DOUGLAS DUBOIS
Managing Director, National Queer Theater, new York City.
Won UNDP's creative writing competition, #Reaching16
Released Keycard, a production which employed up to 100 filmmakers in Uganda
bLACK GLOVE
A noir murder mystery fashion film, written by Douglas Dubois Sebamala, Directed by Angella Emurwon. Set in quintessential metropolitan Kampala, in the waterfall escarpments Mt. Elgon, Mbale and the magnificent crater regions of Lake Bunyonyi, in Uganda, the film is a statement and tribute to Uganda as The Pearl of Africa. It is our love letter to all Black people on the continent, as we use film to recreate the narrative about Africa, and challenge the single story perspective that depicts Africa as a land of war, hunger and disease.Co-Produced by Sebamala Arts and SOLOFX
7_HILLS
7_HILLS (pilot shot 2020)A Sebamala Arts & B.R Entertainment ProductionIn development for 2020 - 2022 (Kampala Ug) A poignant drama based on lived experiences of budding female artists in Uganda. Struggling to breakthrough a fickle industry, budding vocalist, Birungi, is thrown into a den of manipulative artist managers without her greatest confidant Jajja Naka (Sara Kisauzi). Facing one ruthless rival, Nana (Harmony K) the two female artists are torn apart by competition amid strained industry standards of sexualisation of women and patriarchy.
keycard
Synopsis: Something bad has happened at a Kampala hotel. A detective is called in to investigate. Everyone is telling their story; but can anyone be trusted?
KEYCARD (2021) is an engaging puzzle that begs you to watch it again.
LIFE ON THE STREETS
February - November 2016
East African Visual Artists
Life on The Streets
Scripted, Narrated and Edited this social change human rights documentary that advocates for health and gender rights of women within the marginalized key populations of female sex workers in Uganda. Nominated Best documentary, Uganda Film Festival (UFF) Awards 2017, the story explores among many other challenges, HIV prevalence and access to health services. Screened AIDS 2016, Johannesburg, ZA.
MEN OF THE NIGHT
2016
Men of The Night/ELESmode Production
Men of The Night
A human rights advocacy documentary derived at health rights advocacy, addressing discrimination against LGBTs and HIV prevalence among key vulnerable populations. I narrated and edited the trailer and interviewed subjects, members of Men of the Night organisation which advocates for the rights and visibility of Uganda's marginalized male sex workers, for the rest of the feature.
SWALLOW
Based on the unsolved murders of 23 women in Entebbe, along the lakeshore district of Uganda in 2017
Based on the unsolved 2017 murders of 23 women in Entebbe, along the lakeshore district of Uganda.
23 SCARLETS
SWALLOW
THE MAYANJAs
Written & Directed By
Douglas D. Sebamala
An affluent family fights public scrutiny to stay afloat, as their father's legacy goes to hell upon charges of fraud, treason and a telling scandal with his mistress. Do the Mayanja's crumble or do they wage a war?
Currently in development and writing stages, the three titles to be produced between 2022 and 2025 are Black Glove (lead title film), Namusoke, and Trivial. The works have a thematic thread of a fashion noir, against the backdrop of Uganda's tourism gems.
BLACK GLOVE ANTHOLOGY OF FILMS FOR EQUALITY
love is religion
Co-written by Douglas Dubois and African American Poet, Jet Leopard, Love is Religion chronicles a sentimental journey of the psychic , and a battle with heartbreak, romance and sapiosexuality, told with spiritual overtones of syncretism from African traditional religious practices.
COMING SOON
Of Friendships, mistakes, family prejudices and a wrangle that nearly tears two friends apart.
Wine STAINS on
Dirty DISHES
BUY TICKETS
DALLIANCES
DALLIANCES
At the prime of his youth, Matayo returns to conservative Uganda after 5 years libertarian living at college in New York. The play is written for, about and is always and only to be produced and created by People of Color.
Within the crumbling walls of a torture dungeon, two lovers are separated by granite, family prejudices and the law. A poetic discovery of a family secret forces one to hi demise and another the cost of everything.
WALLS OF TRIBULATION
HOOKED
2016 Wizarts Media
Hooked
Created to raise awareness on the ever growing drugs and alcohol abuse among the youth in Uganda, this documentary for which I narrated narrated a few episodes was nominated and won Uganda Film Festival (UFF) award for Best Documentary 2016. Directed by Esther Nihamba, this documentary also inspired a feeature film for which I was Casting Director.
