The Passenger (2023 Ugandan film)

2023 Ugandan film

The Passenger

Directed by| Hadijah Nakanjako
Written by| Meddy Sserwadda
Produced by|

* Usama Mukwaya
* Meddy Sserwadda
* Hadijah Nakanjako

Starring|

* Henry Nathan Katongole
* Allen Musumba
* Olot Bonny Elem

Cinematography| Izeak Ekuka
Edited by| Daka Waira Emmanuel
Music by| Isiko Abubaker

Production
company

O Studios Entertainment

Distributed by| M-Net

Release date

* January 21, 2023 (2023-01-21)

Running time

| 73 minutes[1]
Country| Uganda
Languages| Luganda, English

The Passenger is a 2023 Ugandan film directed by Hadijah Nakanjako and written by Meddy Sserwadda. The film stars Henry Nathan Katongole, Allen Musumba and Olot Bonny Elem in leading roles. Usama Mukwaya serves as the executive producer through O Studios Entertainment.[2]

The film is a commission project by Maisha Magic Movies and its Hadijah's feature film directorial debut.

## Plot

[edit]

A young man tries to deliver a mysterious package to the city on a bus but another passenger thinks he is a killer carrying a mutilated body or bomb and is determined to stop him.[3]

## Cast

[edit]

* Henry Nathan Katongole as Musa Kibalama [4]
* Allen Musumba as Regina Nabatanzi
* Olot Bonny Elem as Okello Wilbur
* Kawuma Fred as Conductor
* Irene Munyenga as Nabatanzi Neighbor
* Nyamatte Mariam as Annet
* Emily Yomcwiny as Winnie

## Release

[edit]

The film was released digitally by MultiChoice on Maisha Magic Movies January 21, 2023. The film was listed among the top films of 2023 by Africa International Film Festival. [5]

## Nominations and awards

[edit]

The film received 11 nominations at the Uganda Film Festival 2023[6] and later won 5 awards.[7][8]

Awards & Nominations

Year  | Award  | Category  | Received by  | Result  | Ref
2023  | Uganda Film Festival Awards(UFF)  | Best Feature Film | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated  | [9]
Best Indigenous Film  | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Won
Best Director | Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated
Best Actor (Film) | Henry Nathan Katongole  | Won
People's Choice Award  | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated
Best Supporting Actress  | Allen Musumba  | Nominated
Best Production Design  | Imran Musabeh  | Nominated
Best Sound  | Isiko Abubaker  | Won
Best Editing & Post Production  | Daka Emmanuel Waira  | Won
Best Cinematography | Izeak Ekuka  | Won
Best Script (Screen Play)  | Meddy Sserwadda  | Nominated
2023  | Pearl International Film Festival(PIFF)  | Best Feature Film  | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated  | [10]
Best Director  | Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated
Best Actor  | Henry Nathan Katongole  | Won
Best Supporting Actress  | Allen Musumba  | Nominated
Best Production Design  | Imran Musabeh  | Nominated
Best Editing  | Daka Emmanuel Waira  | Nominated
Best Cinematography  | Izeak Ekuka  | Won
Best Costume  | Nantege Joan  | Nominated
2023  | Mashariki African Film Festival | Long Feature Fiction  | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated  | [11]
2023  | Malawi International Film Festival  | Best International Feature Film  | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Won  | [12]
Best International Film director  | Hadijah Nakanjako  | Won
2024  | 2nd iKON Awards | Best Film  | Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated  | [13][14]
Best Director  | Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated
Best Actor  | Henry Nathan Katongole  | Won
Best Supporting Actress  | Allen Musumba  | Won
Best Production Design  | Imran Musabeh  | Nominated
Best Sound  | Isiko Abubaker  | Nominated
Best Editing  | Daka Emmanuel Waira  | Won
Best Cinematography  | Izeak Ekuka  | Won
Best Script (Screen Play)  | Meddy Sserwadda  | Nominated
2024  | 2024 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards | Best Indigenous M-Net Original  | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated  | [15][16]
Best Scripted M-Net Original  | Usama Mukwaya, Meddy Sserwadda, Hadijah Nakanjako  | Nominated
2024  | New Vision Peoples Choice Film Awards  | Best Cinematography Feature Film  | Izeak Ekuka  | Nominated  | [17]
Best Costume Design Feature Film  | Joan Nantege  | Nominated
Best Screenplay Feature Film  | Meddy Sserwadda  | Nominated
Best Make Up Feature Film  | Joan Nantege  | Nominated
2025  | Kitale Film Week Awards  | Best Screenplay  | Meddy Sserwadda  | Nominated  | [18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Showmax". www.showmax.com.
2. ^ "Sisters steal the limelight at Uganda Film Festival". The East African. June 13, 2023.
3. ^ Ampurire, Paul (May 15, 2023). "'When You Become Me', 'The Passenger' and 'Kafa Coh' dominate 2023 UFF Awards nominees list".
4. ^ "The Passenger (2023): Olot Bonny Olem & Allen Musumba".
5. ^ https://www.afriff.com/post/top-10-african-films-of-2023
6. ^ "Uganda Film Festival movie screenings kick off – Kampala Sun". September 4, 2023.
7. ^ "UCC unveils nominees for the 2023 Uganda Film Festival". Capital Radio.
8. ^ Akanbi, Yinka; Newspaper, The Culture (May 19, 2023). "Ugandan Film Festival Announces Nominees for 10th Edition". The Culture Newspaper.
9. ^ Ruby, Josh (May 15, 2023). "The Uganda Film Festival 2023 Awards: Full List of Nominees". MBU.
10. ^ "Nominations". My Site 3. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
11. ^ "Mashariki African Film Festival 2024". www.masharikifestival.org. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
12. ^ 247Malawi (2023-11-26). "Musicians Sangie, Black Nina & Cozizwa win awards at the Malawi Film Festival". 247MALAWI NEWS. Retrieved 2024-04-12.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
13. ^ "Unheard, Maid of Honor and The passenger dominate the IKon Awards Nomination list 2024". Blog Details. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
14. ^ King, Isa (2024-01-27). "The Countdown Begins: 2024 iKon Awards Nominations Announced". SatisFashion Uganda. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
15. ^ "AMVCA 2024 nominations full list: Over the Bridge get highest nomination". BBC News Pidgin. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
16. ^ Mirilla, Dennis Da-ala (2024-03-24). "'Over the Bridge' leads 2024 AMVCA with 12 nominations — see the full list". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
17. ^ https://www.newvision.co.ug/category/entertainment/new-vision-peoples-choice-film-awards-as-it-h-NV_184148
18. ^ https://news.sanaapost.com/2025-kitale-film-week-awards-nominees/

## External links

[edit]

* The Passenger at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films by Usama Mukwaya

* Awards for Usama Mukwaya

Directorial
works|

* Call 112
* Kyaddala
* Love Faces
* In Just Hours
* Tiktok

Produced only|

* Nambi
* The Passenger
* Bala Bala Sese
* Love Faces
* Sixteen Rounds
* The Blind Date
* Kyaddala
* Sanyu
* Tiktok
* Rehema

Written only|

* Call 112
* Bala Bala Sese
* Hello
* In Just Hours
* Tiktok
* Rehema
* Love Faces

Acted only|

* New Intentions

Family|

* Abdullah Mukwaya (father)

Related topics|

* Ugawood
* The iKON Awards

* Category

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