By Jazeerah Mirembe
The creative industry in Uganda is mourning playwright, actor and director Alex Mukulu, with artists and public figures remembering his influence on generations of performers.
Thespian Mukulu died Saturday, bringing to an end a career spanning more than four decades in which he used theatre, satire, music and storytelling to examine Uganda’s political, social and cultural realities.
He was aged 72.
National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, has described Mukulu as an “unapologetic voice of reason” in the entertainment industry.
“I’m shocked by news of the sudden death of Alex Mukulu, an unapologetic voice of reason in the entertainment world. My heart goes to his family and loved ones. Kitalo nnyo!!” Kyagulanyi said.
The Katikkiro of Buganda also mourned Mukulu, highlighting his contribution not only to theatre but also to Buganda’s cultural heritage.
“The news of the death of veteran dramatist Alex Mukulu is deeply saddening!” the Katikkiro said, describing him as a writer, director and actor who also wrote and composed songs.
The Katikkiro praised Mukulu for producing high-quality plays through which many people learned, while also describing him as a loyal subject of the Kabaka who had a deep love for the traditions and culture of Buganda.
“I extend my condolences to his family and friends. May the Lord grant his soul eternal rest,” he said.
Among the artists reflecting on Mukulu’s influence is singer Ykee Benda, who revealed that the veteran gave him his first major opportunity on stage.
Ykee Benda said Mukulu gave him his first opportunity as a dancer and vocalist during the “50 Years Independence” production he put together about 13 years ago.
“The man who gave me my very first opportunity on a big stage as a dancer and vocalist under the 50 YEARS INDEPENDENCE production he put together 13 years ago,” Ykee Benda said.
He credited Mukulu with grooming him into the artist he is today, saying the veteran taught him to care for art and love it deeply.
Ykee Benda also remembered Mukulu for teaching him that humour and intelligence could work hand in hand, describing him as one of the most misunderstood people he had ever met.
“May your soul rest in Peace. Uganda has truly lost a great man,” he said.
NBS Television host Douglas Lwanga also paid tribute to Mukulu, saying his contribution to Uganda’s arts industry would remain part of the country’s cultural history.
“Rest in Peace Alex Mukulu, your contribution to the art industry will forever be remembered,” Lwanga said.
Kawempe North MP Elias Nalukoola described Mukulu as an “artistic titan” and a visionary whose theatre served as a powerful platform for social and political commentary.
“Uganda has lost an artistic titan. We mourn and fiercely celebrate the unparalleled genius of the legendary visionary, Alex Mukulu,” Nalukoola said.
He added that through decades of what he described as fearless protest theatre, Mukulu used his art as “our mirror of truth.”
“The stage is quiet, but his legacy will forever reverberate,” Nalukoola said.
Singer Maurice Kirya also described Mukulu as a true legend, crediting him with inspiring artists to experiment and develop their own creative identities.
“Thank you, Alex Mukulu, for inspiring artists like myself to dare to step outside the box and become the artists we truly aspire to be,” Kirya said.
Mukulu was one of Uganda’s most influential theatre practitioners, with a body of work that included 30 Years of Bananas, Wounds of Africa, The Guest of Honour, Muzukulu wa Kabangala and Journey to Self-Realisation.
His 30 Years of Bananas, first staged in 1992 as Uganda marked 30 years of independence, became one of his most recognised productions, using political satire, humour and symbolism to examine the country’s post-independence journey.
Born in 1954, Mukulu studied Film and Drama at Makerere University after attending Kololo Secondary School. Over his career, he wrote, directed and acted in more than 30 plays staged both in Uganda and abroad.
His contribution extended beyond conventional theatre. Journey to Self-Realisation was performed during the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, placing his work on a major international stage.
Mukulu was also known for his outspoken views on the direction of Uganda’s theatre industry. In a 2020 interview, he criticised contemporary theatre for, in his view, moving away from bold storytelling that confronted political and social realities.
“The theatre, which is supposed to boldly follow current events and speak out against injustice, has instead gone into comedy,” he said at the time.
After spending about 17 years away from the stage, Mukulu returned to theatre in 2024 with Kulunkalu ne Kulumbisi, an African adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The production, staged at the National Theatre in Kampala, blended Shakespeare’s story with African culture, language, music, dance, costumes and contemporary Ugandan themes.
His return was also an opportunity to pass on his experience to a younger generation of actors and theatre practitioners.
“I have a lot of experience in this field, and this is the opportunity for me to give knowledge to the current generation of actors and actresses,” Mukulu said in 2024.
As tributes continue to come in, Mukulu is being remembered not simply for the plays he produced, but for the generations of artists he influenced and the role he played in keeping theatre a space for cultural expression, humour, criticism and reflection.