Women’s Month Ends as Thespians Light up the National Theatre in Kampala

By Tusiime Tutu

In 2006, at Primary Six, I was cast to stage as a daughter in a family battling the plague of HIV/AIDs. I would later go on to stage at the Uganda National Theatre floor which, here today, grows and persists on in history. Now, in 2026, the Uganda National Culture Centre (UNCC) welcomes its creative home birds back to this historical hall. It is a homing affair on the town!

#A time at the Uganda theatre excellence awards in Kampala.

_{^{Raising the curtain on the 2026 World Theatre Day celebrations at the Uganda National Theatre, Credit: Brave Jackson and ITI}}

Theatre practitioners in Uganda had a much awaited renaissance at the National Theatre during the world theatre celebration, on Saturday, 28^th March, 2026. With award-winning thespian Aganza Kisaka leading, Uganda Theatre Excellence Awards beam in Kampala as hosted by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) of Uganda.

^{_{Rolling the carpet for creatives at the Uganda National Theatre on March 28th 2026. Credit: Brave Jackson and ITI}}

Aganza, who serves at ITI as the current President in Uganda, also leads her own creative community at Yenze Theatre Conservatoire where she credits her leadership to earlier arts training in New York as she learnt “kneading big teams in a therapeutic way”. This year, Aganza hosts the Worldwide President of ITI, Dr. Jessica Kaahwa, staking her 50-year thespian culture, among other thespians; to fill the Uganda National Theatre with story, hope and truth at that stage that stands on in history.

^{_{Two women, different generations, active thespians. Aganza Kisaka and Dr. Jessica Kaahwa at the 2026 World Theatre Day celebrations in Uganda. Credit: Brave Jackson and ITI}}

For Dr. Kaahwa, her journey on this stage kicks off at 16 in a group scene as she shared her first National Theatre staging with Dr. Fagil Mandy, actor and educator. “It is the little things” Dr. Kaahwa insists. Since that crowd scene she picks up her curiosity for theatre. “The little steps on stage, you keep on them and they grow into the journey of a thousand miles”. That step for her was in 1976. Today in 2026 she stands on that very stage as the first Ugandan woman to lead the whole ITI globally.

Those little steps shape a universe forth like the UNCC opening its history to include an ITI office space. Dr. Kaahwa has a dream. She honors it. Time passes. Another dream. She shares it with Amelia Kyaka. Time passes. She prays. She finds Aganza and in hopeful synchronicity, a new president takes on the Uganda post. The Banyankore advise, “engaro ibiri n’okunabisana” *(Runyankore proverb to mean two hands wash each other).

Block Quote: “What do you have in your hands? The encouraging words and the trying to tell the story,” Dr Kaahwa implores. Begin there!

It’s the little flaps of the butterfly wings. These awards for one become part of that flap on the shiny stardom wing. Awards push the foot on acceleration, requiring momentum.

Theatre roots society in truth

Theatre is a necessary fabric of our social order and in Uganda, where the creative industry takes new chances like plans for regional cultural centers, theatre calls forward a mirror that questions rather than comply, one that holds truth in representation rather than oppression. For the national theatre hall, thespians are tasked to insist on renovation, rather than uprooting it; recognizing that many thespians flow through its deep roots.

Block Quote: “Theatre is a cultural edifier to help society connect back to their own rooting”, as Dr. Kaahwa explains.

Theatre has sustained a legacy of celebration in Uganda. Through changing environments (cultural, political and economical), the voice of the artist echoes in the theatre hall. Why? Art becomes the stubborn salvation. As Ugandan Poet Martha Byoga aka Maritza recounted, theatre is not always for the commercial end, yet for bringing together people from different backgrounds, to tell a collective story. “Theatre refuses to silence the voice” Dr. Kaahwa reminds the room.

