Why Museveni is ill-advised to despise Literature

President Yoweri Museveni.

President Yoweri Museveni thinks Literature is about quoting Shakespeare. That it is about getting a high from sounding brilliant.

In a video on social media, the Ugandan leader advises his country that it needs engineers. Ugandan literati, and sundry artistic virtuosos, can cast their sights elsewhere. That country only wants engineers and doctors. The pearl of Africa needs hospitals, bridges and roads. Shakespeare can wait. There is no room for literary witticisms, rhymes and rhythms. Not even the rhyme and rhythm of life. Nor is there space for historical recollection.