JOE SALLY & FRINEDS
2015 - 2016
Wizarts Media
Joe Sally & Friends
Writer and TV Show Host at this television talk show where myself as Joe, and co-host Sally Bwamimpeke bantered with friends over drinks at the bar, talking about controversial subjects such as sexual reproductive health, marriage and relationships, sex and sexuality along with trending current social-political and economic affairs across the country. The show, produced by Wizarts aired on national TV at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC)
Youth Lead Essay Winner; #Reaching16Create Advocacy Infrastructure For Youth Protection
Youth in Uganda make up the world’s youngest population (77% under 25 years of age, with over 7,310,386 youth between 15 to 24 years, according to World Bank 2019). Yet, demographics by Worldometer show that the nation’s infant mortality is at 39.17%, with 53.32% dying before the age of 5. Now, those that survive, are dying at the hand of a despotic violent police, enduring corrupt governance and, high unemployment - rated at 1.92% (H. Plecher, Nov 4, 2020). These rates are only predicted to rise post Covid-19. Reflect upon this...
Sebamala Arts Blog site: Opinion and Editorials
For commentary, opinions and editorials about current issues in the media, politics and public policy issues across USA, Uganda and other parts of the world, and how they affect major communities of marginalized populations across the globe, visit the Sebamala Arts Blogs.
ART AFRICA Magazine, Johannesburg ZA
Wrote articles and reviewed artists and art from the East African region, in correspondence for the continental magazine that is produced twice annually. This piece explores Ethiopian Artist Eyob Kitaba's installation, inspired the political events ongoing in Uganda's 2016 Presidential campaigns, ahead of the general elections.
Before Eyob Kitaba set foot in Kampala (Uganda), he had worked on a series of works inspired by construction developments in his hometown of Addis Ababa. He showed me pictures of the construction sites when I met him at 32 Degrees East...
November 2014 - October 2017
Wizarts Media & Other Audio Podcasts
Audio-Visual Producer. Host for two Arts Radio magazines The Bassline, and 2 Songs 1 Book. Voice artist for Adverts, Narrator for Uganda Film Festival award winning Best documentary, HOOKED, 2016. TV Talk show Host, Joe Sally & Friends, Casting Director/Actor - Obulamu Campaign. Writer/Reporter for PM Live Today and Anchor PM Live Weekend Edition.
Other Audio Podcasts
Creative works, spoken word poetry and social justice awareness music, created for empowerment of marginalized and underrepresented communities, to start conversations around key issues such as gender, race, sexuality and unemployment.
June 2014 - November 2017
Daily Monitor, Kampala, UgandaFeatures & Arts Writer/Reporter; on health, tourism, and reviewing all visual and performing art (productions, exhibitions, festivals). I profiled and critiqued art/artists across East and Central Africa. Interviewing artists, profiling and critiquing art/artists across East and Central Africa. Leading editorial features meetings and correspondence with photojournalists to cover events. Popular reviews include Disney’s 2017 Feature film Queen of Katwe shot in Uganda & South Africa. dsebamala@ug.nationmedia.com
My ex-husband’s family took everything away
Imelda Nabanja Nsereko is in her mid-forties, frail with skin that shows the ravages of time. Her eyes begin to tear as she narrates her story. I am watching her in silence. She is also recently widowed from her second marriage.... "I was confused when he died. I lost consciousness for nearly a day, I’m told. When I regained consciousness, most of the belongings in the house has been taken away, the burial arrangements had fortunately been taken care of, but I had nothing left. Except for pictures, the clothes I was wearing and my six children to start from scratch again."
Celebrating Uganda’s birds
A host of international birders; Dominic Mitchell, the managing editor of Bird Watch, Europe’s leading monthly magazine for keen birders, Tim Appleton, the co-founder/ organiser of the British Birding Fair, Bill Thompson, the editor Bird Watcher’s Digest and director of the Ohio Ornithologist Society, have been invited to increase worldwide coverage for Uganda as a tourism destination. These renowned birders will boost the event while they update information and pictures of their experience here.
Kampala Celebrates Seven Hills in Art Biennale
At Seven different locations across Kampala, up to 25 artists are exhibiting their collective works representative of the seven hills upon which famous cities... are built. Kampala’s seven hills contribute to how people settle, live and move. The art works are a fusion of modern contemporary art, blending all forms of acrylics on canvas, video and photography, mixed media, sculptures and installations to showcase urban Kampala amid the movement of people from across the globe into this city. However, with Kampala spread over more than 24 hills currently, artistes had to find contemporary means to tell that story.
