+ Usama Mukwaya awards and nominations Awards and nominations Award Wins Nominations TotalsAfrica Movie Academy AwardsAMVCAs colspan="2" width=50 colspan="2" width=50
The following is a list of awards and nominations received by Ugandan screenwriter, film director and producer Usama Mukwaya. His major nominations include the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language for the 2016 film Bala Bala Sese and three nominations at the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, two for the 2023 film, The Passenger and best short film for the 2021 film Sixteen Rounds.
Major associations Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) is an annual accolade presented by MultiChoice recognizing outstanding achievement in television and film.The inaugural Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards ceremony was held in Lagos, Lagos State in Nigeria on 9 March 2013, and was broadcast live in more than 50 countries. Entries into the award ceremony are films and TV series that have been aired in the previous year.
YearNominated workCategoryResult 2024 The Passenger Best Indigenous M-Net Original The Passenger Best Scripted M-Net Original 2023 Sixteen Rounds Best Short film
Africa Movie Academy Awards
The Africa Movie Academy Awards, popularly known as AMAA and The AMA Awards, are presented annually to recognize excellence of professionals in the African film industry. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2016 Bala Bala Sese Best Film in an African Language
Other awards and nominations
Africa Golden Awards The Africa Golden Awards honors top achievers driving Africa's progress in entrepreneurship, innovation, arts, technology, humanitarian work, and beyond. YearCategoryResult 2025 Best Script Writer 2026 Top African Film Producer https://www.africagoldenawards.co/category?category=top-african-film-producer
Janzi Awards The Janzi Awards are envisioned as an inclusive experience where outstanding achievements, innovations and diversity in Uganda's Cultural, Creative and Performing Arts forms are recognized and celebrated. Year Category Nominated work Result 2021 Outstanding Producer Sixteen Rounds, The Blind Date
Magic Vibe Awards Magic Vibe Awards is the sole East Africa Awards Ceremony and music festival in the diaspora. They cater to all music genres including film and sports. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2023 - Best East African Film Director
New Vision Peoples Choice Film Awards The New Vision People's Choice Film Awards, also known as NVFilmAwards, is an event that recognizes the talent and achievements of Uganda's film industry. The awards are voted for by the public, who consume the films produced.. Year Category Nominated work Result 2024 Best Short Film Nambi
Viewers Choice Movie Awards (Uganda) Year Category Nominated work Result 2017 Best Screenplay Love Faces Best Picture Film of the Year Best Director Best Screenplay Rehema
Film festival awards
Africa International Film Festival
The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is an annual film festival. The event normally spans through a week and it includes award shows and film training classes. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2016 Bala Bala Sese Best Feature Film
Amakula International Film Festival The Amakula International Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place in Uganda. It is Uganda's oldest film festival founded by Dutch film historian Alice Smits and American filmmaker Lee Elickson. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2018 Love Faces Best Feature Film Rehema Best Short Film 2016 Bala Bala Sese Best African Film (Golden Impala Award)
Durban International Film Festival The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is an annual film festival that takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Founded in 1979 by Teddy Sarkin and Ros Sarkin, it is the oldest and largest film festival in Africa and presents over 200 screenings celebrating the best in South African, African and international cinema. Most of the screenings are either African or South African premieres.
YearNominated workCategoryResult 2022 Sixteen Rounds Best Short Film 2021 The Blind Date Best Short Film 2017 Rehema Best Short Film
Helsinki African Film Festival YearNominated workCategoryResult 2016 Bala Bala Sese Jury Award for Human Rights and Social Commentaryhaff.fi/2016/en/haff-2016-jury-awards/
Juba Film Festival The Juba Film Festival (JFF) is an annual film festival held in Juba, South Sudan. Founded in 2016 by filmmaker Simon Bingo, the festival is attended by thousands of people every year. In addition to producing the festival, JFF produces films and provides training in filmmaking.
