Nana Kagga (also known as Nana Kagga-Hill or Nana Hill or Nana Macpherson) is a Ugandan filmmaker, scriptwriter and actress. She wrote and directed the 2012 film The Life and was a writer and executive producer of Beneath the Lies – The Series. She has written Mukisa, My Sister's Keeper with Clive Nshiime, Pieces of Me and many more. She is the co-owner of Savannah MOON, a production company in Uganda.
Life and background Kagga was born in Nairobi, Kenya to Ugandan parents, one an engineer. Kagga is a Muganda and part of the traditional ruling clan of the Baganda tribe, the Bambejja (princesses). Kagga is the third of six children of both her parents. At the time of her birth, her parents were in exile during the regime of President Idi Amin. Kagga grew up primarily in Uganda in a well-to-do family. In addition to her father and maternal grandfather, four of her siblings are also engineers. Kagga resides in Kampala, Uganda with her 3 children. She is fluent in English and Luganda.
Education Kagga completed her Primary education at Kampala Parents School. She then joined Gayaza High School, one of the most prestigious girl's schools in Uganda, for her O-Levels. She then did her A-Levels at Red Maids School, Bristol, the oldest Girls' School in the UK. Kagga then joined the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK where she attained a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. Kagga was an excellent all-round student who excelled in sciences, arts and sports. During her summer holidays, she would return to Uganda and was a presenter for Jam Agenda on WBS, a popular Ugandan TV show.
Career
Engineering Following her graduation, Kagga moved to Florida, United States, then New Mexico, United States. In New Mexico, she worked at Laguna Industries as a Process Engineer in Laguna working on US Military contracts.
Hollywood (as Nana Hill) Kagga decided to move to pursue her acting and presenting in Los Angeles and enjoyed some success. Kagga was cast in a number of films including Cowboys and Indians, A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy (Segment 'Reprise'), He's Just Not That into You, Star Trek, CSI: NY – Boo, Life, Runway Stars. In US Theatre, Kagga was cast as Mercy in the play, Butterflies of Uganda by Darren Dahms which was nominated for an NAACP award. Kagga appeared in several music videos by P!nk, Amy Winehouse, Sting, Lenny Kravitz. Kagga also appeared in several TV ads including for KFC, Coors Light, Pepsi, DSW, Microsoft, APPLE, Tylenol, DOVE. While in L.A, Kagga also owned a vintage and resale store on Santa Monica Blvd called A Vintage Affair.
In Uganda Kagga moved back to Uganda in late 2009 and set up a business, Savannah MOON Ltd. Savannah MOON under the brand, Savannah MOON Productions produced a full-length feature film, The Life which was shown on M-NET, a TV Series Beneath The Lies – The Series, which is currently being shown on Urban TV and digitally distributed by MTN Uganda. Savannah MOON has also co-produced several short and Feature films in addition to TV series.
Nana has created an initiative, You are Limitless (YAL), which aims to motivate, guide and encourage Africans, especially the youth to achieve their full potential. Kagga also works as a Petroleum Engineer for one of the large Oil & Gas companies operating in Uganda. She was one of the judges for Miss Uganda 2018.
