ABOUT REHEMA NANFUKA

Rehema Nanfuka shines at UFF 2025

Rehema Nanfuka has solidified her position as one of Uganda’s most diverse and prominent film characters, succeeding as an actor, director, screenwriter, and producer.  Nanfuka, born on May 25, 1986, has been engaged in Ugandan film and theatre since 2008.  A graduate of Makerere University and an alumnus of the famed Maisha Film Lab, she has a career filled with highly acclaimed performances and groundbreaking directing work.

With her performances in films like Imani (2010) and The Pardon (2013), Nanfuka first attracted notice from all around the world.  She also appeared in the suspenseful thriller The Girl in the Yellow Jumper, which became the first Ugandan film to be streamed on Netflix, and the internationally acclaimed Queen of Katwe.  Yat Madit won Best Actress in a TV Drama at UFF 2017 and the Africa Movie Academy Award for Most Promising Actress and Best Actress at the African Film Festival in Córdoba in 2010 for her skills.

For the feature film Veronica’s Wish, Nanfuka became the first female director to win Best Director at the Uganda Film Festival in 2018.  Her directing debut opened the door for female leadership in Ugandan cinema and was praised for its technical mastery and emotional depth.

Nanfuka solidified her position as a dominant force in the business this year.  She won many top prizes at the 12th Uganda Film Festival Awards with the movie Nkinzi:

1. Best Feature Film (Aidah Nalubowa co-produced)

2. Best Director

3. Best Screenplay (shared with Esther Nampewo)

These victories demonstrate her exceptional versatility in narrative, directing, and producing, and they are her first accolades as a producer in this field.

Throughout her career, Rehema Nanfuka has shown an unrelenting dedication to conveying true African stories.  Her impact is extensive and profound, ranging from her work as an actress in internationally acclaimed projects to her advocacy for indigenous voices as a director.  A generation of creatives, particularly young women, is inspired by Nanfuka as she continues to shatter stereotypes and succeed in a variety of filmmaking categories, proving that Ugandan narratives can and will shine on the international scene.