Mary Ongwen

Mary Ongwen was born in Kampala, Uganda, and spent her childhood holidays in Soroti, Teso, her parents' hometown in eastern Uganda. Surrounded by rich cultural tales and wisdom passed down by elders, she developed a vivid imagination and a deep passion for storytelling. Writing stories and poems inspired by her observations and conversations became her way of understanding and engaging with the world.

After relocating to the United States, Mary immersed herself in reflections on nature, culture, faith, and community, which reignited her love for storytelling. She began blogging about her experiences, creating relatable and engaging narratives that resonated with readers. Her personal essays have been featured in The New Vision, Uganda’s leading daily newspaper.

Mary holds a Master’s in Writing from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s in Literature and Sociology from Makerere University. A budding photographer, she has exhibited her work in three shows with the International Photography Society (IPS) and the IMF-World Bank photography club, where she also served as communications coordinator.

Now based in Maryland, Mary lives with her husband and two children. Throughout her journey, her enduring connection to writing has remained central to her personal and professional life.