Veteran Ugandan playwright, actor, director and musician Alex Mukulu has died aged 72, closing the chapter on a remarkable career that spanned more than four decades and left a lasting mark on the country’s theatre industry.
Born in 1954, Mukulu emerged as one of Uganda’s most influential theatre practitioners, using the stage to explore issues ranging from politics and culture to social change and the country’s post-independence experience.
Among his best-known works are 30 Years of Bananas, Wounds of Africa, The Guest of Honour, Muzukulu wa Kabangala and Journey to Self-Realisation. His 1992 production 30 Years of Bananas, staged as Uganda celebrated 30 years of independence, earned particular recognition for its satirical portrayal of the country’s political and social journey.
Mukulu’s artistic training included Film and Drama at Makerere University, following his studies at Kololo Secondary School. Over the years, he wrote, directed and acted in more than 30 productions, some of which were staged outside Uganda.
His contribution to national cultural events was also significant. Journey to Self-Realisation was among the works featured during the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.
Throughout his career, Mukulu championed theatre as a platform for confronting difficult realities. He was particularly critical of what he considered the growing emphasis on comedy at the expense of productions that addressed pressing political and social issues.
In a 2020 interview, he argued that theatre practitioners should be willing to tackle injustice and contemporary events rather than shy away from difficult subjects.
After remaining away from the stage for nearly 17 years, Mukulu made a notable comeback 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 classic story with African traditions, local languages, music, dance, costumes and contemporary Ugandan themes.
His return was not only a comeback to performing but also an effort to pass on his experience to younger theatre practitioners. Mukulu said he viewed the opportunity as a chance to share the knowledge he had accumulated over decades in the industry.
His death leaves Uganda’s cultural sector mourning one of the country’s most accomplished theatre figures. His body of work, particularly his use of satire and drama to interrogate society and politics, is expected to remain part of Uganda’s theatrical heritage for generations to come.
