The emerging film industry in Uganda is known as Ugawood or sometimes Kinauganda by the locals. The 2005 production Feelings Struggle directed by Ashraf Ssemwogerere is credited with being the first Ugawood film. Many have asserted that this steadily growing film industry is derived from Hollywood, in the same manner as Nollywood and Bollywood. In a story that ran in a local newspaper in Uganda about the naming of the industry, filmmakers Kuddzu Isaac, Matt Bish and Usama Mukwaya were quoted as saying that Ugawood would be the most appropriate name for the industry.
Usama "Osam" Nyanzi Mukwaya is a Ugandan screenwriter, film director, producer, actor and former television host. His major films include Bala Bala Sese, directed by Lukyamuzi Bashir with which Mukwaya is credited as the film's writer and producer. The film was nominated at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Film in an African Language.
Natasha Sinayobye is a Ugandan actress, model, singer and dancer. She debuted as a lead actress in the Ugandan film Bala Bala Sese alongside her boyfriend back then Michael Kasaija. She acted as Kaitesi Munyana in Nana Kagga's TV Series, Beneath The Lies - The Series.
Ashraf Ssemwogerere is a Ugandan film actor, director and stage actor. He rose to fame with his movie Mukajanga, a story about the team of Buganda royals who were killed for their Christian faith by the Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda. Semwogerere was kidnapped in Kinawataka by unidentified people in 2006, after screening his new play Murder in the City at the National Theatre. His movie Feeling Struggle is believed to be the first feature film in Uganda.
Lukyamuzi Bashir (born 7 December 1986) is a Ugandan music director, film director and producer. He directed Blu*3's video Where you are featuring Goodlyfe Crew, Iryn Namubiru’s Bona Obasinga, and Vumilia by Chameleone. He also directed Goodlyfe Crew's music videos Talk n Talk, This is how we do it. He is popularly know to work with friend and artist A Pass.
Raymond Rushabiro is a Ugandan film actor, and stage actor. He broke through in his acting career with Uganda's most famous stage group, the Ebonies, appearing in a number of their plays. Rushabiro is also seen in Kweezi Kaganda's Any cow will do alongside former Namasagali old students that was shown at the National Theater of Uganda. His first cinema appearance was as Kasirivu in the movie Bala Bala Sese directed by Lukyamuzi Bashir. He is also appeared in supporting roles in the 2016 Ugandan film The Only Son, Situka (2015) and as a patriarch of the Muwonge family in 5 @Home on Fox Life. He worked on other films and television series including Freedom (2016), Girl from Mparo (2016) and Kyaddala (2019).
Michael Kasajja is a Ugandan actor, model, choreographer and dancer. He debuted as a lead actor in the 2015 film Bala Bala Sese alongside his erstwhile girlfriend Natasha Sinayobye.
Hello is a Ugandan drama short film directed by John Martyn Ntabazi and written by Usama Mukwaya. The movie was made under the MNFPAC workshop and won the overall best short film. It debuted its screening at the 2011 Pearl International Film Festival. It is Usama's first screenplay.
Tiktok is a 2015 Ugandan silent short film written and directed by Usama Mukwaya. The movie features single actor Patriq Nkakalukanyi as Sam. It is Usama's first film under his film company O Studios Entertainment and is his first film as a writer, director and producer. The film premiered at the inaugural Mashariki African Film Festival and received a nomination for best short film.
Alexander Bagonza, better known by his stage name A Pass, is a Ugandan musician and songwriter. He was born in Uganda on 21 December 1989. A Pass states that his stage name comes from Alexander his last name and Pass from his picky nickname Percy.
Wuuyo is a song by Ugandan recording artist A Pass, released on March 20, 2015 as a single. It is on the official soundtrack of the Ugandan film, Bala Bala Sese.
Laura Kahunde is a Ugandan performing artist and Reality T.V Show Host. She Hosts Our Perfect Wedding Uganda, a reality show that follows Ugandan couples from the wedding preparations to the actual wedding day events. She also currently plays Jussy on Kyaddala, a pan-African story told through the lives of university friends exploring sexual reproductive health, rights and challenges, among other social issues and; Catherine Musoke on Chapters series that shows on pearl Magic Prime. She portrayed the character Angella Byekwaso on the famous NTV Second Chance She is known to have starred in Mariam Ndagire's films Hearts in Pieces alongside Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga, Dear mum and most recently my husbands wife Where We Belong, and Dear Mum with Mariam Ndagire herself. She also starred in the Usama Mukwaya's Hello that won her the best actress in the 2011 MNFPAC students awards. She recently appeared in a Henry Ssali film Bullion with her sister Juliana Kanyomozi She is confirmed to work with Usama Mukwaya again on his upcoming film Love Faces alongside Moses Kiboneka Jr. and Patriq Nkakalukanyi and a Douglas Dubois Sebamala film Black Glove.
Love Faces is a Ugandan drama thriller film written and directed by Usama Mukwaya. It is Mukwaya's feature film directorial debut, and stars Laura Kahunde, Moses Kiboneka Jr., Patriq Nkakalukanyi and Salome Elizabeth in leading roles. The film had a special screening on 31 August 2017 at the Uganda Film Festival 2017. It had its official release on 4 January 2018.
The Only Son is Ugandan film written and directed by Richard Mulindwa starring Bobby Tamale, Michael Wawuyo Snr., Raymond Rushabiro, and Nisha Kalema. The film was released on 22 July 2016 at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The film was nominated in six categories at the 2016 Uganda Film Festival including Best Screenplay, Best Sound, Best Editing, Film of the Year, Best lead Actor and Best Feature Film.
Rehema is 2017 Ugandan film directed by Allan Manzi based upon a screenplay by Usama Mukwaya starring Juliet Zansaanze, Raymond Rushabiro and Ismael Ssesanga. The film premiered at the 38th Durban International Film Festival in South Africa. It held a special screening at the 4th Edition of the Euro-Uganda Film Festival on 17 June 2018 courtesy of the British Council.
Alex Ireeta Nabudere is a Ugandan Film editor and cinematographer.
Devil's Chest is a 2017 Ugandan war film about the Lord's Resistance Army insurgency in northern Uganda. It was written, produced and directed by Hassan Mageye and stars Hasifah Nande Nakitende and Samuel Rogers Masaaba in the lead roles. It premiered in Gulu in October 2017 and in Kampala in May 2019.
Loukman Ali is a Ugandan cinematographer, screenwriter, film director, producer and Graphic Designer. His directorial debut was Monday followed up by The Bad Mexican, released in 2017.The film was nominated in various festival including the Amakula International film festival. His other major films include The Girl in a Yellow Jumper, The Blind Date and Sixteen Rounds. He is known to frequently working with actor Michael Wawuyo Jr. and filmmaker Usama Mukwaya.
Sixteen Rounds is a 2021 Ugandan film written and directed by Loukman Ali starring Michael Wawuyo Jr. and Natasha Sinayobye. The short film premiered on YouTube on September 16, 2021 and marks the second installment to The Blind Date, an anthology of short films between Usama Mukwaya and Loukman Ali. The film's sound track is designed by long time collaborator, Andrew Ahuura and features songs by Keneth Mugabi and Fred Masagazi.
