Veteran Ugandan playwright, actor, director, and musician Alex Mukulu has died at the age of 72, bringing to an end the career of one of the country’s most influential theatre figures.
Mukulu, who was born in 1954, spent more than four decades in Uganda’s theatre scene, using drama to explore politics, society, culture and the country’s changing fortunes.
His death was reported on Saturday, August 15, 2026, prompting tributes across Uganda’s entertainment industry.
Mukulu built his reputation through writing, directing and acting, with works such as “30 Years of Bananas,” “Wounds of Africa,” “The Guest of Honour,” “Muzukulu wa Kabangala” and “Journey to Self-Realisation” among his best-known productions.
A Career Built on Theatre and Social Commentary
His “30 Years of Bananas” became one of his most recognised works after its staging in the early 1990s.
The play used political satire and humour to examine Uganda’s post-independence journey.
Mukulu also took his work beyond the conventional theatre stage.
His “Journey to Self-Realisation” featured during the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.
He studied Film and Drama at Makerere University after attending Kololo Secondary School.
Over the years, he wrote and directed more than two dozen plays, with his work reaching audiences in Uganda and abroad.
His approach to theatre often carried a strong social and political edge.
In a 2020 interview, Mukulu criticised contemporary Ugandan theatre for moving away from bold stories that confronted the country’s political and social realities.
The theatre, which is supposed to boldly follow current events and speak out against injustice, has instead gone into comedy.
Mukulu Returned to the Stage
After spending about 17 years away from the stage, Mukulu returned to performing in 2024 with “Kulunkalu ne Kulumbisi: Yellow City vs. Red Ghetto.”
The production reimagined Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” through Ugandan culture, music, dance and contemporary social themes.
The return also gave Mukulu an opportunity to share his experience with younger theatre practitioners.
I have a lot of experience in this field, and this is the opportunity for me to give knowledge to the current generation of actors and actresses.
Mukulu leaves behind a body of work that helped shape Uganda’s modern theatre and strengthened the tradition of using drama to question society and power.
More details about the circumstances of his death and funeral arrangements should emerge in the coming days.
We will update this story as new information comes in.