Abby Mukiibi brings Kony to the silver screen
Jun 19, 2008
HE was the Ugandan actor with the most screen time in the Oscar-winning movie, The Last King of Scotland; the screen adaptation of Scottish writer Giles Foden’s novel of the same title. The film, featuring Hollywood star, Forest Whitaker, was mostly shot in Uganda and went ahead to break box offic
By Emmanuel Ssejjengo
HE was the Ugandan actor with the most screen time in the Oscar-winning movie, The Last King of Scotland; the screen adaptation of Scottish writer Giles Foden’s novel of the same title. The film, featuring Hollywood star, Forest Whitaker, was mostly shot in Uganda and went ahead to break box office records the world over.
Abby Mukiibi’s portrayal of Masanga (Amin’s right-hand security man) won him critical acclaim by both local and international media. That acclaim did not go unnoticed and Mukiibi is set to appear in yet another big motion picture.
This time, he takes on a bigger role, making his acting career an eclectic one.
The movie, White Light, is set in Uganda and was partly shot in northern Uganda. But due to technical difficulties, the bigger part of the film was shot in South Africa and Holland.
“This is the biggest budget movie in which I have taken a role,†Mukiibi reveals.
White Light is loosely about the LRA war. Two childhood friends are split when one is abducted by rebels and another has to leave the country as his expatriate father falls out with the government. But child innocence is not going to allow the separation of the two friends.
The white boy asks his father for one wish; to have his best friend back. And there begins the pilgrim’s progress of father (played by Mark Obusato, a popular Dutch musician) and son that takes them up to the war zone, meeting and engaging with the rebel leader, Michael Obeke (Abby Mukiibi).
“This film is even more Ugandan than The Last King of Scotland,†says Mukiibi, adding: “There are many Ugandans with big roles.â€
This is going to be Mukiibi’s third big movie after Sometimes in April and The Last King of Scotland. He has been cast as the mean, unforgiving soldier in all the movies. Is that all he can do when it comes to acting?
“It is what the movie directors are offering me now,†says Mukiibi. But he thinks he can prove himself otherwise.
White Light will premier in Holland in December and in Uganda at a later date.
HE was the Ugandan actor with the most screen time in the Oscar-winning movie, The Last King of Scotland; the screen adaptation of Scottish writer Giles Foden’s novel of the same title. The film, featuring Hollywood star, Forest Whitaker, was mostly shot in Uganda and went ahead to break box office records the world over.
Abby Mukiibi’s portrayal of Masanga (Amin’s right-hand security man) won him critical acclaim by both local and international media. That acclaim did not go unnoticed and Mukiibi is set to appear in yet another big motion picture.
This time, he takes on a bigger role, making his acting career an eclectic one.
The movie, White Light, is set in Uganda and was partly shot in northern Uganda. But due to technical difficulties, the bigger part of the film was shot in South Africa and Holland.
“This is the biggest budget movie in which I have taken a role,†Mukiibi reveals.
White Light is loosely about the LRA war. Two childhood friends are split when one is abducted by rebels and another has to leave the country as his expatriate father falls out with the government. But child innocence is not going to allow the separation of the two friends.
The white boy asks his father for one wish; to have his best friend back. And there begins the pilgrim’s progress of father (played by Mark Obusato, a popular Dutch musician) and son that takes them up to the war zone, meeting and engaging with the rebel leader, Michael Obeke (Abby Mukiibi).
“This film is even more Ugandan than The Last King of Scotland,†says Mukiibi, adding: “There are many Ugandans with big roles.â€
This is going to be Mukiibi’s third big movie after Sometimes in April and The Last King of Scotland. He has been cast as the mean, unforgiving soldier in all the movies. Is that all he can do when it comes to acting?
“It is what the movie directors are offering me now,†says Mukiibi. But he thinks he can prove himself otherwise.
White Light will premier in Holland in December and in Uganda at a later date.