The Floods by John Ruganda

John Ruganda’s powerful three-act play, The Floods, is a searing critique of the abuse of power under military dictatorships in contemporary Africa, drawing heavily on the brutal reality of Idi Amin’s regime in Uganda. Set on an imaginary island in Lake Victoria, the narrative uses the ominous metaphor of a coming "flood" and a misleading rescue boat to expose the deep corruption and political violence of a tyrannical state. The play expertly dissects the dehumanizing effect of unchecked authority on both the power-drunk agents and the oppressed citizens, while also tackling themes of class, privilege, and personal relationships under duress. This landmark of African literature is a raw and poetic re-enactment of historical horror, ultimately championing resilience and the search for new beginnings.