That’s Life, Mwattu!, arguably Uganda’s most popular and long-running TV series, turned 30 this year.
The series, produced by the drama outfit the Ebonies, follows the life of Dr Dick Walusimbi (Paul Katende), who becomes frustrated with his bratty partner Vicky (Rose Kamya) in the city. Dick decides to take his search for Ms Right—at the behest of fellow medical doctor and friend, Bbosa—to Kiboga village. There, he picks up the village belle Nakawunde (Harriet Nalubwama) to live with him in the city.
Dr Bbosa persuades Walusimbi into having a village wife to experience peace, submissiveness and comfort at home, similar to what Bbosa enjoys with Nabweteme. Walusimbi buys into the idea, subsequently dumping his uptown wife Vicky for the primitive Nakawunde.
Fresh out of the village, Nakawunde must navigate life in her new city home, encountering electric appliances like fridges and unfamiliar foods like margarine and breakfast cereal. All the while, she endures the drama from Dr Walusimbi’s ex, Vicky, who befriends her in an attempt to turn her into an even worse city belle. Nakawunde slowly navigates the ups and downs of her new urban life and, gradually, she catches up with the city style. However, she finds herself manipulated by some of those around her, ultimately being moulded into what they desire her to become.
Background
Sam Bagenda, who portrayed Dr Bbosa in the series, took Sunday Monitor on a journey down memory lane, shedding light on the genesis of the Ebonies. Initially, the Ebonies were a singing ensemble with the late Jimmy Katumba as a founding member. However, Katumba’s departure to the diaspora in the late ‘80s through the early ‘90s created a void within the group.
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