Kampala – Uganda’s creative arts fraternity is in mourning following the death of legendary playwright, actor, dramatist, musician and theatre maestro Alex Mukulu. He was 72.
News of his passing broke this morning and has been confirmed by multiple sources within the arts community and media houses, including New Vision. Details surrounding the exact cause and circumstances of his death remain limited at this time.
Born in 1954 in Misebe, Ssingo County in Buganda, Mukulu was one of the most influential figures in Ugandan theatre for nearly five decades. He studied film and drama at Makerere University after attending Kololo Secondary School and quickly established himself as a bold voice on stage.
Mukulu is widely regarded as the father of protest theatre in Uganda. His plays fearlessly examined social injustice, political hypocrisy, poverty, cultural identity and the struggles of ordinary Ugandans. Among his best-known works are 30 Years of Bananas (1991), a landmark satirical reflection on Uganda’s post-independence journey; Wounds of Africa; The Guest of Honour; Excuse Me Mzungu; Peasants Cry; and Journey to Self-Realization, which was performed at the opening of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala.
His earlier productions in the late 1970s and 1980s, including Muzukulu wa Kabangala, Springs of Tears and Opera Bakisimba, helped shape modern Ugandan drama. Even after a long hiatus from the National Theatre stage, he returned in 2024 with Kulumbisi and Kulunkalu, an African adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that explored class, politics and community divisions.
Beyond writing and directing, Mukulu was an accomplished actor, composer and cultural ambassador. His work blended traditional storytelling, music and dance with sharp contemporary commentary. He mentored younger artists, challenged audiences to think critically, and remained principled and uncompromising in his craft until the end.
Tributes have already begun pouring in from across the creative industry. Many have described him as more than an artist — an institution whose voice forced Ugandans to confront uncomfortable truths about their society.
Alex Mukulu’s death marks the end of an era for Ugandan theatre. His body of work, which educated, provoked and inspired generations, ensures that his legacy will continue to live on stage and in the national consciousness.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Watchdog Uganda will update this story as more details emerge.
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