Editorial: Fare thee well, Alex Mukulu

What the report says

The Observer’s editorial says Uganda’s arts community has lost Alex Mukulu, the playwright, actor, author, musician and director, who died at Kiruddu Hospital on August 15 at age 72 after a battle with cancer. The piece frames his death as a major loss for Ugandan and wider East African theatre, describing him as a long-serving figure whose work shaped the country’s artistic identity.

According to the editorial, Mukulu spent nearly five decades using theatre to tackle politics, history and social contradictions rather than offering light entertainment. It highlights his 1992 play “30 Years of Bananas” as a landmark in political satire and notes his reputation for exacting standards, blunt criticism and a refusal to soften his message for commercial appeal. The article also recalls that he directed “Journey to Self-Realization” for the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The editorial further points to his 2024 return to the National Theatre with “Kulunkalu ne Kulumbisi,” a reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” rooted in local culture. It says Mukulu’s career showed how theatre could speak to both Ugandan audiences and international figures while remaining culturally grounded. In its closing, the piece calls on younger creatives to carry forward the discipline and artistic courage associated with his legacy. It also says the government reportedly declined to give him a state funeral, though that point is presented without further detail.