The Floods by John Ruganda

John Ruganda’s seminal play, The Floods (1980), is a core text for Uganda's UNEB A-Level Literature in English (Paper 2: Drama). Written during his exile, the play serves as a direct, scathing allegory of the state-sponsored violence, terror, and moral decay that plagued Uganda under the military dictatorship of Idi Amin during the 1970s. The title itself is a powerful metaphor where "the floods" represent the literal torrents of blood spilled by a murderous regime. Structurally, the play deviates from traditional acts, choosing instead to divide the narrative progression into three distinct "waves" that reflect the escalating psychological and physical tension.