Celebrated Ugandan artist Esteri Tebandeke dies at 41
Beyond her work as a performer, Tebandeke was the driving force behind the Binti Film Festival, which debuted successfully last year and was set to expand its reach this year.
Ugandan actress and visual artist Esteri Tebandeke. Courtesy photo
Ugandan actress and visual artist Esteri Tebandeke, whose work on stage and screen captivated audiences for nearly two decades, has died.
Born in Kampala on 16 May 1984, Tebandeke graduated from Makerere University’s Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Art, where she specialised in fabric decoration.
Over a career spanning nearly two decades, she built a diverse body of work that spanned film, theatre, and visual art.
Her notable film credits include Sins of the Parents (2008), Master on Duty (2009), and Queen of Katwe (2016). On stage, she appeared in productions such as Conversations With My Mother and Cooking Oil. Her directorial debut, Little Black Dress, premiered at the 2019 Africa International Film Festival, and her work was featured at international festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival.
In 2022, Tebandeke underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, receiving a donation from her husband, screenwriter Samuel Lutaaya Tebandeke. Although the procedure was initially successful, her body later began to reject the new kidney, leading to a prolonged health struggle.
In recent weeks, the community rallied to support the family as medical bills mounted, reaching 4 million shillings per day. Tebandeke died in the High Dependency Unit of Nakasero Hospital.
Andrew Ssebaggala, one of the heads at the National Theatre, paid tribute to the late artist.
“It’s so hard to take this in,” Ssebaggala said. “But yes, our Esteri has left us to be with her creator. The family, together with the husband, Sam Lutaata Tebandeke, confirmed the news this morning. Together with the family, they did everything possible they could to save our Esteri, including donating his kidney, but this week has been so tough as Esteri’s health kept deteriorating until this morning when she breathed her last in his hands. Let’s keep Sam and family in our prayers as they go through a very difficult time. We shall always remember you, dear sister.”
Beyond her work as a performer, Tebandeke was the driving force behind the Binti Film Festival, which debuted successfully last year and was set to expand its reach this year. She also appeared as the lead actress in Bobi Wine’s music video for the song “Singa” at the height of her career. One of her final performances came in April 2025, when she acted in the one-man show The Rope at the Uganda National Theatre.
Details of a memorial service will be announced shortly.
She is survived by her husband, Samuel Lutaaya Tebandeke, and a broad community of colleagues, collaborators, and admirers who mourn the loss of an artist whose work touched many lives.