"Who Killed Captain Alex?" is a 2010 Ugandan independent action comedy film. It was written, produced, and directed by Isaac Geoffrey Godfrey Nabwana (also known as Nabwana IGG), by Wakaliwood, an ultra low-budget studio in Kampala, Uganda.
The film gained international attention for its unique style and low-budget production. Let's delve into the story, production, and impact of this remarkable film.
The film tells the story of a civil unrest which erupts after the assassination of a beloved Ugandan soldier and Kung Fu expert, the eponymous Captain Alex.
A trailer was uploaded to YouTube in January 2010 and the full film was uploaded in March 2015, and has over ten million views as of 8 July 2025.
The original cut was lost due to power outages and "strained conditions" according to Nabwana, while the surviving version of Who Killed Captain Alex?
Read also: Voice of Culture and Entertainment
Wakaliwood Supa Action Vol. 1 Blu-ray cover
Plot Summary
Captain Alex, one of the most decorated officers in the Uganda People's Defence Force, is sent out to capture the crime boss Richard and his Tiger Mafia, a criminal organization that controls the drug trade of the city of Kampala. Alex sets up camp in the village of Wakaliga.
After doing so, his soldiers go to a bar where a fight ensues between them and the villagers. Alex and his soldiers locate the Tiger Mafia during a drug deal and infiltrate it. In the following fight, Richard's brother is captured.
Richard berates his men, shoots his wife Ritah in his fit of rage, and then swears revenge against Alex. He orders a spy to seduce Alex in his tent and sends the mafia to capture him later that night.
Captain Alex's brother, a Ugandan shaolin monk comedically dubbed 'Bruce U' by VJ Emmie, arrives at Kampala the next morning in search of the murderer and finds a Tiger Mafia card in Alex's tent.
Read also: Used Vehicles in Uganda
Elsewhere, the mafia tells Richard that Alex is dead; Richard becomes irate because he wanted Alex brought to him. Bruce goes to a shaolin temple where he fights the other martial artists until the master appears.
Bruce goes to the forest to train for his quest on his own. After sleeping in a tree, he discovers Ritah, who has amnesia after being shot by her husband. Bruce, unaware that she was part of the Tiger Mafia, comes to her aid. After training in a nearby lake, he discovers that Ritah was a member of the mafia due to a tattoo with the mafia's initials.
The UPDF hires a new military leader who formulates a plan to attack the mafia's base. However, his plan is overheard by Richard through the phone of a turncoat police officer. Richard gathers the mafia at the base to prepare and sends one of his men to steal an attack helicopter to bomb Kampala to serve as a distraction for the government.
Bruce invades the mafia's base, but is captured and brought to Richard, who orders three of his men to fight him with combat skills. Bruce holds his own for some time but is eventually overwhelmed.
After the chaotic fighting, the entire mafia is dead and only Richard remains. He strips the gun off one of his deceased men, kills a number of soldiers, and takes down the military helicopter but is eventually shot and captured.
Read also: Understanding Ugandan Politics
Production Details
Production began in late 2009 in the ghettos of Nateete. Nabwana shot the film in January 2010 and edited it using a computer he assembled from old parts. The film's props were all made in-house and camera equipment were fabricated from scrap metal at a machine shop next to Nabwana's house. The actors supplied their own costumes; one of them was given a mask so he could play two different roles in the same scene. The original version of the film was intended for local distribution in Kampala, with the dialogue recorded in the native language of Luganda.
The official trailer of the film uploaded to YouTube on 30 January 2010 quickly developed a cult following. The film itself was uploaded on Wakaliwood's YouTube channel.
The film was released alongside Bad Black in the Wakaliwood Supa Action Vol. 1 Blu-ray/DVD combo by the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) on 14 May 2019. The Blu-ray release features the option to watch Who Killed Captain Alex?
Who Killed Captain Alex (2010) - The Search For The Worst - IHE (Uganda's First Action Movie)
Sequels and Spinoffs
On 2 March 2015, Wakaliwood set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise US$160 for the film Tebaatusasula: Ebola. The studio was able to receive US$13,181 from 374 backers by 1 April.
Tebaatusasula: Ebola serves as the direct sequel to Who Killed Captain Alex? As of 1 January 2025, an animation spinoff called Who Killed Captain Alex?
Reception
"Who Killed Captain Alex?" has garnered significant attention for its unique style and low-budget charm. It has been praised for its creativity and resourcefulness in filmmaking.
The film has become a cult classic, attracting viewers with its over-the-top action sequences and humorous commentary by VJ Emmie.
Key Production Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Isaac Geoffrey Godfrey Nabwana (Nabwana IGG) |
| Studio | Wakaliwood |
| Budget | Ultra low-budget |
| Filming Location | Kampala, Uganda |
| Language | Luganda |
| Release Date | 2010 |
Popular articles:
tags: #Uganda
