Usama Mukwaya

Born in Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, Mukwaya has ancestry from Ganda, Ankole and Rwanda. He is the son of religious leader Abdullah Mukwaya and Aziidah Mariam. As of 24 April 2019, Abdullah serves as the Qadhi of Mbarara District. After the death of his mother when he was 8, Mukwaya's aunt took him in; when she died too, Mukwaya had to move in with his father and later on with his grandfather.

His directorial debut was Love Faces, released in January 2018. His other major films include Bala Bala Sese, directed by Lukyamuzi Bashir; Mukwaya is credited as the film's writer and producer. The film was nominated by the Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Film in an African Language. As of November 2018, he currently serves as the chief content officer for Stream Afrique, a subscription-based streaming platform which offers online streaming of majorly African content.

Mukwaya released his directory debut, Love Faces, in January 2018, teaming up again with Laura Kahunde (Hello) and Patriq Nkakalukanyi (Tiktok), alongside first timer Moses Kiboneka Jr.

Bala Bala Sese was Mukwaya's first feature film as producer and writer. It was released on 3 July 2015 at theatre Labonita. The film became the first Ugandan project to receive a professional marketing touch. It was the top Ugandan film of 2015 and the following year. It was nominated at the 12th Africa Movie Academy Awards for Best Film in an African Language. It was featured in various international film festivals, including the Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt, where it held its African premiere and competed in the Long Narrative category with 13 other African films. It was the opening film at the 10th Amakula International Film Festival, automatically qualifying for the Golden Impala Award in the best African film category, which was won by De Noir. The film debuted its European release at the Helsinki African Film Festival in Finland. The directorial debut by music video director Lukyamuzi Bashir features former celebrity couple Natasha Sinayobye and Michael Kasaija as on-screen lovers, first time film actor and former Ebonies member Raymond Rushabiro with veteran stage actor Ashraf Ssemwogerere.

Mukwaya began his philanthropy work in January 2015 with Empowerment of Disadvantaged Youth and Children (EDYAC) when he traveled to Tororo in Eastern Uganda to share life experiences. He and Bobby Tamale later made a documentary available on YouTube about the experience with the video, directed and narrated by Mukwaya.

In July 2014, Mukwaya started his own film production company O Studios Entertainment, based in Uganda that immediately opened with the production of the short film Tiktok, written and directed by himself. The studio has continued to produce various films including his directory debut, Love Faces.

In July 2013, Mukwaya had his television debut as a host on the second season of the Movie Digest Show on Record TV Network Uganda, with actress Monica Birwinyo replacing pioneer host and former Tusker Project Fame 3 contestant Jacob Nsaali. Mid 2018, Usama joined the production of Kyaddala television show as a producer, his debut television drama with Humphrey Nabimanya as Executive Producer and Emmanuel Ikubese as the show's creator. The series, set in a present day high school life focuses on real life social issues that affect young people in Africa and stars actors from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.

Nominee – Best Student Film: Pearl International Film Festival (MNFPAC)

Usama started Pre-Education from Saidat Aisha Nursery School and later to Buraaq Infants School. After the death of his mother, he was then shifted to Victoria Christian School and later went on to attend Linnet Primary School in Wakiso District, for his final primary school education. In 2012, Usama joined Shuhada'e Islamic Secondary School for his O-Level and achieved his Advanced Certificate of Education from Nyamitanga Secondary School, both schools in Mbarara.

Amidst other four young directors in August 2012, he directed his first film, Smart Attempt, written by Julian Nabunya and Abel Mwesigwa during the first season of the Movie Furnace programme. He went on to participate in the program's second season with his short film In Just Hours; he was the season's winner for best short film director.

Later in 2011, Mukwaya won the Young Achievers Award in the film and television category, the youngest among the recipients of the award in the newly introduced category alongside Rwandan president Paul Kagame, who won the lifetime achievement award.

He started his writing career as a child. In 2010 he joined Dan Kiggundu's Maryland Productions where he debuted as a script editor and supporting actor in the TV drama Pain of Lies, which premiered in 2011.

Through Uganda film network, he later joined Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Center, where he worked on his first short film, Hello, which won the overall best film at the MNFPAC awards 2010. In July 2011, he made it to the final selection of the 12 screenwriters from all over East Africa to participate in the 7th Maisha Film Lab, ending up with a collaboration with Diana Karua in the making of the movie She Likes Prada.

In 2008, Mukwaya studied Cisco Career Certifications Networking, and LAN/WAN Management under the faculty of information technology at Makerere University. He is currently pursuing a Diploma in Business Administration at Cavendish University.

Usama (/ʊ ˈ s ɑː m ə / ) "Osam" Nyanzi Mukwaya (born 12 December 1989) is a Ugandan film director, screenwriter, producer, actor and former television host. His breakthrough in his film career came with the short film Hello that won overall best film in the 2010 MNFPAC Students Awards.