Veteran actor Alex Mukulu dies at 72

Veteran Ugandan playwright and actor Alex Mukulu has died at the age of 72, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Uganda’s theatre and arts industry.

Mukulu, who was known for his influential stage productions and contribution to the development of Uganda’s performing arts, died after a career spanning several decades.

He was born in 1954 and studied film and drama at Makerere University. His notable works include 30 Years of Bananas, Wounds of Africa, The Guest of Honour, Muzukulu wa Kabangala and Opera Bakisimba.

Mukulu’s 30 Years of Bananas, first staged in 1992, became one of his best-known productions, using theatre to examine Uganda’s political, social and economic journey.

He also played a significant role in mentoring younger artists and promoting theatre in Uganda. In 2024, he returned to the National Theatre after a 17-year absence, where he performed an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and used the occasion to mentor upcoming actors.

Mukulu also performed Journey to Self-Realisation at the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.

His death is expected to rekindle conversations about his contribution to Uganda’s theatre and the generations of performers he influenced.

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