Kampala, Uganda- Two young creatives from Uganda Christian University (UCU) have made a major mark on the country’s film scene after winning top honors at the 2025 Uganda Film Festival, signaling a promising future for Uganda’s growing film industry.
Brian Kabogozza, a student at UCU, won Best Student Film for his production Dinner for Three, while Douglas Byaruhanga—an alumnus of UCU’s Journalism and Mass Communication program, known artistically as Big Doug—clinched the Best Original Soundtrack award for the film Fatal.
Organized annually by the Uganda Communications Commission, the Uganda Film Festival is the nation’s flagship event for recognizing excellence in film production, directing, acting, and sound.
Kabogozza, whose filmmaking passion started back in Senior Three at Namilyango College despite opposition from school administrators, said his journey has been shaped by persistence and passion. “I started with simple short films and never looked back,” he said. “When I joined UCU, I took it more seriously and began directing my own work.”
Byaruhanga began his creative journey with small acting roles in secondary school, later discovering his passion for music and sound production. His winning soundtrack for Fatal has been widely praised for its emotional and technical strength. “Music and film speak the same language to me,” he said. “This award is the result of years of trying and learning.”
UCU’s commitment to nurturing talent has played a key role in their success. Geoffrey Ssenoga, a broadcast instructor at UCU, highlighted the university’s efforts to equip students with practical skills and industry-standard tools. He pointed to the university’s investments in digital learning platforms such as the UCU eLearning system and the Online Distance Learning (ODeL) model, which have broadened access and innovation in media education.
Kabogozza has previously received multiple accolades for his earlier short films like My Degree, My Background, and My First Year, earning nominations at the Ikon Awards, Malawi International Film Festival, and a win at the Student World Impact Film Festival in the U.S.
The achievements of Kabogozza and Byaruhanga reflect a broader movement of young Ugandan creatives making an impact both locally and internationally—often with limited budgets but limitless imagination.
As one festival judge noted, “These are the kinds of stories we need to tell. They show what is possible when young people follow their passion.”
Their wins underscore the power of youth, creativity, and resilience, reinforcing the idea that Uganda’s next generation of film stars is already here—telling their stories and shaping the future of African cinema.
