Uganda is becoming a popular destination for Hollywood movie productions and the stars that come along with them. This could help efforts to beef up the country as a tourism destination, as it also provides a film legacy of the spectacular scenery of the country which provides the movies’ backdrops.
The Oscar-winning star of “12 Years a Slave,” Lupita Nyong’o, is presently in Uganda for the shoot of the Mira Nair-directed film, “Queen of Katwe” and “official Uganda” is only slowly catching on to the news. The film will portray the career of one Phiona Mutesi, a chess prodigee who grew up in the sprawling Katwe slums, and her coach Robert Katende.
Lupita’s presence in Uganda, seen in the photo with Sarita Alam, one of the founders of
GeoLodges, could give a huge promotional boost as was the case when the Oscar-winning film “The Last King of Scotland” was shot in Kampala, Entebbe, and Mbale. However, unlike a few months ago when an almost unknown starlet was hyped up as a PR savior, Lupita truly does have real qualities vis-a-vis global recognition, and the fact alone that she is in country should be used to dispel concerns caused by recent US Embassy warnings that the country is not safe.
Sarita Alam reacted to social media comments by saying “it is not too late,” meaning there is still time to work both mainstream and social media for the benefit of promoting Uganda, but due haste is now needed having missed the arrival and early stages of Lupita’s presence.
Social media in neighboring Kenya, where Lupita was raised, have already expressed their hope that she will at least pay a visit to them, but from what is understood from sources close to the production company, Lupita will fly out of Uganda at the end of the shoot with no planned stopover – as of now – in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
After some scenes of a recent James Bond film were also shot in Uganda, there is now also a chance to gain a higher profile in Hollywood as a production country, considering the phenomenal success of “The Last King of Scotland,” as no doubt Lupita’s present role will again give Uganda an international platform.
Source: Eturbo News
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