Part of the audience at the premiere screening. Photos | Courtesy | Engero
The first and probably only Ugandan Christmas film was Christmas in Kampala, produced by NTV years ago. The production followed a pregnant lady who was looking for a place to deliver her baby in the Kampala chaos.
Even when Christmas remains one of the most celebrated holidays in Uganda, it has not inspired a lot of art outside a few songs.
Which is partly the reason Ssekukkulu was highly anticipated. You could call it Uganda’s first commercial Christmas film; it premiered and in many ways has intentions of staying in the public domain.
The film which starrs Sarah Kisauzi, Cleopatra Koheirwe, Mark Agume, Douglas Byaruhanga, Felix Bwanika, Eddie Abitegeka and Hasifah Nakitenda among others, follows a couple who travel to the village for christmas celebrations. As it is with such events, one thing leads to another, old wounds are reopened but soon, they realise that besides their differences and success, they are a family and basically that is what Christmas should be about.
That is in a nutshell.
The film produced by Sharon Ishimwe tries to capture the spirit of Christmas that perhaps can only be experienced by children. The joy of waking up and having to wear new clothes, showing those clothes off to other children at church, the food and sweets on the Christmas tree. It is a beautiful feeling.