![Flag of Uganda](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Flag_of_Uganda.svg)
The emerging film industry in
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
is known as Ugawood or sometimes Kinauganda by the locals. The 2005 production ''Feelings Struggle'' directed by
Ashraf Ssemwogerere
Ashraf Ssemwogerere (or Semwogerere) is a Ugandan film actor, director and stage actor. He rose to fame with his movie '' Mukajanga'' ("The passion of the Ugandan Martyrs"), a story about the team of Buganda royals who were killed for their Chr ...
is credited with being the first Ugawood film.
Many have asserted that this steadily growing film industry is derived from
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood, ...
, in the same manner as
Nollywood
Nollywood is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term dates back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history of evolving meanings and contexts, there ...
and
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...
.
In a story that ran in a local newspaper in Uganda about the naming of the industry, filmmakers Kuddzu Isaac,
Matt Bish
Matt Bish (born 15 May 1975), also known as Matthew Bishanga, is a Ugandan filmmaker and the Creative Director at Bish Films. He directed the first Ugawood feature film, '' Battle of the Souls'', in 2007.
Personal life and education
The first o ...
and
Usama Mukwaya
Usama () "Osam" Nyanzi Mukwaya (born 12 December 1989) 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 ...
were quoted as saying that Ugawood would be the most appropriate name for the industry.
Audiences go to video halls where narrators called "video jokers"
translate the dialogue and add their own commentary. Patrons also rent DVDs and watch feature films on prime-time TV.
Some films are funded by NGOs through cultural grants. Other films are produced with DIY equipment and low production budgets. Despite low production budgets, Uganda's film industry is quite productive.
Isaac Nabwana's Ramon Film Productions, based in
Wakaliga near
Kampala
Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Ruba ...
, has produced more than 40 low-budget action films over the last 10 years. The studio is best known for its 2010 film ''
Who Killed Captain Alex?
''Who Killed Captain Alex?'' is a 2010 Ugandan action comedy film written, produced, and directed by Nabwana Isaac Geoffrey Godfrey (IGG), by Wakaliwood, an ultra low-budget studio in Kampala, Uganda. The film gained viral notoriety for being a ...
'', which cost $85 to produce.
The Industry also has a strong and acclaimed film player since 2013.
Jayant Maru
Jayant Maru is a Kenyan filmmaker based in Uganda. He has directed films like, ''The Route'', ''K3NT & KAT3'', and '' Sipi''. He has worked with Olympian Stephen Kiprotich
Stephen Kiprotich ("KIP-roh-tich", born 27 February 1989) is a Uganda ...
of MAHJ Productions who has given Uganda gems at the BOX Office like ''
The Route
''The Route'' is a Ugandan film directed by Jayant Maru, based on a screenplay he wrote. It is about human trafficking in Uganda.
Cast
* Sharon Detoro as Samantha
* Thomas Kayondo as Sam
* Edlyn Sabrina as Sabrina
* Felix Bwanika as Mr. N ...
'', ''K3NT & KAT3'', and ''
Sipi'', which have not only been nominated in several international festivals but have also brought back home a number of accolades, not forgetting having his films available on Amazon Prime plus in-flight entertainment platforms.
The
Uganda Communications Commission
The Uganda Communications Commission ''(UCC)'' is the government regulatory body of the communications sector in Uganda. Although owned by the Ugandan government, it acts independently. Its mandated responsibilities include licensing, regulatio ...
organizes the Uganda Film Festival to promote the film industry. In 2013, the film ''
State Research Bureau'' swept four awards.
In 2014, ''
The Felistas Fable
''The Felistas Fable'' is a 2013 Ugandan film written, directed and produced by Dilman Dila. '' won four awards, including Best Director for
Dilman Dila
Dilman Dila is a Ugandan writer, film maker[Pearl International Film Festival
The Pearl International Film Festival (PIFF), is an annual film festival held in Kampala, Uganda. It has been described as one of the biggest film events in Uganda. PIFF is a non-governmental organization founded by Moses Magezi and established in ...]
is held annually in
Kampala
Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Ruba ...
.
Notable people and companies
*
Jayant Maru
Jayant Maru is a Kenyan filmmaker based in Uganda. He has directed films like, ''The Route'', ''K3NT & KAT3'', and '' Sipi''. He has worked with Olympian Stephen Kiprotich
Stephen Kiprotich ("KIP-roh-tich", born 27 February 1989) is a Uganda ...
*
Matt Bish
Matt Bish (born 15 May 1975), also known as Matthew Bishanga, is a Ugandan filmmaker and the Creative Director at Bish Films. He directed the first Ugawood feature film, '' Battle of the Souls'', in 2007.
Personal life and education
The first o ...
*
Mariam Ndagire
Mariam Ndagire (born 16 May 1971), is a Ugandan singer, entertainer, actress, playwright, film director, and film producer.
Beginnings and education
She was born in Kampala, Uganda's capital city, to Sarah Nabbutto and Buganda's Prince Kizito ...
*
Wakaliwood
See also
*
Wakaliwood
*
List of Ugandan films
The following is a list of African films. It is arranged alphabetically by country of origin.
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo, Democratic Republic of ...
*
Mystery Science Theater 3000
''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (abbreviated as ''MST3K'') is an American science fiction comedy film review television series created by Joel Hodgson. The show premiered on KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 24, 1988. ...
(Same concept as a "Video Joker")
References
External links
Watch Ugandan Movies OnlineOfficial Movie Site
WakaliwoodOfficial Site
Devoss Mediamovie database
Ugandan Film Festivalobjectives.
Kampala Film SchoolUganda
Maisha Film LabUganda
*.
VICE News
Vice News (stylized as VICE News) is Vice Media's current affairs channel, producing daily documentary essays and video through its website and YouTube channel. It promotes itself on its coverage of "under-reported stories". Vice News was create ...
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