The emerging film industry in

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The ...

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) * Hollywoo ...

, 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, the ...

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" ...

. 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 ...

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 credit ...

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 R ...

, 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?'', which cost $85 to produce. The Industry also has a strong and acclaimed film player since 2013. Jayant Maru 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. Ny ...

'', ''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 makerPearl International Film Festival is held annually in

Notable people and companies

* Jayant Maru *

* Mariam Ndagire *

Wakaliwood Wakaliwood, also known as Ramon Film Productions, is a film studio based in Wakaliga, a slum in Uganda's capital of Kampala. Its founder and director is Isaac Godfrey Geoffrey Nabwana, a.k.a. Nabwana I.G.G., who has been called Uganda's Quentin ...

References

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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Notable people and companies

See also

References

External links