'Uganda Has Lost an Artistic Titan' - Tribute Pour in for Alex Mukulu

What the report says

Uganda’s arts community is mourning veteran playwright, actor and director Alex Mukulu, who died on Saturday at the age of 72, according to Nile Post. Tributes from artists and public figures describe him as a major figure in Ugandan theatre whose work shaped generations of performers and used the stage to engage with politics, society and culture.

Among those reacting was National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi, who called Mukulu a strong and honest voice in entertainment. The Katikkiro of Buganda also paid tribute, noting Mukulu’s contribution to theatre and to Buganda’s cultural heritage. Several artists said his influence was personal as well as professional, including singer Ykee Benda, who said Mukulu gave him an early big-stage opportunity, and described him as a mentor who taught him to value art deeply.

Nile Post reported that Mukulu’s body of work included well-known productions such as 30 Years of Bananas, Wounds of Africa, The Guest of Honour, Muzukulu wa Kabangala and Journey to Self-Realisation. His career began in the early years of modern Ugandan theatre and extended to international platforms, including the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala. Born in 1954 and educated at Makerere University, Mukulu remained outspoken about theatre’s role in confronting injustice, and returned to the stage in 2024 with an African adaptation of Romeo and Juliet at the National Theatre in Kampala.