They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Going by the quality of local drama, plays and movies on Television today, the industry has grown by leaps and bounds.
What a journey it has been for the Ugandan film industry. I recall the days of the so popular Muserebende drama series starring Kadiidi on Radio Uganda and how family thronged around the receiver like a fireplace providing warmth. Only this time round the radio, the Sound Solo brand provided warmness in the form of edutainment to the household. And this stretched on, as long as the radio drama series lasted.
Rallying on the success of the radio series, Uganda Television (UTV) wanted a piece of the pie and also started airing local fictional film and drama series, It’s Not Easy, directed by Faustin Misamvu, That’s Life Mwatu and Bibaawo by the Ebonies, Kyeswa that starred the late Jack Sekajugo to mention, but a few.
These breakthrough plays were overwhelmingly received. In other words, they transcended the station’s expectations – capturing the hearts of many, both the young and old.
For one to belong, in any office or kafunda talk, they had to be up-to-date with the happenings of the local drama series, airing at the time. To the heights of viewers believing Kiboga district ranked high among the remotest habitats in the country. As described in That’s Life Mwatu, a drama sequel.
However, with media liberalization, the popularity of local drama series began to dwindle. This can be partly attributed to the number of foreign productions that flooded the local market in the 90’s and other factors to deal with quality of content, lack of depth in storytelling, and marketing.
Fast forward, the film industry in Uganda is steadily and surely gaining its spot back, evidenced by a dedicated channel on DStv Pearl Magic Prime 148. It has some eye-catching local fictional drama sequels, Mama and Me, Sanyu, Prestige, as well, with good settings and storylines. Brought to life by a blend of new and seasoned acts in Allan Kutos (starring in Sanyu), and Symon Base Kalema (starring in Prestige), respectively.
For a year now, the channel which is anchored on promoting Ugandan content has pushed filmmakers and producers to create more productions of a particular standard to match that on the international arena. The presence of the channel, despite its short span on the airwaves, so far, has exported the Ugandan film product to Africa.
Speaking at Pearl Magic Prime’s first anniversary held at Mestil on February 15 this year, Hassan Saleh, the Managing Director, MultiChoice Uganda shed more light on the matter.
“Pearl Magic Prime is one of the most watched channels on the MultiChoice bouquet in Africa, and for that, we are truly proud. The viewership gets to show you that there is great demand for Ugandan content, but it also gets to show you that the Ugandan market can produce top-notch content,” Hassan said.
Talking distinction, Sanyu, one of Pearl Magic Prime’s flagship drama series, has earned international recognition for its quality of production with a 9.6 over 10 on the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB).
Sanyu is an innocent teen girl who has to leave her rural home and go work as a maid at a wealthy city residence to support her family – her ailing father, younger stepbrother, and sister.
Hassan pointed out that M-NET continues to be astonished by Ugandan filmmakers and producers’ originality to culture, unlike in other countries where content is skewed toward western storytelling.
“And this is what they (M-NET) said that unlike in other countries Ugandan stories have maintained the in-depth cultures of our country. And they said that most content tends to try and westernize the story, and therein we lose the authenticity,” Hassan recounted.
Growth in the Ugandan film industry has, however, not happened overnight. Regular workshops and pieces of training have made it possible for filmmakers to up-skill and better productions that are at par with international standards.
These workshops have been made possible by both private players, Maisha Lab, Multichoice Talent Factory, and the Government of Uganda through the Uganda Communications Commission, the President’s Office, etc.
A case in point, Office of the President through its Trade and Investment Department – a connection has been fashioned with established industry film stakeholders; actors, producers, scriptwriters, and directors in Hollywood. A connection anticipated to train Ugandan actors on how to further their trade.
Isaac Kigozi, the Head of Trade and Investment Office of the President explained that at the moment, they are “enticing Black Hollywood stars to bring their knowledge, talents and connections to Uganda and start feeling and telling Uganda’s story; this will enhance collaborations and facilitate trainings with Ugandan stars so as to boost the industry.”
Some of the reputable movie actors listed to visit Uganda on the knowledge sharing trips include; HemDee Kiwanuka, a US-based Ugandan actor and producer, Robyn Lattaker-Johnson, Terrence Howard, Ava Hall, and Cuba Gooding Jr.
Uganda Communications Commission has also not held back as far as the Uganda film industry is concerned. From holding the annual Uganda Film Festival to Film and Screen Master Classes, the Commission’s Head Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo believes the film sector is one the young have to tap into, dubbing it a gold mine.
“This industry is a gold mine of opportunities for the upcoming generation and so I would like to encourage young people to take interest in creative arts to nurture their abilities in different areas of script writing, video editing, and acting,” Kaggwa hinted.
She added, “Ugandans are natural storytellers, olwatuka, koi koi. So let us harness that culture that we already have, and help others who have the talent to expose, and grow that talent so that this goldmine that we have in Uganda is actually realized.”
In the same light, Mariam Ndagire, a seasoned actress turned film producer urges the young people in the industry to take advantage of the opportunities at hand, stating that unlike in her budding years – where work was gig-based -, today, persons in the film industry enjoy the fruits of full-time employment.
“These young people are getting employed. Not getting a one day gig, a one-off, but a full-time job. We are working day in, day out. And at some point, they are telling me “tunebaka ko di?” (At what time are we going to bed?). So what I tell these young men and women that I work with is that we have slept for many years as an industry. So now that the chance is here let us work and work,” Ndagire said.
As proclaimed, no one can tell the Ugandan story better than that its citizenry, and it is edifying to see that the country is back, to the ‘fireplace’; telling its tales, with all the windfalls the arts industry has to offer.
