentorship, they are poised for growth.
What’s Next for the Production?
The team is already planning its next move. They are in high spirits to begin a school tour early next year. This tour aims to bring their powerful message directly to young students in the region.
However, they face a common challenge for artists: funding. This limitation currently affects how far and how well they can execute their plans. Hopefully, with support, they can run the tour throughout schools in Tororo, Mbale, and Busia.
Kened Ngise is a brave voice in Ugandan poetry. He has already been featured in major anthologies like “Fire on the Mountains” and “When we Heard the Echoes,” sharing pages with greats like Prof. Timothy Wangusa and the late Kule Exevia. His dedication to the arts is also evident in his role as the Director of Studies and Assistant Patron of Performing Arts at Tororo Girls’ School. The future for “Her Story” and this talented team is undoubtedly bright.
