The Uganda National Theatre was packed to the brim with theatre practitioners from all over Kampala gathering to celebrate art and witness this historic moment.
Honouring the 2024–2025 season across ten categories, the ceremony brought together 104 nominees from 23 productions, celebrating the extraordinary depth of talent driving Uganda's theatre industry.
What set UTEA apart from the outset was its unapologetically public mandate. In the four-day voting window that closed on 26 March, 5,840 ballots were cast, generating more than 42,000 individual votes.
As ITI President, Aganza Kisaka, alluded to in her opening remarks, the numbers are more than a statistic; they are a declaration.
Uganda's theatre community commands a vast, passionate, and deeply engaged audience. The conversation about infrastructure must now catch up: the clamour for a world-class, purpose-built venue has never been louder.
Without recognition, art begins to live in closet-like bubbles—known only to a few. Scripts remain on shelves. Designs never see the light of day. With recognition, we have an answer to the question: “What do you have to show for it?” - Aganza Kisaka - ITI Uganda Centre President.
The Guest of Honour and chief sponsor of the event, the Resident Director of St. Lawrence University, Peter Ssemakula, lent the occasion an international academic gravitas, underscoring the universal language of performance and the imperative of institutional support for theatre education.
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Jessica Kaahwa, President of ITI Worldwide, delivered an address that drew on the importance of friendship, collaboration, and the role each individual has to play as the nation’s cultural stewards.
She challenged artists to serve with the good of the whole industry in mind and allow theatre to thrive.
When the votes were tallied and the envelopes opened, the inaugural UTEA champions were: Male Ronald (Best Actor), Tayo Shonubi (Best Actress- She Loves Me), Aganza Kisaka (Best Director- She Loves Me), She Loves Me (Best Production by Yenze Theatre Conservatoire), Kenneth Kanaabi (Best Set Design - She Loves Me), Arafat Mugambe (Best Light Design - Gampisi), Arafat Mugambe & Mariam Ndagire (Best Sound Design - Ssewatti), Guy Jairus Zziwa (Best Costume Design - Phantom of the Opera), Brenda Ibarah (Best Theatre Script - Make Room), and Precious Nsimenta (Best Stage Manager - She Loves Me).
The evening also featured a moving tribute to the late Esteri Tebandeke, a towering figure in Uganda's performing arts whose legacy loomed large over the celebrations. Audiences witnessed various monologues and dance performances from artists like Andereya Baguma, Joana Mbabazi, Trevor Mangeni, Simeon Lakuc, and a devised theatre piece entitled Love from Zimbabwe. Each performance highlighted various aspects of theatre like music, dance, and drama, and the need to recognize talented individuals.
As the curtain fell on UTEA 2025, one thing was clear: Uganda's theatre fraternity is not a niche community; it is a movement, and it is ready for a stage worthy of its ambitions.
The Uganda Centre of the International Theatre Institute is the official national chapter of ITI Worldwide, the world's largest performing arts organisation under the auspices of UNESCO. ITI Uganda promotes theatre excellence, artist development, and cultural diplomacy across Uganda and the East African region.
Mr. Andrew Ssebaggala former production manager of the National Theatre:-
I can now catch up on what I missed over the weekend as we celebrated World Theatre Day.
Truly, there couldn’t have been a more fitting way to mark the occasion than by recognising and celebrating the efforts and works of our theatre makers. I join the many voices in congratulating the winners across the various categories of this inaugural UTEA edition. I equally appreciate all the nominees and commend the organisers for this milestone achievement.
Special congratulations to our ITI Uganda President @~Agan and your Committee for the vision, initiative, and successful delivery of what is indeed a first-of-its-kind Uganda Theatre Excellence Award under the ITI – Uganda Centre, if history serves me right.
Over the years, several organisations have made commendable efforts to recognise theatre practitioners and technicians. From UNCC (Uganda National Theatre) up to 1991, UTGAA in the late 1990s, UDTA at Ndere Centre in the early 2000s, EATI up to 2008, the Golden Drama Foundation with its Golden Drama Awards in 2007 led by Alex Mukulu, to the more recent Janzi Awards in 2022 — all have contributed to this cause. However, many of these initiatives, unfortunately, did not sustain beyond their initial editions.
It is therefore important that we acknowledge and celebrate this significant stride by the ITI Uganda Centre in breaking that cycle. We must now collectively support this initiative. As rightly noted by the President, this platform can grow with us—shaped by the input, ideas, and commitment of every stakeholder—into something as impactful as the UK’s Olivier Awards (Westend) or the USA’s Tony Awards (Broadway).
Now that we have re-energised our sector under the leadership of the International Theatre Institute, this is our moment. Let us rally behind ITI, share constructive feedback, and begin preparations for the next edition right away.
We all understand what it takes to organise awards of this calibre—the manpower, logistics, and resources required. Having taken this first step, we are more than capable of taking the next, and the next, and the next.
Here’s to more high-value productions, growing audiences, stronger partnerships, and even greater celebrations ahead.
Congratulations to us all.
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