Feature: A License to Phil navigates the world with humour

Ugandan author and poet, Philip Matogo, in his latest book release – A License to Phil – puts together a collection of poems charting through taboo subjects concerning sex, politics and counter-culture.

In over 200 poems, A License to Phil seeks to remind the world of its need to laugh and unshackle itself of being true to self. The book is a celebration of individuality and a protest against conformity.

While giving an address during the book launch on Saturday, April 29 2023, at the Uganda Museum, Matogo revealed that the idea of coming up with such a book was born during his time at the army barracks.

“The idea of writing this kind of book was born during my time at the army barracks where I used to read a lot, and also spent a lot of time reflecting on a number of issues. Most army men I was with at the barracks hated reading and perhaps that’s why they just take orders without asking any questions,” he said, adding that the reason for writing the book was to free himself.

“A License to Phil is like a rebellion against my confines. I wanted to free myself from my confines. The book entails quite a number issues we go through in our everyday life,” he said.

“Today, I read a lot of books authored by Ugandans and I can tell you that most of the problems Uganda has can solved if only we can read. Books authored by authors such as Mamdani, Stella Nyanzi among others tell a story about Uganda that has been hidden away from the public.”

Bernad Mujuni, the commissioner for rights and ethics, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, during the book launch pointed out the importance of the literature in furthering society saying that it captures time, thus serving as a construct for human history.

“Literature mirrors society. When COVID-19 happened, it was widely written about. That kind of literature has helped capture time and will in the future serve as history of what happened at that time. Imagine if nothing had not written about it, perhaps we wouldn’t have even known that there’s disease called COVID-19,” he said.

He added: “Literature is important because it codifies society. Without literature, there wouldn’t be a society to begin with. It is important that we writer because literature gives a society identity making it very important to the human race.”