Buganda Kingdom seeks film collaboration to bring Uganda Martyrs’ story to an international audience

The Buganda Kingdom is in discussions over a possible partnership with filmmaker Mathew Nabwiso for an upcoming historical film titled Flames of Faith, which will focus on Kabaka Mwanga and the Uganda Martyrs.

The talks come amid a wider initiative spearheaded by Rosa Malango, the Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism and Trade, aimed at boosting community-based tourism by connecting Uganda’s creative sector with its cultural heritage institutions.

Malango recently led a delegation that included members of the Producers Guild of Uganda and representatives from the iKON Film and Television Awards to Bulange, Mengo, where they held discussions with the Katikkiro, Charles Peter Mayiga, as well as officials Anthony Wamala and Robert Sserwanga.

The conversations centred on a shared ambition to transform Uganda’s historical narratives into globally appealing films that can attract international audiences and, in turn, encourage tourism to the real locations where these stories took place.

Mayiga expressed support for the idea, noting the role of film in bridging cultural understanding. “It is often difficult for people to understand places they have not experienced,” he said in a post on X, adding that cinema provides a strong platform to present Uganda’s identity, values, and opportunities to the world.

Flames of Faith is expected to draw inspiration from Uganda’s deep cultural and religious history, with Nabwiso—known for productions such as Sabotage, Rain, and Prickly Roses—set to bring his storytelling expertise to the project.

The engagement reflects a growing effort to integrate the creative industry with tourism development strategies, positioning Uganda’s heritage as both a cultural treasure and an economic opportunity.

If the collaboration moves forward, it could mark a major step in using film to elevate local history into globally recognised cultural storytelling.