KAMPALA – Hollywood stars including Actress Lupita Nyong’o have mourned fallen actress Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who was laid to rest on Monday, February, 18 at her father’s home in Kyengera.
Waligwa died on Saturday night at TMR International Hospital, in Naalya, Kampala following a long period of illness of brain cancer.
Nikita Pearl Waligwa was best known for acting in the 2016 American biographical drama film ‘Queen of Katwe’ the film which depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan girl living in a slum in Katwe
Her co-star David Oyelowo wrote on Instagram: “She was a ball of light in Queen of Katwa and in life.”
Oyelowo played the role of Phiona Mutesi’s chess teacher while Lupita Nyong’o played her mother.
Waligwa featured as the character Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.
“In chess, the small one can become a big one, “she is quoted in the movie as saying.
Ms Nyong’o said on Instagram: “She played Gloria with such vibrancy. In her real life she had the enormous challenge of battling brain cancer.”
“It is with great sadness that I post about the passing of Nikita Waligwa, the sweet, warm, talented girl whom I worked with on the film, Queen of Katwe. She played Gloria with such vibrancy. In her real life, she had the enormous challenge of battling brain cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and community as they come to terms with having to say goodbye so soon. May she truly rest in peace. May it be well with her soul.”
Gloria Nansubuga, the 19-year-old Ugandan chess star who was played by Waligwa, told the BBC: “I couldn’t bear to hear that someone who acted as me in a film had died. I loved her from my heart.
“She told me she wanted to learn how to play chess. I wanted to have lessons with her but she was always in the hospital. She was so caring even though she was so young.”
The cost of Nikita’s treatment from her first diagnosis in 2016 was supported by the Disney Company which produced Queen of Katwe, relatives, family friends and her parents’ colleagues. Many of them attended the funeral.
Her story resonates because a beautiful talented girl who achieved success at a young age died much sooner than she should have.
