A New Era in Ugandan Cinema: Kyasiimire and Nakafeero’s Journey to Filmmaking

The Ugandan film industry is on the brink of a transformative wave, driven by two remarkable and determined women who have quietly nurtured their vision for years. Now, the time has come to unveil their groundbreaking films. Actress and Vice Versa Global writer Ritah Atuhaire had the privilege of meeting the passionate, creative, and resilient young female film producers—Shamirah Nakafeero (28) and Kyasiimire Immaculate Shantel (26). Both started their journeys as actors before realising their potential to contribute even more to the industry as writers and producers.

It was in 2018, on a cold and rainy Wednesday, when I arrived at The Uganda National Theatre for auditions. The director handed out scripts, assigning us to groups of three to perform a scene together. As I scanned the room for potential partners, someone tapped my shoulder. “Hey, join me! Let’s find a third person and nail this scene,” she said with an enthusiastic smile. “I’m Shamirah Nakafeero.”

Before I could introduce myself, her focus shifted elsewhere, her eyes darting around the room as she spoke nonstop, searching for our missing teammate. But as we looked around, it became clear—everyone else had already formed their groups. “Hey, want to join the fun group? We need one more person!” she called out to different people, but they either ignored us or politely laughed it off.

Realising we could not find a third person, Nakafeero quickly offered to take on two roles in the scene. It was at that moment that I grasped the kind of person I had just met—determined, resourceful, and unshaken by obstacles. As we began studying the script, a strikingly elegant woman walked into the room, instantly drawing everyone’s attention—except Nakafeero, who was too focused on mastering both roles. With her poised demeanour, one might have mistaken her for an executive producer. To my surprise, she walked straight up to me and asked politely, “Hello, do you know where I can register for the audition?”

And just like that, we had our missing third member—Kyasiimire Immaculate Shantel.

Their energy, talent, and infectious enthusiasm made that cold morning feel warm, and my audition a success. Seeing them now, in 2025, making waves in the Ugandan film industry—writing and producing their films with bold vision—proves that resilience and big dreams yield extraordinary results.

From Acting to Filmmaking

I vividly remember how, as we stood in line, waiting to showcase our abilities, these two could not stop fantasising about the future. “One day, we will be the ones summoning all actors in Kampala to bring their dreams to life,” they said. And today, they’re doing exactly that. They often spoke about their desire to tell unique, educational stories—narratives that many have overlooked. Now, that vision is becoming a reality.

Nakafeero’s latest film, LAMA, is a bold and deeply moving story that explores the psychological aftermath of a young woman grappling with the trauma of her parents’ fractured relationship. Through a unique storytelling approach, the film sheds light on the societal stigma surrounding mental health and the often-overlooked consequences of gender-based violence. It reveals how these issues intertwine, shaping both individuals and entire communities.

As both the writer and producer of LAMA, Nakafeero also takes on the lead role, delivering a powerful performance that brings this compelling story to life. The film is set to premiere on April 18, 2025, at Century Cinemax in Arena Mall—a milestone moment for Ugandan cinema and a testament to the power of storytelling.

Bringing art to life, Kyasiimire, through her film company Ashman Films, has crafted another powerful and educational story—Born in Shadows. The film immerses audiences in the harsh realities of an urban jungle, following a group of street children forced to grow up far too soon. Despite the relentless hardships they face, their resilience, solidarity, and determination shine through as they dare to dream of a better tomorrow. Their journey exposes society’s failures and highlights the unbreakable spirit of survival.

Kyasiimire’s talent shines as she takes on multiple roles in this production—writer, executive producer, and actor—bringing this untold story to life with authenticity and passion. Born in Shadows is set to premiere on April 9, 2025, at the National Theatre, marking yet another milestone in Uganda’s evolving film industry.

