Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
Born
Jinja Uganda
CitizenshipUgandan
Alma materMakerere University,
Occupations
  • Theatre Director
  • Producer
  • Actor
  • Radio personality
Years active1994–present
Children4

Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga is a Ugandan multi-award winning actor, comedian, director producer and radio personality, recognised for theatre plays, film, television and radio.[1] He is the founder of a Afri Talent, a Ugandan drama group and veteran radio presenter at 88.8 CBS in Kampala. He has played mostly military roles in films like The Last King of Scotland (film) (Masanga), Sometimes in April (Colonel Bagosora), The Silent Army (Michel Obeke) and The Mercy of the Jungle (Major).[2][3] He was listed #1 on the list of the best ten Ugandan comedians by Big Eye in 2015.

Career

Theatre

Nkaaga started out as a supporting cast member at his uncle's Omugave Ndugwa's theatrical drama group called The Black Pearls in 1988. He worked on several productions but started getting recognition when he played a lead role on Ziribasanga Ne Sanyu. At the time such roles were reserved Fred Kalule , Ndugwa and Omulangira Kayondo, the big stars of the time. When Kato Lubwama who had been a member of The Black Pearls and some of his friends left The Black Pearls in 1993, Nkaaga also started Afri Talent with his other colleagues Ruth Wanyana, Brenda Nanyonjo, Michael Mabira, Bob Bulime and John Segawa. His breakout role in Afri Talent was when he acted as Chombe, a ruthless leader that didn’t care about the plight of soldiers’ families. His performance attracted UPDF army commander Gen Mugisha Muntu who praised Mukiibi for the performance. He received an award for Best Actor at the Uganda National Theater Awards in 1994 when he played Kabaka Muteesa II in Saagala Agalamidde. His other works in theatre include; Ekitangaala Munzikiza, Omuyaga Mu Makoola, Omusaayi Gw’obutiko, Olujegere Lw’obulamu, Galimpitawa with The Black Pearls and Order, The Best of Abby and Patricko, Ensitaano, Safari, Sebalamu, Tebesigwa, Mbyaase and Akandolindoli at Afri Talent.[4][5]

Film

Mukiibi started appearing in films in 1996 and his debut film was Fire of Hope. In 2005, he played a lead villain role as Col Bagosora in an HBO film Sometimes in April, about the Rwandan genocide of 1994. His performance in Sometimes in April gave him recognition in the East African region and he started getting more international roles including a Hollywood role in The Last King of Scotland (film) in 2006 and a role in a South African film about the LRA war in northern Uganda called The Silent Army in 2008.[6] He played a role of a Major in another Rwandan genocide film The Mercy of the Jungle in 2018. His other film roles include John in Imperial Blue (2019) and the Golomadi in the upcoming legal drama film Kafa Coh.[7]

Radio

Abby Mukiibi was scouted by Daudi Ochieng and Peter Sematima to join radio in 1996 when they opened CBS radio. He started presenting the morning sports show Kalisoliso Wemizanyo and has presented it since then, remaining one of the longest serving radio personality in a show and at a radio station in Uganda. He later got promoted to the stations' programmes director.[8][9]

Personal life

Nkaaga was born in Jinja to the late Erias Simwogerere and the late Madina Simwogerere. He grew up in the Jinja Walukuba housing estates. He studied Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) at Makerere University. He is married to Stella Namatovu and they have four children.

Filmography

Year Movie/Film Role Notes
1994 Fires of Hope
1996 Ultimatum
1998 Frontiers of Hell
2000-2004 Ensitano (The Scuffle) Television Soap by Afri-Talent on WBS TV.
2002 Omo Pick A Box (Himself - Host) TV show
2005 Sometimes in April Colonel Bagosora HBO Television film directed by Raul Peck
2006 The Last King of Scotland Masanga Hollywood film directed by Kevin Macdonald
2007 The Good Life (Himself - Host) TV Health Show
2008 Strength of a Stranger Directed by Mariam Ndagire
White Light/The Silent Army Michel Obeke South African film
Stand Up Uganda (Himself - Judge) MNET Africa TV Comedy show
2009 Hearts in Pieces Directed by Mariam Ndagire
2017 Bella A Matt Bish directed film
2018 The Mercy of the Jungle Major A Rwandan genocide film directed by Joel Karekezi
2019 Imperial Blue John Directed by Dan Moss
2020 Kafa Coh Golomadi An Amani Film House film.
2021 Sanyu TV series on Pearl Magic Prime.

References

  1. Kasadha, Badru. "Celebrated actor, Abby Mukiibi declares intention to join politics". Eagle News. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. "ABBY NKAAGA MUKIIBI". African Cultures. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  3. "Abby Mukiibi And Patriko Mujuuka Set For 3-Hour 'Nonstop Nonsense". Chano8. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  4. Nantaba, Agnes. "I am my own fan!". The Independent. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  5. Badru Zziwa, Hassan. "How ABBY MUKIIBI risked it all to cut it as an all-rounder". The Observer. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  6. Ssejjengo, Emmanuel. "Abby Mukiibi brings Kony to the silver screen". New Vision. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  7. "Abby Mukiibi in international movie deal". Big Eye. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  8. "Defiant Abbey Mukibi asked to resign from CBS radio". Whisper Eye. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  9. Walakira, Joshua. "CBS BOSS ABBEY MUKIIBI; I CAN'T FIGHT BOBI WINE". Mulengera News. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
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