The 13th Uganda Film Festival 2026 concluded with a magnificent awards gala on August 28, 2026.

Having been launched in 2013 by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the festival has over eleven years grown into a skills training hub. During the preliminary regional film competition and subsequent training programmes, film enthusiasts were trained in areas such as casting, directing, screenwriting, funding and distribution. The results came at the end of a festival that was considerably broader than the awards ceremony itself. Held under the theme “Transformation: The Power of Local Stories,” the festival combined screenings with professional training, industry engagements and efforts to connect filmmakers with audiences. UCC, the organisers, reported 299 local film submissions for the 2025/26 cycle. More than 50 Ugandan films were also screened during the run-up to the awards gala night, giving audiences an opportunity to engage with local productions and participate in the Viewer’s Choice selection.

How the 2026 Edition Went:

The 2026 Uganda Film Festival highlighted the exploding commercial potential of Uganda’s creative economy. Several titles dominated the technical and major performance categories including:

Best Feature Film: You May Kiss the Bride Goodbye swept major honors, including Best Director for Drake Makanga.

Best Film in an Indigenous Language: Adui proved to be the most technically dominant project. It took home Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Post-Production/Editing.

Best TV Series: Damalie secured its throne as Uganda’s favorite television drama. Derrick Baka won Best Actor in a TV Series for his exceptional performance.

Best Lead Performances: Michael Wawuyo Jr. took home Best Actor in a Feature Film for The Unforgivable. Florence Mariserena won Best Actress for her stunning role in Small Gods.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Theater and film icon Andrew Benon Kibuuka received a standing ovation for over four decades of foundational contributions to the performing arts.

Festival Champion: Industry giant MultiChoice Uganda was honored for its massive support of local content development.

Ugandan hiphop adept, Ernest Nsimbi aka GNL Zamba and wife Miriam Tamar, won the Best Local Short Film award for their musical short film Infinity. Infinity is a short musical film created by the Nsimbi creative duo. The couple made a fashion statement at the red carpet when Zamba wore a sharp, single-breasted black blazer over a pair of oversized, high-waisted harem pants made from a fluid, black satin fabric that stood out. The trousers draped dramatically giving a unique movement to his silhouette.