Year Category Nominated work Result 2025 Best Foreign Film Call 112
Kortfilmfestival Kalmthout YearNominated workCategoryResult 2023 Nambi Best International short film - Audience award
Luxor African Film Festival YearNominated workCategoryResult 2026 Call 112 Short Film Competition 2022 Sixteen Rounds Short Film Competition Special Mention 2016 Bala Bala Sese Grand Nile Prize (Long Narrative)
Malawi International Film Festival YearNominated workCategoryResult 2023The Passenger Best International Feature Film
Mashariki African Film Festival Mashariki African Film Festival is an international film festival based in Rwanda, that represent the country in the East African Film Network (EAFN). YearNominated workCategoryResult 2023 The Passenger Long Feature Fiction 2021 Kyaddala Best TV and web series Sixteen Rounds Best Short Film 2015 Tiktok Best Short Film
Nador Cinema Festival YearNominated workCategoryResult 2018 Rehema Best Short Film
Nile Diaspora International Film Festival YearNominated workCategoryResult 2013 In Just Hours Best Short Film
Pearl International Film Festival The Pearl International Film Festival (PIFF), is an annual film festival held in Kampala, Uganda and has been described as one of the biggest film events in Uganda. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2023 The Passenger Best Feature 2017 Rehema Best Short Film 2014 In Just Hours Best Student Film
Uganda Film Festival The Uganda Film Festival (UFF), is an annual film festival held in Kampala, Uganda founded under the Uganda Communications Commission. The festival is intended to help showcase what the industry is doing and at the same time focusing attention to all the other facets of the industry. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2026 Kavule Town Best Television Drama 2024 9 Lives Best Short Film2023The Passenger Best Feature Film Best Film In Indigenous Language Viewer's Choice Nambi Best Short Film2022 Sixteen Rounds Best Short Film Kyaddala Best Television Drama 2021 The Blind Date Best Short Film2017 Love Faces Best Production Design/ Costume Design Rehema Best Short Film
Zanzibar International Film Festival YearNominated workCategoryResult 2024 The Passenger Golden Dhow for Best Feature Film
Film industry awards
MNFPAC
Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Centre is a Uganda-based training film initiative for emerging Ugandan filmmakers and mentorship programme for aspiring filmmakers and youth in Uganda. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2010 Hello Best Screenplay
Movie Furnace
Movie Furnace (Tanuulu) is a Uganda-based non-profit short film competition, for Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Centre alumni (MNFPAC), founded by Mariam Ndagire. YearNominated workCategoryResult 2013 In Just Hours Best Director 2012 Smart Attempt Best DirectorFinalist
Miscellaneous awards and honors
AFRICA 100 – League of Exceptionals (2026) Usama was selected as one of the AFRICA 100 – League of Exceptionals 2026, in recognition to his remarkable achievements, outstanding contributions, and transformative impact. The awards are organised by the African Youth Leadership Foundation.https://panafricanyouthleadershipfoundation.org/africa100-2026/
The Forty under 40 Africa awards (2026)
Mukwaya was nominated for the 2026 Forty Under 40 Africa Awards in the Music and Entertainment category. The Forty under 40 Africa Awards is to identify, honour and celebrate a cross-section of the continents most influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age forty from a wide range of industries, who are committed to business growth, professional excellence and community service and have risen up the ranks of their companies or industries at a relatively young age as result of this.
Fellow of the Young & Emerging Leaders Project (CLASS OF 2019) The Young & Emerging Leaders Project (YELP) is an initiative of the LéO Africa Institute, which has been ongoing since 2017, that annually inducts 20-30 outstanding thought leaders into a fellowship program designed to train and orient values of self-advancement, integrity, social responsibility, and socioeconomic transformation.
Film and Television Award - Young Achievers Awards 2011 The Young Achievers Awards is a national competition held annually in Uganda which selects and promotes the best practice and excellence in youth creativity.
Trailblazer Award - MNFPAC (CLASS OF 2010) The Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Centre awarded Usama the trailblazer award during the institutes' 2020 graduation as an exceptional student for his outstanding contribution towards the Ugandan entertainment industry. On the very event, Usama received a diploma in film directing and screenwriting from now a fully recognized training institute by Directorate of Industrial Training.
See also
References