Ugandan author Joshua Lubwama

Ugandan author Joshua Lubwama has won the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Africa Region for his body of work titled Mothers Not Appearing in Search.

Mr Lubwama’s story is about a young boy who, against his mother’s wishes, befriends a woman who has recently moved into the neighbourhood.

“Mothers Not Appearing in Search stands out in many ways, especially its elegant prose, sense of humour, and thematic novelties. Coming out from Africa as the most youthful continent on earth, this story is an arresting narration of youthfulness and football,” Nsah Mala, the judge for the Africa Region, said, adding: “And it also wittily evokes fate, love, and women’s empowerment.

As the story suggests, the path to one’s destiny is not paved with angels only. What a memorable story!” Mr Lubwama is a Kampala-based software engineer and writer.

He was longlisted for the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and the 2023 and 2024 Afritondo Short Story Prizes. His work appears in The Anatomy of Flying Things and Travelling Men Don’t Die. “Winning the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for the Africa Region has given me a licence to dream. For this story—Mothers Not Appearing in Search—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 to let you know that you’re shortlisted, and then there’s more,” the 25-year old said.

“It’s really a testament to the power and ability of stories to connect us through our shared experiences, each of us recognising bits and aspects of our own lives in the tales of others,” he added.

The virtual award ceremony was presented last week by Malaika Uwamahoro, a Rwandan performing artiste and storyteller.

Mr Lubwama was feted together with other regional winners. They included Faria Basher (Bangladesh, Asia region), Subraj Singh (Guyana, Caribbean region), and Kathleen Ridgwell (Australia, Pacific region).

All regional winners spoke about their writing and read short extracts from their stories. Ms Chanel Sutherland was announced as the overall winner of the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Descend.