Kasule Douglas Benda
The Reach A Hand Uganda head office in Lungujja was abuzz with conversation yesterday afternoon as filmmakers, actors, and industry stakeholders gathered for a highly anticipated engagement featuring South African actor and entrepreneur Thapelo Mokoena.
Although the event was scheduled earlier, by 4:00pm the chief guest had not yet arrived. The delay, later attributed to changes in flights and traffic congestion, did little to dampen the mood. Inside the venue, discussions were already underway, led by host Isaac Rucci.
At one point, a spirited, almost heated, debate broke out between producers and actors about the working conditions within Uganda’s film industry. The exchange underscored the growing urgency around professional standards, compensation, and collaboration. The upcoming Filmmakers Mix & Mingle scheduled for 18th April promises even more dynamic conversations between producers and actors.
At approximately 4:30pm, the long-awaited guests arrived. The entourage included Humphrey Nabimanya, founder of Reach A Hand Uganda and the event organisers; Matthew Nabwiso, President of the Producers Guild of Uganda (PGU); Nana Kagga, Vice President of PGU; celebrated videographer Sasha Vybez; and the keynote guest, Thapelo Mokoena.
When Nabimanya took to the stage, he outlined ambitious plans aimed at elevating Uganda’s film ecosystem. Among the key initiatives announced were:
- African Film Forum Masterclass 2026
- iKON Awards 2026
- iKON Young Filmmakers Fellowship
- iKON Film Fund
- African Film Society (introduced this year)
- Kwiso TV
The glamorous iKON Awards are slated for 15th August 2026, with Mokoena expected to return as a special guest alongside other international attendees. Nomination announcements are expected soon, building anticipation within the industry.
Speaking as President of PGU, Matthew Nabwiso emphasised the need for “collaboration over competition”. He challenged filmmakers to move away from mediocrity and instead make intentional, strategic decisions that will position Ugandan films for global recognition.
His message was clear: excellence requires deliberate effort, discipline, and unity within the industry.
Uganda’s Special Presidential Envoy on Tourism and Trade, Rosa Malango, highlighted the significance of film as a tool for shaping international perception. She encouraged filmmakers to tell culturally rooted stories in local languages, drawing from Uganda’s traditions to create unique offerings for the global market.
Malango also revealed ongoing efforts to work alongside PGU in branding Ugandan film projects and fostering collaborations between filmmakers and institutions. Notably, she is advocating for the establishment of a Ugandan film park, recognizing the need for government-backed infrastructure to support the industry’s growth.
In his keynote address, Thapelo Mokoena delivered a powerful and inspiring presentation centered on African excellence and sustainable brand building. He declared that the world is now ready for an “African ingredient” in global storytelling, and that Africans no longer need external validation to tell their own stories.
He broke his message into key principles:
1. The Power of Personal Branding
Identity must come before opportunity. Believe in yourself before others believe in you. Build both a physical and digital brand. Ask yourself: Are you adding value? Are you bankable?
2. The Power of Reinvention
Walk the part before you have the title. Enter every room with confidence and presence.
3. The Power of Transforming Yourself into an Enterprise
Become a brand that opens doors, not only for yourself, but for others. Mokoena shared how his personal brand enabled him to invest in ventures such as a wine business, demonstrating the importance of leveraging credibility into enterprise. The question he posed was profound: What are you building when no one is watching?
4. The Power of Leadership
Leadership requires introducing new layers of perception and direction in every project. True leaders expand vision.
5. The Power of African Excellence on the Global Stage
Africans no longer need permission to excel. Walk into global spaces proudly as African creatives and engage responsibly and excellently.
6. The Business of Creativity
Creativity must be understood as business. Ownership of ideas is critical by registering IPs and minding who you speak to about your ideas. There is untapped value in stories and concepts that have not yet been explored.
He concluded with a stirring reminder: true success is measured not by momentary applause, but by what you build and how long it stands as legacy. The world, he said, does not move forward because of comfort, it moves forward because of COURAGE.
#MakingUgFilmsFamous
Photo Credit: King Makie
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I’m a professional performing artist, an acting coach, film director, actors’ agent and more.
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