Monica Arac de Nyeko is a Ugandan writer of short fiction, poetry, and essays, living in Nairobi. She won the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2007. She was the first Ugandan to win the Caine Prize. Prior to winning the prize in 2007 with "Jambula Tree", she was shortlisted in 2004 for her story "Strange Fruit" about child soldiers in Gulu, Northern Uganda. She is a member of The Uganda Women Writers Association FEMRITE and the chief editor of T:AP Voices. She taught literature and English at St. Mary's College Kisubi before proceeding to pursue a Master in Humanitarian Assistance at the University of Groningen. Her personal essay "In the Stars" won a first prize in the Women's World, Women in War Zones essay writing competition. She has been published in Memories of Sun, The Nation, IS magazine and Poetry International and several other publications. She is one of the writers announced as part of the Africa39 project unveiled by Rainbow, Hay Festival and Bloomsbury Publishing at the London Book Fair 2014. It is a list of 39 of Sub-Saharan Africa's most promising writers under the age of 40. 

January 1st, 1979 in Kitgum, Uganda (Age 45)