SIAYA, Kenya — Seven-year-old actress Nakaayi Dorcus is set to take on a central child role in Maama Muto (Sweet Enemy), a Ugandan independent film directed and produced by Musayimugaga Bashir and scheduled for cinema release in 2027.
The film follows a young girl who loses her mother and faces further hardship when her father begins living with her late mother’s younger sister. After moving into the family home, the woman’s relationship with the child deteriorates, turning an already difficult family transition into a source of conflict.
Through the child’s experiences, Maama Muto explores grief, family relationships and the challenges that can arise when household dynamics change following the loss of a parent.
The film’s title is drawn from Luganda. Maama Muto refers to a mother’s younger sister, while Sweet Enemy reflects the tension at the heart of the story as the woman becomes a source of distress within the family.
The production also features Solomon Kayanja, Ssekyewa Junior, Rogers Atim, Namutebi and Joseph Ssemuju.
Nakaayi Dorcus’s early acting journey
Born on July 27, 2019, in Mpigi District, Dorcus is a pupil at Kibibi Junior School in Butambala District. She previously attended Upendo Christian School.
Despite her young age, she has already appeared in local television dramas, gaining early experience in front of the camera while continuing her education.
Those familiar with the young actress describe her as confident and expressive, qualities that have supported her involvement in acting.
Her role in Maama Muto marks another step in her early screen career, placing her at the centre of a story that depends on a child’s experience of loss and a changing family environment.
A family drama rooted in local storytelling
The film adds to Uganda’s independent screen productions, which provide opportunities for filmmakers to tell stories drawn from local experiences and family life.
By focusing on a child navigating bereavement and conflict within her household, Maama Muto approaches its subject through a domestic drama rather than a broader political or social narrative.
For Bashir, the production brings a family-centred story to the screen, with Dorcus playing a pivotal role in its development.
Also Read: UCC, Mariam Ndagire Film and Performing Arts Centre launch free film training for Ugandan youth
The project also places the importance of balancing children’s participation in entertainment with their education in focus.
Dorcus’s previous acting assignments have reportedly been arranged around the school calendar, an approach expected to continue during the new production.
Film targets 2027 cinema release
Maama Muto is scheduled for release in 2027, although its cinema venues and exact release date have not yet been announced.
For Dorcus, the film represents another opportunity to develop her acting experience while pursuing her education.
Audiences will have to wait until its release to see how the young actress brings the central character’s experiences to the screen.