The Chemistry

Recently, during a conference call with the two creatives for an interview about their journey, I found myself facing an unexpected dilemma—who should speak last? Both were eager to go first, a rare contrast to the usual hesitation people have about leading a conversation. This only reinforced how passionate and enthusiastic these two women are about sharing their stories.

To settle the matter, we decided to take a different approach: instead of speaking about themselves, each would introduce the other. Shantel would talk about Nakafeero, and Nakafeero would do the same for Shantel—a win-win solution.

Kyasiimire started: “Well, what connects me with Nakafeero is our shared passion for film, dedication, and work ethic. We have been on three movie sets together, and I think we both have that relentless drive to succeed. We were born in the same month—August—so we’re both Leos. We never give up on the things we love. Honestly, we might be a little selfish—we love ourselves, we want to be unique, and, let’s be honest, we enjoy being the centre of attention.” They both laughed, and Nakafeero chimed in, “That is so true.”

Shantel admires Nakafeero’s ability to juggle multiple roles while maintaining balance in her life. Despite working as a welder and gym trainer—professions far removed from the entertainment industry—Nakafeero manages to give each pursuit equal attention. Shantel also praises her philanthropic efforts, particularly her work with teenagers under the Topowa Project, which empowers young people to make better choices. “It speaks volumes about her humanity,” she adds. (Read more about Nakafeero’s inspiring journey here.)

I could not wait to hear what Nakafeero had to say about Kyasiimire.

“The fact that Kyasiimire is multi-talented and brings her A-game to everything she does makes her incredibly admirable. She is not just a great actress but also a model who has graced several fashion runways, served as a brand ambassador for a major wine brand in Uganda, and appeared on telecommunications advertising billboards. She even represented Uganda at the Miss Tourism World competition in Vietnam, where she won the Miss Tourism World Tour Ambassador 2023 title.

“Beyond that, she has been featured as a video vixen in songs by major artists and achieved so many other wins. I’m proud of her and grateful that we met.” As Nakafeero finished sharing these heartfelt words about Kyasiimire, I could see that Kyasiimire was getting a bit emotional. “Thank you, Shamirana,” she said softly. “I didn’t know I was this successful.”

Sometimes, we need someone else to remind us how far we’ve come. Too often, we focus on what we’re yet to achieve or the things we feel we haven’t done right, rather than appreciating the mountains we’ve already moved. They both agree that intentional storytelling in film and theatre can have a profound impact on educating the younger generation. If every film produced and exposed to young audiences carried a purposeful, educational message, it could serve as a powerful tool for knowledge transfer.

They believe that film—especially when used for positive storytelling—can also raise awareness about communities and shape global perceptions. After all, many of the world’s leading nations have successfully crafted their narratives through the stories they tell on screen. Given this potential, the government should consider investing in Uganda’s film industry. While creatives are eager to do the work, financial limitations continue to hold them back.

Nakafeero and Kyasiimire extend their heartfelt appreciation to organisations like Vice Versa Global (VVG) for continuously supporting young talent through exposure and collaboration. As a show of support, VVG is giving away five VIP tickets for each premiere to lucky winners. The filmmakers also express their gratitude to everyone who takes the time and invests their resources to attend their premieres.

Looking ahead, both Kyasiimire and Nakafeero are optimistic and confident that their upcoming film premieres in April will make a significant impact, opening new doors for them to tell even more stories.

To aspiring actors and actresses facing industry challenges such as exploitation, rejection, and self-doubt, they offer words of encouragement: stay resilient and focused on the dream. They have faced similar struggles, but winners don’t give up. They also urge young creatives with a passion for storytelling to stop waiting for the “right time”—because the perfect time to start could be now.

Vice Versa Global is giving 5 free tickets away for both Nakafeero’s LAMA film and  Kyasiimire’s Born in Shadows movie premiere. Shamiranah is offering the tickets for low-income families, students, senior citizens, and individuals facing financial hardships. And the tickets for Born in Shadows will be given to people in Panda Pwelo where the film is shot from.

Edited by Pius Okore.