The Buganda Kingdom is in discussions over a potential partnership with filmmaker Mathew Nabwiso on his upcoming historical epic Flames of Faith, a film centered on Kabaka Mwanga and the Uganda Martyrs.

The proposed collaboration stems from a strategic push led by Ambassador Rosa Malango, the Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism and Trade, aimed at strengthening community-based tourism by linking Uganda’s creative industry with its cultural and traditional institutions.

Amb. Malango recently led a high-level delegation that included representatives from the Producers Guild of Uganda and the iKON Film and Television Awards. The team met the Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, alongside Owek. Anthony Wamala, Minister of Heritage, Palaces, Tombs, Tourism and Security, and Owek. Robert Sserwanga, Minister of Youth, Sports and the Arts, at Bulange Mengo.

The engagement focused on how Uganda’s historical narratives can be transformed into globally competitive film projects that attract international audiences while promoting cultural preservation and local economic development.

Amb. Malango emphasized that storytelling through film presents a powerful opportunity to position Uganda’s heritage as a tourism asset, allowing global audiences to connect with the country’s historical sites and communities.

The Katikkiro welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of experiential storytelling in preserving and promoting cultural identity.

“I welcomed the initiative, noting that it is often difficult for people to understand places they have not experienced,” Owek. Mayiga said in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account. “Film, therefore, offers a powerful platform to showcase Uganda’s true identity, values, and opportunities to the world.”

Flames of Faith is being developed by Mathew Nabwiso, an established Ugandan filmmaker known for acclaimed productions such as Sabotage, Rain, and Prickly Roses. The project is expected to draw from Uganda’s rich historical and cultural heritage, particularly the story of Kabaka Mwanga and the Uganda Martyrs.

With support from institutions like the Producers Guild of Uganda and the iKON Awards, alongside Amb. Malango’s office, the initiative reflects a growing effort to promote authentic local storytelling. The Mengo engagement marks a broader strategy to use film and creative arts as tools for cultural preservation and tourism-driven economic transformation.