By Mulengera Reporters
Uganda’s veteran theatre and film practitioner Andrew Benon Kibuuka has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of more than four decades of contribution to the country’s performing arts industry.
The award was presented by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Nyombi Thembo during the Uganda Film Festival (UFF) awards at the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) Nakawa on Friday, where several actors, filmmakers and industry practitioners were recognized for their outstanding work.
Kibuuka, a celebrated actor, playwright, director and producer, was recognized for his enduring contribution to Uganda’s theatre and film industries.
He is also a co-founder of the historic Bakayimbira Drama Actors, one of Uganda’s prominent theatre groups, and has played a significant role in shaping the country’s performing arts over the years.
The Lifetime Achievement Award places Kibuuka among some of the most influential figures whose work has helped build Uganda’s creative industry.
Meanwhile, filmmaker and actress Mariam Ndagire Kizito emerged among the notable winners after scooping the Best Documentary Film award for Ekitiibwa Kyo’Lubugo, which she produced.
Her recognition adds to a growing list of achievements by Ndagire, one of Uganda’s established figures in film and theatre, whose career has spanned acting, directing, producing and mentoring emerging talent.
The festival also recognized MultiChoice Uganda, a CANAL+ company, as a Festival Champion for its contribution to the development and visibility of Uganda’s film industry.
Through its partnership with the Uganda Film Festival, MultiChoice has continued to provide platforms for Ugandan filmmakers and storytellers to showcase local productions to wider audiences.
In the competitive categories, Steve T. Ayeny and Natasha Grace Gashumba won Best Screenplay for Adui, a film that follows Lagum, a game ranger caught in a dangerous web of accusations after being blamed for the death of a notorious poacher’s son.
Florence Mariserena took home Best Actress in a Feature Film for her performance in Small Gods, while Michael Wawuyo Jr won Best Actor in a Feature Film for The Unforgivable.
The Unforgivable also earned recognition in the technical categories, with Simon Agola winning Best Sound Designer.
The film explores men’s involvement in family planning and reproductive health while examining the cultural and social realities influencing Ugandan families.
In the television categories, Diana Kahunde won Best Actress in a TV Drama/Series for Choices, while Derrick Baka was recognised as Best Actor in a TV Drama/Series for his performance in Damalie.
The festival further celebrated regional filmmaking, with No/Nedda, from the Central Region, winning Best Regional Film. The short film, by Daug Mulumba, explores the impact of malaria through the performances of Cyrus Bugaba and Jemimah Nyiramugisha.
Other winners included Amara and the Spirit of Nyamagunda, directed and produced by Denis Junior Dhikusooka, which won Best Animation Film.
The Nsimbi duo won Best Short Film for Infinity, a musical short featuring GNL Zamba and Miriam Tamar that explores spiritual awakening and African culture through music and visual storytelling.
In the technical categories, Roka Stars, Jotham Magoola and Robert Quintes Tumusiime won Best Production Design for Waka-Waka, while Elton Gyaza took Best Costume Design for You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye.
Peter Okoth and Joshua Alibet were jointly recognized with the Best Post-Production/Editing award for their work on Adui.
The wide range of awards highlighted the growing diversity of Uganda’s film industry, with recognition extending beyond actors and directors to include screenwriters, sound designers, editors, costume designers, production designers, animators and documentary filmmakers.
LIST OF WINNERS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – ANDREW BENON KIBUUKA
FESTIVAL CHAMPION – MULTICHOICE UGANDA
BEST SCREENPLAY – AYENY T. STEVE & NATASHA GRACE GASHUMBA / ADUI
BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURE FILM – FLORENCE MARISERENA / SMALL GODS
BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURE FILM – MICHAEL WAWUYO JR / THE UNFORGIVABLE
BEST SOUND DESIGNER – SIMON AGOLA / THE UNFORGIVABLE
BEST ACTRESS IN A TV DRAMA/ SERIES – DIANA KAHUNDE
BEST ACTOR IN A TV DRAMA/ SERIES – DERRICK BAKA
BEST REGIONAL FILM – NO/NEDDA (CENTRAL REGION)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM WINNER – EKITIIBWA KYO’BULOGO
BEST ANIMATION FILM WINNER – AMARA AND THE SPIRIT OF NYAMAGUNDA
BEST SHORT FILM – IFINITY
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – ROKA STARS, MAGOOLA JOTHAM AND TUMUSIIME ROBERT UINTES FOR WAKA WAKA
BEST COSTUME DESIGN – ELTON GYAZA / YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE GOODBYE
BEST POST PRODUCTION / EDITING – OKOTH PETER AND ALIBET JOSHUA / ADUI
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