Iconic Ugandan Playwright Alex Mukulu Dies at 72

Uganda’s creative arts industry is in deep mourning following the death of veteran playwright, director, actor, and instrumentalist Alex Mukulu at the age of 72.

News of Mukulu’s passing broke on Saturday, August 15, 2026, marking the end of a prolific career that spanned over four decades and reshaped modern Ugandan theatre through sharp political commentary, humor, and cultural storytelling.

Born in 1954 in Misebe, Ssingo County, Mukulu attended Kololo Secondary School before studying Film and Drama at Makerere University. He launched his theatrical career in the late 1970s, producing his first play, Muzukulu wa Kabangala, in 1977.

Mukulu rose to national prominence as a giant of protest theatre, using the stage to fearlessly critique political injustice, social inequality, and leadership failures across changing regimes.

His seminal work, 30 Years of Bananas, staged in 1992 to mark 30 years of Uganda’s independence, remains one of the most recognized theatrical achievements in the country’s history. The play used razor-sharp humor, symbolism, and music to analyze Uganda’s post-colonial journey, later being published as a book by Oxford University Press.

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Throughout his career, Mukulu wrote, directed, and starred in over 30 original stage productions, earning acclaim both locally and internationally.

Among his landmark national assignments was writing and directing Journey to Self-Realisation, which was performed before global heads of state during the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala.

In his later years, Mukulu voiced strong concern over the decline of serious political satire in Uganda, lamenting that modern theatre had abandoned bold social commentary in favor of lighthearted comedy.

Driven by a desire to mentor the next generation, Mukulu returned to the National Theatre in 2024 after a 17-year hiatus with Kulunkalu ne Kulumbisi, an African adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The production reimagined the classic tale through traditional African music, dance, and language.

Family and industry colleagues are expected to communicate further details regarding funeral arrangements and memorial services in due course.