Publishers bridge trade gaps at the eKitabu-hosted Kampala Writes LitFest 2026

As the third edition of the Kampala Writes LitFest filled the grounds of the Uganda National Cultural Centre (National Theatre) from August 28 to 30, 2026, a parallel, off-stage dialogue was unfolding across town. On Saturday evening, August 29, Nairobi-based publisher eKitabu gathered a selective cohort of writers, editors, and cultural leaders on Nakasero Hill for an exclusive cocktail reception at Onomo Hotel.

While the public festival program drew hundreds to panels, book launches, and workshops, eKitabu’s closed-door gathering at 18A Akii Bua Road offered a targeted space to discuss the mechanics of contemporary African publishing, cross-border distribution, and literary sustainability.

The Cultural Anchor: Kampala Writes LitFest 2026

Founded in 2024 by the Goethe-Zentrum Kampala / Uganda German Cultural Society, the Kampala Writes LitFest has rapidly established itself as Uganda’s premier literary gathering. Curated by acclaimed author Goretti Kyomuhendo, the 2026 edition operated under the central theme “Where Stories Begin: The Imaginary and the Art of Possibility”.

Supported by institutional partners including the Caine Prize for African Writing and the Open Society Foundations, the three-day festival featured over 50 continental speakers across 12 structured sessions.

The 2026 program addressed both creative craft and industry infrastructure:

• Keynote & Craft: Award-winning Nigerian novelist Chika Unigwe served as the festival’s keynote guest, leading a dialogue on sustaining a writing life across continents.
• Speculative Futures: Panels featuring Dilman Dila, Mirrianne Mahn, and Philisiwe Twijnstra examined science fiction and political imagination.
• Emerging Formats: An audio publishing masterclass led by Ghanaian producer Ama Dadson highlighted the growing role of audiobooks and podcasts in expanding African readership.
• Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue: Cross-genre sessions connected literary writers with visual artists and fashion designers to explore how narrative ideas originate.

The Venue and the Transition: From UNCC to Nakasero

Returning to Onomo Hotel held historic significance for the festival ecosystem. The inaugural 2024 edition of Kampala Writes LitFest was held at the same Nakasero address before expanding to larger public venues like Makerere University’s Yusuf Lule Auditorium in 2025 and the National Theatre in 2026.

The transition from Saturday’s high-energy sessions at the National Theatre to Onomo’s terrace environment allowed participants to pivot from public presentation to direct industry negotiations.

eKitabu and the Mvua Press Ecosystem

Established in Nairobi in 2012 by CEO Will Clurman, eKitabu initially built its infrastructure around digital educational publishing, accessible formats (including African sign languages and braille), and mobile distribution.

Through its adult trade imprint, Mvua Press—launched in late 2024—and its children’s imprint, Maua Books, the house has expanded aggressively into contemporary fiction, poetry, and narrative non-fiction.

Voices from the Room: Writer Profiles & Key Conversations

During the reception, Kampala Edge Times conducted a series of physical interviews with prominent authors and organizers in attendance:

• Donica Merhazion: Eritrean-Ethiopian author and educator whose debut novel, Born at the End of the World (co-published by Mvua Press and Catalyst Press in February 2026), examines personal and political survival in 1970s Ethiopia and Eritrea.
• Tramaine Suubi: Kampala-born poet and Iowa Writers’ Workshop alumna, author of the dual poetry collections phases (2025) and stages (2026) published by Amistad / HarperCollins. Suubi’s work integrates Luganda linguistic structures directly into international publishing channels.
• Betty Kilonzo: Author (Closure, Jerusalem, Househelp Manual), founder of Blackstartales, and consulting editor at eKitabu. Kilonzo spoke on the practicalities of transitioning from self-publishing to formal corporate trade distribution across East Africa.
• Chika Unigwe: Keynote guest for Kampala Writes LitFest 2026, winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature (On Black Sisters’ Street), and Professor of Creative Writing at Georgia College. Unigwe emphasized the importance of regional literary spaces that allow continental writers to exchange ideas without reliance on Western gatekeeping.
• Sheila Akwany: Director of Goethe-Zentrum Kampala / Uganda German Cultural Society. Akwany highlighted the festival’s institutional mission to create permanent, repeating infrastructure for peer-to-peer writer networks in Uganda.

Industry Realities: Bridging Educational and Trade Publishing

The conversations at Onomo reflected the broader economic realities of African publishing. While educational textbooks constitute approximately 70% of continental book sales, trade fiction and poetry continue to face systemic barriers, including cross-border customs tariffs within the East African Community (EAC), limited distribution channels, and inconsistent retail footprints.

eKitabu’s strategy combines digital delivery systems, rights licensing (such as European translation deals), in-house audio production through Studio KSL, and physical print distribution to establish sustainable commercial models for trade titles.

As the third edition of Kampala Writes LitFest concluded, the collaboration between Goethe-Zentrum Kampala, regional publishers like eKitabu, and international literary figures demonstrated a shifting dynamic in East African literature: one focused on sustainable publishing economics, accessible digital platforms, and self-determined cultural infrastructure.

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