The crisis that is National Theatre
Ahead of the meeting with Gender and Culture minister, Peace Mutuuzo... artistes have decided to collect signatures to petition the Speaker of Parliament against the redevelopment. They expect the minister to present the land titles of the three plots, architectural plans of the twin towers vis-à-vis the 1950’s plan, and review of the value worth of the land to withstand the twin towers and if that won’t destroy the foundation of the original theatre.
Queen of Katwe, an Infectious war over Poverty
Two children were playing by a metallic door under the hot Kampala sun. One was barely dressed because his clothes were worn out and the other had a flood of mucus running down his nose. One of these dirty, unkempt and destitute children just might grow to become president someday. Such is the story in Queen of Katwe. The dreams of a young girl from shanty slum ravages, barely a roof over her head and no education, but longing for a way out of there.
Anena bows to her boobs with poetry
In a performance that left the audience impressed, Harriet Anena addressed different political issues using sexual undertones... While she strutted the National Theatre stage, performing her own collection of poetry “I Bow For My Boobs,” Anena proved an all-round artist. She is the writer who used theatrical performance to bring poetry to life. She effortlessly merged politics and eroticism in a way not even undressing publicaly could measure up to.
Poetry tells Kagayi’s tale
He is a lawyer by training from Makerere University. He has taught poetry at both Nabisunsa girls and Buddo SSS,... president of the Lantern Meet of Poets and founder of Rhymers Poetry Club... founder and Curator of the regular poetry platform, ‘The poetry shrine,’ at the National Theatre. Kagayi chose to break away from the system and pursue something he was passionate about. This fruit has paid off, as Sooo Many stories published his fist collection “The Headline That Morning and Other Poems”
Zikunta, Nightmares at Midnight
While the artist and curators study the works as examining current global refugee crises, development of Kampala city and its attraction of rural-urban migration; the exhibition has something culturally gothic about it. But that goth adds to a thrilling experience while one views the art works to find own interpretation. The opening night on Saturday September 3, started just before the clock of midnight.
Maria Naita: Sculpturing her heart to the world
When she clutches a saw to hack through metal, she does it with a knack that speaks for her; several installations and sculptures around East Africa. Walking past the Uganda Parliament, a brownish towering sculpture of child between a bare chest man and a woman raising a flag stamped with the Chogm symbol marvels the eye. This is just one among Naita’s works... To some, they are just pieces of wood, but to Maria Naita, sculptures represent inner feelings and everyday life experiences.
World theatre visits Uganda again
From across West Africa in Senegal to the eastern border in Kenya, further east across the indian Ocean and the Atlantic in Kosovo, Iraq and Belguim, Ugandans experienced a four-day extravaganza of theatrical performances. The Uganda National Cultural Centre (National Theatre) was yet again a chain of multi-cultural theatre during the second Kampala International Theatre Festival (KITF) organised by Bayimba Cultural Foundation last weekend.
Milege celebrates African culture
Francis Massa Manano, the director of Milege, said Milege is a very traditional symbol of the arts in cultures across Africa and parts of Europe and Asia. “It is called endege in Buganda, Runyege in Tooro; so it is a symbol of unity, which we use to promote unity and develop a positive perception of local art,” he said. The three-day festival, thus, celebrated African culture, kick starting with an acoustic night, showcasing covers and original music.
The Arts Writer
The French Celebrated World Cup Win and Bastille Day in one Weekend
On July 14th 2018, the French Community in Uganda celebrated their 229th commemoration of the storming of Bastille that sparked off the French Revolution in 1789... French Ambassador Stephanie Rivoal at the celebration held at her residence in Nakasero said that “It has been said that the French team is the last African team standing” justifying that “France and Africa share ties that go deep…” a day before France won the World Cup Finale on Sunday 15th July.
SQOOP Magazine, 2014 - 2017
Lupita Pushing Queen of Katwe Premiere
Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o is excited about the premiere of Uganda chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi’s film, Queen of Katwe. For her Woman Crush Wednesday (WCW), she posted a picture of Madina Nalwanga, who takes on the role of Mutesi in the film... Lupita who stole the hearts of Hollywood film fanatics when she starred in Twelve Years a Slave, here features in Ugandan film by Oscar award winning Director, Mira Naire Mutesi’s mother.
