President Yoweri Museveni has granted veteran Ugandan playwright and actor Alex Edward Kabangala Mukulu an official burial, marking state recognition of his contribution to Uganda’s theatre and arts industry.
The decision was announced by Milly Babalanda, the Minister for the Presidency, following the death of Mukulu on August 15 at Kiruddu Referral Hospital.
Babalanda said the National Organising Committee was working with Mukulu’s family to organise a befitting send-off scheduled for August 20, 2026, in Kijabijjo, Gayaza.
“The National Organising Committee is engaging with the bereaved family to organise a befitting send-off on August 20, 2026, in Kijabijjo, Gayaza,” Babalanda said.
Mukulu, who was born in 1954, was one of Uganda’s prominent figures in theatre, with a career spanning several decades as a playwright, actor and mentor to young performers.
He studied film and drama at Makerere University before establishing himself as a leading voice in Uganda’s theatre industry through productions that explored the country’s political, social and economic experiences.
Among his notable works were 30 Years of Bananas, Wounds of Africa, The Guest of Honour, Muzukulu wa Kabangala and Opera Bakisimba.
His production 30 Years of Bananas, first staged in 1992, became one of his best-known works. The play used theatre to examine Uganda’s political, social and economic journey, cementing Mukulu’s reputation as a playwright who used art to interrogate issues affecting society.
Beyond his own performances, Mukulu played an important role in mentoring young artists and promoting theatre as an important part of Uganda’s cultural landscape.
His influence was also reflected in his continued involvement in theatre later in life. In 2024, he returned to the National Theatre after a 17-year absence, where he performed an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
The return also provided Mukulu an opportunity to mentor a new generation of actors, underscoring his continued commitment to the development of Uganda’s theatre industry.
Mukulu’s work extended beyond the traditional theatre stage. He performed Journey to Self-Realisation during the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala, one of the country’s major international events.
His death has brought renewed attention to his contribution to Uganda’s arts sector and the generations of actors, playwrights and other creatives he influenced throughout his career.
The granting of an official burial by Museveni is expected to further highlight the national significance of Mukulu’s contribution to Uganda’s cultural and creative industry.
Mukulu died on August 15 at the age of 72. His burial in Kijabijjo, Gayaza, on August 20 is expected to bring together family, fellow artists, government officials and members of the public to pay their final respects to one of Uganda’s most influential theatre practitioners.
