Who is Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with the late Haji Erias Semwogerere and Hajati Madina Semwogerere, Stella Namatovu, Omugave Ndugwa’s theatrical theatre company, Ruth Wanyana, John Segawa, Kato Lubwama, Peter Sematimba, the early life and education of the Ugandan actor, comedian, director, producer and radio presenter
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga is a Ugandan actor, comedian, director, producer and radio presenter who has appeared in theatre plays, films, television shows, and radio broadcasts.
He is the creator of Afri-Talent, a Ugandan theatrical group, and a seasoned radio presenter on Kampala’s 88.8 CBS.
He has largely played military parts in most of the films like The Last King of Scotland (Masanga), Sometimes in April (Colonel Bagosora), The Silent Army (Michel Obeke), and The Mercy of the Jungle (Major).
Early Life and Education
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga was born on January 9th in Jinja to the late Haji Erias Semwogerere and Hajati Madina Semwogerere.
He was raised in the Jinja Walukuba housing estates and is a Muslim by religion. He is the third child of a family of seven children, four boys and three girls.
Mukiibi is married to Stella Namatovu, with whom he has four children, three boys and one girl. They’ve been married since 2008 having met at Makerere University when Stella was still a first-year student of Social Works and Social Administration.
Mukiibi’s interest in acting began when he was a young child. He aspired to be an actor in both theatre and film as a child, but his father, Hajji Elias Ssemwogerere, was opposed to it.
Hajji Elias flew him out of the country to the United States, where he stayed for a year to divert his attention away from his acting goals. Mukiibi’s mother, on the other hand, believed in his dreams and smuggled him back into the nation to study Music, Dance, and Drama at Makerere University.
He had previously attended Victoria Nile Primary School and Kako Primary School for his primary education. He then attended Makerere College School and Caltec Academy for his secondary education.
Career and Professional Work Experience
In 1988, Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga began his career as a member of his uncle Omugave Ndugwa’s theatrical theatre company, The Black Pearls.
He worked on various productions but rose to prominence when he played the lead in Ziribasanga Ne Sanyu.
Mukiibi founded Afri-Talent with his colleagues Ruth Wanyana, Brenda Nanyonjo, Michael Mabira, Bob Bulime, and John Segawa after Kato Lubwama and some of his pals quit The Black Pearls in 1993 to form the Diamond Ensemble.
His breakthrough performance in Afri-Talent was as Chombe, a harsh leader who was unconcerned about the misery of soldiers’ families. This performance drew the attention of UPDF army commander Gen Mugisha Muntu who praised Mukiibi.
Mukiibi’s other works in theatre are; Omuyaga Mu Makoola, Ekitangaala Munzikiza, Omusaayi Gw’obutiko, The Best of Abby and Patricko, Olujegere Lw’obulamu, Galimpitawa with The Black Pearls. And then Ensitaan, Order, Tebesigwa, Safari, Sebalamu, Mbyaase and Akandolindoli at Afri-Talent.
Daudi Ochieng and Peter Sematimba scouted Abby Mukiibi to join CBS Radio when it first opened in 1996.
He began presenting the morning sports show Kalisoliso Wemizanyo and has continued to do so ever since, making him one of Uganda’s longest-serving radio personalities in a show and at a radio station.
He was eventually appointed as the station’s programming director.
Mukiibi made his film debut in 1997, as Kabaka Mwanga in Fires of Hope.
The film is about Uganda Martyrs and how Kabaka Mwanga tormented them. Although it did not sell domestically, it was widely distributed in Europe and other African countries. It was directed by Fhil Molali, an Irish film filmmaker who was approached by Michael Wayuyo and Charles Mulekwa.
In 2005, he starred as Col Bagosora in the HBO film Sometimes in April, which was based on the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
His performance in Sometimes in April earned him recognition in the East African region, and he began to receive more international roles, including a Hollywood role in The Last King of Scotland (film) in 2006 and a role in The Silent Army (2008), a South African film about the LRA war in northern Uganda directed by Jean Van De Velde.
In 2018, he played a Major in another Rwandan genocide film, The Mercy of the Jungle. His other film roles include John in Imperial Blue (2019) and Golomadi in Kafa Coh, an upcoming judicial drama.
Achievements and Awards
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga is a well-known Ugandan actor and TV and radio personality who has worked in the theatre for over two decades.
He is most recognised for his roles as Masanga in The Last King of Scotland (2006), Sanyu (2021), and John in Imperial Blue (2019).
Abby Mukiibi, a multi-award winner was named #1 on Big Eye’s list of the top ten Ugandan comedians in 2015.
He won Best Actor at the Uganda National Theatre Awards in 1994 for his performance as Kabaka Muteesa II in Saagala Agalamidde.
His acting troupe “The Afri-Talent” has performed and directed over 30 plays.
Editor’s Note: Please contact flashugnews@gmail.com if you find any of the content to be inaccurate or outdated.