Bayimba International Festival of the Arts
The 9th edition of the Bayimba International Festival of the Arts started on Friday with a shortlist of coveted acts from Uganda, across East Africa and the continent. This festival is celebrated for its annual arts dynamism and marriage of several art forms... including the much revered Ekyoto which rekindles the traditional pot beer gathering around a fire place. This daily exhibition was accompanied with Ngoma Jam Session (local Kiganda drums and dances), local games like dulu and sonko.
Weeklong Uganda Film Festival kicks Off
The annual Uganda Film Festival (UFF) returned this week for their September season calendar. This year (2016), they kick started the week long activities with master classes for film directors and producers... beginners' masterclass at Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and at the Metroplex in Naalya... there will be local film screenings at Century Cinemax at Accasia Mall in Kisementi, Kamwokya...
The Finest at Uganda Entertainment Awards
“These Awards are all about the Nominees” said Malaika Nnyanzi who is hosting the awards, “Not the acts or people putting it together (although they have done a massively great job) but the actual individuals who have worked hard and deserve recognition.”... Malawian artist Jaygrin and Tanzania’s Ali Kiba have also been short listed to perform, and to draw a football fan base, former Liverpool/England footballer Robbie Fowler is expected to attend.
E! To Cover Uganda Entertainment Awards
Internationally renown E! entertainment TV that is home to reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and covers all major red carpet events in Hollywood, shall be in Uganda tomorrow. South African TV personality and host of E!’s “Beyond the Red Carpet”, Bonang Matheba, who is rated the continent’s most powerful woman in entertainment will cover the UEA Red Carpet. UEA makes E!’s hit list for the red carpet after South Africa’s Saftas in March 2016.
Davis Ntare's Comeback
For Davis Ntare, it has been only a matter of time. Releasing Sheka Sheka after the (Tusker Project Fame) competition in 2010 and featuring on the Whistle Anthem with a number of artistes, Ntare went silent. However, 2015 and now 2016 have gradually seen him return to the local scene in the hope of reviving his career. At the Milege World Music Festival in November last year and recently in concert at Bubbles with rapper Ruyonga and a string of young artistes, Ntare’s voice proved to be one that we might get to love this year.
Ugandan Filmmaker for Continental Award
When he ventured into film in 2009, Joseph Sebaggala, aka SK Zenken, just wanted to make films. Little did he know film business would win him awards, let alone see him travel the world. Now his movies House Arrest and Call 112 are nominated in the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) due in Lagos, Nigeria in March. "By 2017, I should start producing TV series. I have pending productions but I may not release any of them this year."
Breeze your weekend at Cassia
Tasting their honey ginger pork cutlets served with fries and garnished with bits of salad left my taste buds craving for more of this delicacy. The slices are large, fleshy and thick with creamy dark brown stew, which pinches a taste of ginger for a salivating mouth experience. But it is not just about the fine dishes, Cassia Lodge has one among the best views of Lake Victoria in Kampala, atop their terrace; where a fine breeze blows from across the lake.
West African meet East African flavours
There have been lots of relations brewing between Uganda and West Africa in the recent past. It may not be entirely because of the oil exploration in Hoima or Uganda’s insatiable love for Nigerian music, but Cozy Hybrid has tapped into the influx to bring mouth-watering West African cuisine to Kampala. Adjacent to Oryx Petrol Station, minutes off Northern By pass’ Naalya round about, Cozy Hybrid dots as the only restaurant offering West African food in the area.
Lillian & The Sundowners at Big Mike’s
For months now, Big Mike’s has been void of the melodic resonance that Lillian and the Sundowners bring to Acacia Avenue in Kampala, Uganda. Fans and revellers too have been asking what vocal power house Lillian Mbabazi is up to all year. “I have been quiet because I just had my second baby, I had a daughter, and that has taken lots of my time. we feel blessed because we thought that after the break, they’d take long to come back – but…” Lillian notes with knots of joy.
H2C a Reckon of High School’s Best Dancers
In black T shirts with orange imprint, the two boys from H2C got on stage amid loud applause from supports at the National Theatre, during the recently concluded Batalo Dance Festival. Soon, they were stretching for the 2 on 2 dance battles against Team Fahad. It was the semi-finals. The rather lean 22 year old Ssembatya David aka DVD started popping and locking sending the crowd in a frenzy with louder applause... Despite this fall out, H2C showed impressive dance style with given ability to pop and lock, flip and work as a team to wow an audience.
