The emerging film industry in

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It 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 ...

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 group of Buganda royals who were killed for their Ch ...

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, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...

and

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

. 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 December 12, 1989) is a Ugandan screenwriter, film director, producer, actor and former television host. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Usama Mukwaya, several accolades, including ...

were quoted as saying that Ugawood would be the most appropriate name for the industry. Audiences go to video halls where narrators called VJ's or "video jockey's" 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 city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...

, has produced more than 40 low-budget action films. The studio is best known for its 2010 film ''

Who Killed Captain Alex? ''Who Killed Captain Alex?'' is a 2010 Ugandan independent action comedy film written, produced, and directed by Isaac Geoffrey Godfrey Nabwana (also known as Nabwana IGG), by Wakaliwood, an ultra low-budget studio in Kampala, Uganda. The film ...

'', 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. His directorial credits include '' The Route'', ''K3NT & KAT3'', and '' Sipi''. He has worked with Olympian Stephen Kiprotich Stephen Kiprotich ("KIP-roh-tich", born 27 February 1989) is a U ...

of MAHJ Productions who has given Uganda gems at the BOX Office like ''

The Route The Route may refer to: * The Route (film), a Ugandan film * The Route (TV series), a Spanish television series * Route, County Antrim a medieval territory in Gaelic Ireland See also * Route (disambiguation) Route or routes may refer to: * A ...

'', ''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

References

VICE News Vice News (stylized as VICE News) is Vice Media's alternative 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 Ne ...

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See also

References

External links