^{_{Audience at Uganda National Theatre for the 2026 World Theatre Day celebrations in Kampala. Credit: Brave Jackson and IT}}I

With a 377 capacity, the national theatre has stood since 1959 and thus observing several performances through time. Here, in 2026 the full-house theatre awards roll the curtain, showcasing that thespians flow into their roots and reflect the realities that weave humanity through evolution. Truth calls for boldness, after all.

And who ever should forget theatre is anything but bold!

The hues of attires radiated in the audience. Reds and blues juxtaposed. Yellows and greens romanticized with the theatre lights, blacks and whites reflected off the bold walls and the brown earthy hues flew in cadence with the maroon seats. In whichever case, the stage was open and the room was full and theatre excellence awards were to be won 

• (Shot 6). Caption: Uganda Theatre Excellence Awardees at the 2026 World Theatre Day celebrations in Kampala. Credit: Brave Jackson and ITI

A spotlight on award winners

Given the pulse of awards night, many heart beats took cardiac miles! Stage stars were going home with something shiny_an award-winning thespian stamp was to mount up on bios.

Drumroll: The voting ran for 10 categories from 23 productions with 104 nominees. The virtual system registered 58,000 unique voters and 42,070 valid votes. Time stamps earmarked integrity for this virtual system. The voting ran for 48 hours.

First, Gampisi production illuminated with Best Light Designer Arafat Mugambe, who also won with Mariam Ndagire in Best Sound Design for the Ssewati production. Mounting the stage with ululations and a posy of fans, for Arafat those little things take step at Mariam Ndagire’s  Performing Arts school which propels him here now into this spotlight.

Theatre shines as the charade stops when on stage, a fresh form births story, conflict and community. What is the script? That all must carry their talents and multiply. As awardees received their brilliant bling, they tasked the room:- “As a creative, empty out”. “Take the time to build your voice”. ‘Do what’s possible’. ‘Get the it in you and bring it out’. ‘Be true to your talents, be true to your gifts’. In any case, remember to be.

The joy that stays

In teary bouts, Aganza asks the room to observe a moment for thespian Esteri Tebandeka. Esteri Tebandeka (late) expressed her passion in the arts in several ways, including the new Binti Film Festival focusing on highlighting women-led films. As one artist rests off the stage, fellow artists heed the call to be, here, now. After all, “we are remembered by the joy we share in the moments on projects, not by the projects” Aganza cautions.

Rollcall: “Thespians in the room, stand up” Aganza requests. She starts the count-up of years, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50. The room erupts as the years go higher and fewer thespians stay standing.

^{_{Thespians (Dr. Kaahwa standing) gather in the National Theatre hall for the 2026 World Theatre Day celebrations in Kampala. Credit: Brave Jackson and ITI.}}

Generally, the celebrations included creative sessions atop the awards, such as one on the Copyright law’s Amendment Bill of 2025. As Uganda casts a GDP goal of Billion 500$ by 2040, commercial and cultural factors of creativity must be mutually inclusive. The Copyright Protections and Neighboring Rights Act of 2006 is a means of intellectual property harvest, with the 2026 passed amendment increasing revenue streams such as copyright certification fees and fair-trade of caller tunes.

Thespians were also served with several performances in music, acting and more that left an imprint such as Lloyd Rutara’s Balembezi, a movement story on letting go, led with Rianne Bateeza of WatoMovement and Michael Tamale, Ugandan actor. More so, dancer Joan Mbabazi, shared her master’s stake in dance to showcase the story of survival and hope, based on the story of Harriet Tubman.

Today, theatre topics may take on new social contexts, yet still, the role of the artist remains pertinent. Tell the story. Show the truth. The overarching call for the artist then is “How do you do theater”, Dr. Kaahwa concludes.

# rolling the curtain

Hurray! Hurray! Whereas 2026 rolls out new political elections in Uganda, these 2026 Uganda Theatre Excellence Awards insist to bring back the gain of truth! The truth, theatre is alive, radiant and relevant. This truth, a sustainable legacy to celebrate

Tusiime Tutu tusiimetutu@gmail.com