Obituary: Kato Lubwama was born to be an entertainer

I have lost a friend, a colleague, a brother, a mentor, and my protégé in many aspects of life. A man with a strong character, a generous spirit, a positive soul who always encouraged me to stay patient and to never lose sight of the stars.

Through him I learnt that no matter what you go through, you must endure since many fortunes of prosperity and impact are a result of depressing situations. Waking up to the terrible news of his sudden demise was so devastating.

Kato Lubwama, also jokingly nicknamed Biiso, was an artist of sorts. My interactions with him were majorly in theatre and radio broadcasting with him having an upper hand in our bubble of sorts.

Born to Salongo Senjjabya Matiya Lubwama and Nalongo Margaret Lubwama in August 1970, his acting career kicked off at Nabagereka primary school while in Primary 4, with a one man’s act play “Obumpwanchu mpwanchu”. Kato realized the monetary potential of theatre early enough. “I was never broke at school. My fellow learners used to pay me for a performance,” he once told me.

This was followed by a series of performance including a school piece “Ensi n’abantu” at the same school. After enrolling for secondary school at Old Kampala SS, Kato Lubwama joined Black Pearls Ltd in 1985. He featured in numerous Black Pearls performances, notable of which is the “Divided Family” in which the central role of “Chancellor” propelled his popularity among theatre enthusiasts.

Here, he met his contemporaries including Abby Mukiibi, Mariam Ndagire and Ashraf Ssemwogerere. His writing and directing skills led to wonderful theatrical pieces like “Ekyaama mu Firiigi”, “Cheque ya muntu omu”, “Abalodokaayi”,“Engabo ya Ddako” to mention a few.

In 1992, Kato Lubwama joined Makerere University to pursue a diploma in Music, Dance and Drama. Accordingly, he regarded this as his greatest opportunity towards a professional approach in theatre.

“I learnt the different elements of theatre, analysis of characters, integrating irony and suspense, producing work plans, marketing strategies to attract an audience and writing proposals to different organizations for possible funding,” he once told me.

He attributed all this to the late Professor Rose Mbowa who encouraged numerous practicing artists at the time to upgrade their performing skills through theatre studies.

After university, he teamed up with Ndagire and Ssemwogere to form the Diamond Ensemble. Their maidenplay “Akafubutuko” was a theatrical piece that projected a new trend in Ugandan theatre, combining imagery, symbolism and energy as attributes possibly exploited only by Alex Mukulu in the play “Woza Africa”.

Diamond Ensemble presented a new generation of theatre practitioners who attracted their school-time friends and projected a rosy future
for the industry to embrace. Diamond Ensemble produced a lot more plays notably Emisanvu, London shock, Emmanduso, Bakisimba mu Ddwaniro, Kikunta e Kkungu, Maswanku Abamegganyi and Tsunami, among others.

This was in addition to setting up a musical band, “The Diamond Production” with popular musicians like Betty Mpologoma, Martin Angume, with Kato Lubwama also coming up with songs like Dimitiriya and Ekisolo kyebayita Omuntu. His song writing skills would eventually have an impact in the Contemporary Band Music genre.

Throughout his studies at Makerere University, Kato harbored a dream of building his own theatrical space to perform and explore to his full potential.

“Bat Valley, Pride theatre, Riverside theatre, and many other theater houses are owned by people whose priority is not theatre. In fact, Bat Valley and Pride theatre facilities are owned by Indians,” Kato used to say to whoever cared to listen.

With a rare charisma of a professional wrestler, Kato Lubwama was determined to change the face of theatre and artists in Uganda through investing in entertainment and theatre facilities. Royal theatre at Martin road was his contribution to the industry as he emulated the likes of Stephen Rwangyezi’s who set up Ndere Centre and John Katende who refurbished Theatre Labonita.

“These people motivated me to chase my dream because indeed I could see it was possible and I knew that one day my great dream would come true,” Kato contended, referring to these artists as individuals who had exhibited the true allegiance to the theatre industry.

Unfortunately, Royal theatre did no stand a taste of time due to technical and logistical challenges. Kato Lubwama will always be remembered by theatre enthusiasts as a man who had a gorgeous way of spending a lifetime after hours of creative work. He was always happy and energized, not willing to postpone his best life moments.

He never measured his worth by what society considered him to be. He was more balanced, compassionate and wiser in approach in consideration to the value and innovation he brought to the theatre industry.

I will always remember him as a selfless and courageous man who owned his glory, true power and greatest gifts of life. Our world needs more heroes. He was one.

hajjiabukawenja@gmail.com