Acting is an integral part of Uganda, just like football. Actresses, just like footballers, have become stars and celebrities of a sort. Actually, many Ugandan actors and actresses are not just restricted to Uganda in popularity and influence; they are well known across Africa.
When I think about Ugandan actresses I think about the industry as a whole. Unlike a decade ago, Ugandan film industry is now continentally recognized as one of the largest film producer in Africa.
But have you ever given attention to the top Ugandan female actresses who make waves in this industry?
Today we are foregrounding the legendary female musician, actress, producer, director, and script writer, Mariam Ndagire.
She is popularly called Mumbejja and undoubtedly a very popular actress. Some are of the opinion that she is the most popular actress in Uganda’s film industry.
Aside from being popular, she is equally among the most decorated of all Ugandan actors in general.
As a musician, she is one of the biggest Musicians in Uganda from the 1990s to date having 10 number ones inclunding Bamugamba, Kamuwaane, Mama, Majangwa, Bikikakase, Kiki Onvuma, Abakazi Twalaba, Byonna Twala, among others.
Born on May 16th 1971 to royalists from Buganda Kingdom, Mumbejja studied from Buganda Road Primary School for her PLE before joining Trinty College Nabbingo where she studied her High school before graduating from Makerere University with a Diploma in Marketing and a Diploma in Music Dance and drama.
As an actress, Ndagire started her acting career in 1987 at National Theater featuring in popular play Black Pearls of now the late Omugave Ndugwa who just succumbed to cancer last week.
At Black Pearls under Ndugwa’s mentorship, Ndagire acted alongside other rookies including the likes of Abbey Mukiibi, Kato Lubwama, Ashraf Ssimwogerere, Halima Namakula, Paul Katende, Umar Katumba, Robert Nsirikidde, Jennifer Busulwa, Sarah Mukasa, Badru Matovu, and Mary Semalulu among others.
Ever since, this beautiful and talented actress has contributed immensely to the film industry in Uganda. Over the years, this star actress has acted and Directed in many movies but now she has gotten to a stage of selecting.
Among her filmography include; Down This Road I Walk(2007), Strength of a Stranger(2008), Hearts In Pieces(2009), Tendo Sisters, Where We Belong(2011), Dear Mum(2012), J-Rose, Intimate Partner Violence series among others.
She has won numerous awards both in Uganda and on the international platform and she is one of the highest paid actresses in Ugandan Film Industry.
Ndagire started ‘The Next Ugandan Music’, an American Idol-style show and she recently started a new training workshop for filmmakers at her center, the Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Centre, which holds film workshops for filmmakers every year. Among the workshops’ notable participants are Sarah Kisauzi Sentongo, an actress with Deception, the NTV Uganda TV series, and screenwriter Usama Mukwaya.
