A book discussion with Mahmood Mamdani: Slow Poison

Distinguished African Scholar Lecture 2026

Mahmood Mamdani (author) | Slow Poison: Idi Amin, Yoweri Museveni and the Making of the Ugandan State. 2025, Wits University Press

About the book: Slow Poison is an authoritative and personal account of the tragic fate of Uganda and the unravelling of its struggle for decolonialisation under the rule of Idi Amin and Yoweri Museveni. Mamdani casts a learned and wary eye on the two leaders and the global heavyweights that exploited and manipulated Uganda before and after its independence. For more details, see Slow Poison on Wits University Press.

Discussants: 

• Prof. Mahmood Mamdani, Columbia University, United States
• Prof. Tim Murithi, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, South Africa
• Dr Ziyana Lategan, University of Cape Town (UCT) Dept. of Political Studies, South Africa

Moderator: Prof. Suren Pillay, CAS – Centre for African Studies

Introductory remarks: Prof. Shose Kessi, Dean: Faculty of Humanities, UCT 

Directions: Neville Alexander Building on Google Maps  
University Cres, UCT Middle Campus, Rondebosch

An event in collaboration with Wits University Press.