By Vlad Zakh · December 26, 2025
Uganda Drama feel goodthought provoking
Uganda’s film industry runs on two very different tracks, Hollywood-backed prestige dramas like Queen of Katwe and the ultra-low-budget Wakaliwood action films that turned a Kampala slum into an internet phenomenon. Queen of Katwe follows a slum girl with a gift for chess, Bad Black grows an orphaned street kid into a gun-toting vigilante on a shoestring, The Boda Boda Thieves sends a boy hunting for a replacement for his father’s stolen bike, and Imperial Blue has a hidden royal lineage drag a young woman into a palace conspiracy. Kony: Order from Above and Who Killed Captain Alex? round out the list.
01 A young woman's hidden royal lineage puts her at the centre of a modern-day palace conspiracy.
Directed by Dan Moss · 1h 30m
Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube
Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
02 An orphaned street kid grows into a gun-toting vigilante in this gleefully low-budget action spectacle.
Directed by Nabwana IGG · 1h 12m
Stream: Philo, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
Rent or buy: Amazon Video
Stream: Fandor
03 A motorcycle taxi driver's son has to find a way to replace his father's stolen bike before it's too late.
Directed by Donald Mugisha & James Tayler · 1h 25m
04 A girl from the slums of Kampala discovers a gift for chess that offers a path out of poverty.
Directed by Mira Nair · 2h 04m · Rated PG
Stream: Disney Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Stream: Disney Plus · Rent: Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube · Buy: Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo, YouTube, Amazon Video
Stream: Disney Plus · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Stream: VI movies and tv · Rent or buy: Google Play Movies, YouTube
05 A dramatisation of the rise of warlord Joseph Kony and the child soldiers forced into his army.
Directed by T. Steve Ayeny
06 A cult-favourite, ultra-low-budget action film pits Ugandan commandos against a ruthless rebel leader.
Directed by Nabwana IGG · 1h 08m
Stream: Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.