Filmography
As an actress
Film Year Film Role Director Notes 2022 Nalwawo Nanta Emokor Eric Produced at Savannah MOON Productions, Geoffix Films, Spectacle Media2022Pieces of MeIndigo Gray NamukasaNsubuga NicholasProduced by Savannah MOON Productions 2009 Star Trek Enterprise Crew Member J. J. Abrams Paramount Pictures He's Just Not That into You Party Guest Ken Kwapis Universal Pictures 2008 A Good Day to Be Black and Sexy (Segment Reprise) Candi Dennis Dortch Magnolia Pictures 2007 Collision Independent film Hitch-hike Independent film Cowboys and Indians Indian Short film
Television Year Title Role Director Notes2021 Damalie TV series created and produced by Doreen Mirembe for Pearl Magic Prime 2021 Prestige Jazmine TV series produced by Ava Juliet Productions for Pearl Magic Prime 2014 Beneath the Lies – The Series Attorney General Joseph Katsha Kyasi TV series, Savannah MOON Productions 2008 Runway Stars Angel Web series Life (NBC TV series) Pretty Black Girl TV series, NBC 2007 CSI: NY – Boo Josephine Delacroix Joe Dante TV series, CBS 2006 BET Stars BET
Theater Year Title Role Director Theater Notes 2008 Butterflies of Uganda Mercy Darren Dahms Mercy Greenway Theater September–October 2008
As a crew member Year Film/TV series RoleDirector Notes2023Kasozi Heights (Feature film)Co-Director, Casting Director, Assistant, Script Editor, Acting Coach Emokor Eric Produced by Ceekay Films2023Goolo (Feature film)Exec. Producer, Script Writer/Editor, Casting Director, Art Director Geoffrey KasoziProduced by Savannah MOON, Commissioned by Maisha Magic Movies2022Mukisa (Feature film)Exec. Director, Script-writer, Casting Director, Production/ Set DesignerGeoffrey KasoziProduced by Savannah MOON, Commissioned by Maisha Magic Movies2022My Sister's Keeper (Feature film)Director, Exec. Producer, Script-writer, Casting Director, Set DesignerNana KaggaProduced by Savannah MOON, Commissioned by Maisha Magic Movies2022Pieces of Me (Feature film)Actor, Script-writer, Casting Director, Exec. Producer, Set DesignerNsubuga NicholasProduced by Savannah MOON, Commissioned by Maisha Magic Movies2022 Nalwawo (Feature film) Actor, Creator, scriptwriter, producerEmokor Eric Produced by Savannah MOON, Geoffix99 Films, Spectacle Media2021Empaabi (Feature film)Co-Director, Casting Director, Exec. ProducerGeoffrey Kasozi, Nana KaggaProduced by Savannah MOON, Geoffix99 Films, Spectrum Uganda Media2020Embeera (Short film)Director, Script-writer, Casting Director, Exec. ProducerNana KaggaProduced by Savannah MOON, Geoffix99 Films2020Ubuntu (Short film)Director, Script-writer, Casting Director, Exec. ProducerNana KaggaProduced by Savannah MOON, Geoffix99 Films2019 Mela (TV/ Web series) Creator, Scriptwriter, DirectorMaria Corrazon, Nana Kagga Produced by Savannah MOON2019The Quarry (Short film)Casting Director, Exec. ProducerEddie KagutuziProduced by Savannah MOON, Baby Plantains production, Balkon Films 2018 Reflections (TV Series pilot episodes) Creator, scriptwriter, director TV series starring Cleopatra Koheirwe, Gladys Oyenbot, Housen Mushema 2016 The Last Breath (Short film) Executive producer, Casting DirectorJordan Braise Ndawula Produced by Savannah MOON, Kampala Film School, Balkon films 2014 Beneath The Lies – The Series Creator, scriptwriter, Executive Producer Produced by Kinetic Management Group, 40-Plus Productions, Savannah MOON How We See It Host, director, producer Ugandan talk show 2012 The Life (Feature film) Director, producerNana Kagga Produced by Savannah MOON.
Awards Awards & Nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref2023Uganda Film Festival Awards 2023Best Actress in a Feature filmPieces of MeNominated Best Screen-playNominated Best Feature Film (as Producer)MukisaWonBest Production DesignWonBest Film in indigenous language (as Producer)NominatedViewer's Choice (as Producer)NominatedBest Costume DesignNominatedBest Screen-playNominated2022Uganda Film Festival Awards 2022 Best Actress in a Feature FilmNalwawo Best Indigenous Film 2021Uganda Film Festival Awards 2021 Best Actress in a TV Drama Prestige
References
External links
Nana Kagga Facebook Profile