Nyati Motion Pictures, a film and advertising company in Uganda, has successfully premiered the first two segments of the Tuko Pamoja documentary film series.
The 13-part docuseries about the unity of Ugandans, East Africans and Africans, was written by Rogers Atukunda, a journalist with SoftPower News and directed by Dr Cindy Magara, a lecturer of film and literature at Makerere University.
The first segment titled “Bunyoro-Kitara” tackles the largest and most powerful empire that controlled the Great Lakes Region of Africa, which originates from the ancient Ethiopia, Egypt, Nubia and Axum empires.
The segment which premiered on February 3, 2024, at the National Theatre in Kampala, also delves deep into the life and reign of one of Africa’s greatest anti-colonial resistance heroes; Omukama John Cwa II Kabaleega.
The glamorous event was graced by Chief Prince locally known as Okwir, and the head of the Babiito clan, Fred Mugenyi Rucuny, who represented Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom Prime Minister, Andrew Byakutaga, and Hoima Municipality MP, Harriet Businge.
Some of the interviewees present included: politician, author, and lecturer Dr Florence Akiiki Asiimwe; Omutalindwa (Bunyoro Parliament Speaker) Owek. Isaac Kalembe Akiiki and author of “Omukama Cwa II Kabaleega: A Life and Legacy, 1853-1923”; Samia Prince Francis Ojambo Nakamolo; Makerere University Philosophy Lecturer Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo; African Languages expert Dr. Gilbert Gumoshabe and Mr Leonard Muganwa.
Speaking one after the other, the interviewees commended the director Dr Evelyn Cindy Magara and her team for making great efforts to document the history of Uganda.
“We are already one people. There is no need to divide ourselves along tribal lines,” said Dr Florence Asiimwe.
Ojambo attested to this fact when he revealed that his grandfather who once sat on the throne of Wanga Kingdom in Kenya has ancestral origins from Prince Nyamutukura of Bunyoro who founded the ruling dynasties in Busoga Kingdom today.
On his part, Owek Kalembe delved into the legacy and great achievements of Omukama Kabaleega that have made him an endearing hero across Uganda, East Africa and Africa at large.
Mugasa, Rwabwogo, Owek Kiyimba grace Buganda premiere
On Sunday, February 11, 2024, Dr Cindy Magara premiered the Buganda segment of the series at the National Theatre with all pomp and charm.
The segment chronicles the history of the kingdom right from Kintu, Bemba Musota, Kato Kimera to the most famous figures to ever sit on the throne of Buganda; Muteesa I and his son Kabaka Mwanga whose adventures with colonialists, missionaries and Christian martyrs have become legend.
The event was graced by attended by entrepreneur, author and special adviser to the President, Odrek Rwabwogo, the state minister for Public Service, Grace Mary Mugasa, and former Buganda Kingdom minister of Information and Cabinet Affairs, Owek. Noah Kiyimba, among others.
Speaking at the event, Owek Kiyimba who represented Buganda Prime Minister Owek Charles Peter Mayiga, emphasised the urgency to document history before the older generation that possesses this knowledge leaves this world.
He alluded to the fact that Uganda’s history has been “altered, and inaccurately recorded by colonial masters who portrayed our heroes as villains and glorified themselves as our heroes”.
He assured Dr Magara of the kingdom’s support to ensure the film reaches a vast majority of Ugandans while emphasising the importance of unity and togetherness.
On his part, Rwabwogo who is also an interviewee, lauded Dr Magara for using the camera to show the interconnectedness of Ugandans and East Africans.
He challenged her team to take the camera across the borders and talk to other East Africans in DR Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania to emphasise “our oneness” and why “we must work together” to develop the region.
“We must write our own history in our own manner not those who wanted to keep us divided. We need to speak with one another,” he said.
Other interviewees who graced the premiere included; Makerere University lecturers Prof Dominic Dipio, Prof Susan Kiguli, Prof Muhammad Kiggundu, Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo and Dr Milton Wabyona. Samia Prince Francis Ojambo Nakamolo also attended the event.
Nyati will next Wednesday, February 21, 2024 premiere the Busoga segment at the National Theatre starting at 5:00 pm. This will be followed by the fourth segment (Ankole) on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the same venue.
Tickets for the premieres go for Shs50,000. After the launch, the film is also screened daily at Ham Cinemax in Wandegeya at Shs20,000 (adults) and Shs10,000 (students).
