Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde has paid tribute to veteran Ugandan playwright and actor Alex Mukulu, describing him as a powerful voice who used theatre to confront injustice and speak for the voiceless.
In a moving tribute, Ssemakadde mourned Mukulu as a cultural icon whose influence went beyond entertainment, portraying his work as a form of social commentary and resistance.
“The gavel has fallen silent. The stage is empty. But the echo of your voice—thunderous, unyielding, and drenched in truth—will never fade,” Ssemakadde said.
He described Mukulu as “not merely an actor” but a mirror of society and a conscience who challenged audiences to confront difficult realities.
According to Ssemakadde, Mukulu’s theatre provided a platform through which social and political issues could be examined, particularly the experiences of people whose voices were often overlooked.
The ULS president further praised the late playwright for transforming artistic spaces into platforms for justice.
“He was a rebel with a script who turned every stage into a courtroom, and every courtroom into a stage for justice,” Ssemakadde said.
Mukulu was widely recognised as one of Uganda’s influential playwrights, with a career spanning several decades. His notable works included 30 Years of Bananas, Wounds of Africa, The Peasants’ Song and Journey to Self-Realisation, the latter performed during the opening ceremony of the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala.
The veteran playwright returned to Uganda’s stage in 2024 after a 17-year absence, presenting Kulunkalu ne Kulumbisi at the Uganda National Theatre. The production used theatre, music and satire to explore Uganda’s history and contemporary society.
Ssemakadde said Mukulu’s contribution should not only be remembered through his performances but through the ideas and courage he left behind.
“We have lost a colossus. But we have inherited his fire,” he said.
He concluded the tribute by saying Mukulu’s performance may have ended, but the legacy created through his work would continue to influence future generations.
“Rest in power, Mzee. The performance is over, but your legacy? That play has only just begun,” Ssemakadde said.