Kolkata, India —Tuko Pamoja, a documentary directed by celebrated filmmaker and academic Dr Cindy Evelyn Magara, has won “Best Documentary (Foreign) – Africa” at the 5th Global Independent Film Festival of India (GIFFI).
The award, presented by the Dreamz Cultural Association, was handed out during a colourful ceremony at Moulali Yuva Kendra in Kolkata on 15 November 2025, marking GIFFI’s 5th anniversary edition.
The certificate praised the docuseries for “creating a milestone in society.”
The winning segment, Uganda: The Making of a Nation, is part of the acclaimed 13-part historical work exploring Uganda’s ethnic bonds, shared struggles, and pre-colonial unity. The docuseries was written by journalist Rogers Atukunda, who also served as a researcher and assistant director.
Announcing the win ahead of her appearance at PIFF, Dr Magara expressed gratitude for the recognition: “As I prepare for PIFF tonight, I am glad to announce the award for Best Documentary to ‘Uganda: The Making of a Nation’. Thank you to the Global Independent Film Festival India for this honour. Congs to my crew and cast. To all the Pan-Africanists.”
Writer Atukunda also celebrated the achievement, describing it as a victory for the power of African storytelling across borders: “This award is a profound honour. Tuko Pamoja was created to spotlight Africa’s untold or rather distorted history, and seeing it embraced internationally—especially in India—gives me hope for the power of storytelling to connect people everywhere.”
Tuko Pamoja — meaning “We Are One” in Swahili — is a 13-part docuseries that explores Uganda’s ethnic diversity and shared historical experiences before colonial rule. The film highlights the interconnectedness and solidarity among Uganda’s different communities and their collective resistance to foreign aggression.
The documentary project, executively produced by Dr Magara and her husband, economist Daniel Lukwago of Nonner Consults, featured a soundtrack composed, produced, and sound supervised by the award-winning Ugandan musician and producer, Tusiime Wilfred Romeo (Akiiki Romeo).
Its segment Uganda: The Making of a Nation, which explores the geopolitical and linguistic connections that shaped the Great Lakes region between 1870 and 1900 to challenge colonial narratives and inspire shared African identity, was nominated in the Documentary (Foreign) – Other Continents category alongside films from Spain, Australia, and Colombia.
This latest win cements Uganda’s standing on the global film stage and continues the rising momentum of Tuko Pamoja, which chronicles Uganda’s historical alliances, cultural dynamics, and collective resistance in the decades leading to the formation of the modern nation.
GIFFI, organised by the Dreamz Cultural Association, is one of Asia’s major platforms for independent cinema. The 2025 season featured screenings in multiple cities, including Mumbai and Hyderabad, with over 200 competition categories spanning documentaries, feature films, shorts, and web series.
