Rachel Nduhukire made her debut in the film industry at the age of 8 in the World Vision film, ‘Journey To Jama’ and has since evolved to become one of the best talents Uganda has been blessed to have.
At 20, Rachel has featured in several successful films and TV shows including Multi Choice hit series ‘Sanyu’, and has been recognized by several prestigious awards on the continent. In 2014, she got a special mention award at the Uganda Film Festival and was nominated for the Africa Magic Academy Awards for the ‘Best Girl Child Actress in Africa’ award.
Rachel is also currently pursuing a university degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Study and is a vice president of the Ever Elm Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower youths.
“I pride myself in acting because it allows me to boldly share messages and tell stories, by conveying various characters. Similarly, my passion for International Relations is rooted in my desire to impact change in Uganda and hopefully the world at large.”
Check out her 21 Questions With GLIM.
- Growing up, what did you want to become?
Interestingly, growing up I wanted to be a teacher. I remember I used to gather all my dolls, sit in a room and teach them the alphabet and how to count. I am passionate about imparting knowledge, and if I do have an opportunity, I would like to open a school, to educate children. - What inspires you as an actress?My inspiration as an actress is derived from the people who watch the content that we produce and relate to it. Knowing that the stories I tell through various characters, speak to an audience greater than myself, is inspiring.
- What film project has had the most impact on your career so far?
That would be my first movie, ‘Journey To Jamaa’, which was filmed in 2010. Considering that it was a World Vision Movie, directed by Micheal Landon Junior and Brian Bird, the overall production and experience, surpassed my expectations! Being on an international set where everyone was so professional, impacted my level of professionalism as an actress to date. This is evident in my punctuality and ability to cooperate with my fellow artists on projects. It is from Journey to Jamaa, that I began to gain recognition as a promising child actress in Uganda until I was eventually given a Special Mention Award at the 2014 Uganda Film Festival.
The other project that is currently impacting my career tremendously, is ‘Sanyu’. Unlike most projects I have featured in, Sanyu reaches a large audience and is currently viewed in Africa and the Diaspora. This has been a humbling experience but has also provided a platform for me to showcase and grow my talent, as an upcoming Ugandan actress. - So of the two roles: Margaret in ‘Journey To Jama’ and Melissa in ‘Sanyu’, which was your favourite role?
Even though both roles contributed to the actress I am today, Mellissa takes the crown for my favourite role! This is because her character has challenged me as an actress and pushed me out of my comfort zone. There have been days on set where I have had to unlearn everything I think I know about acting and relearn, all in a bid to deliver a believable and captivating performance. With the help of the exceptional directors, crew and fellow castmates, I have been motivated to go the extra mile and leave everything I have on screen. As a result, I feel more versatile in the roles I can play, as compared to before.
Rachel Nduhukire in the film ‘Journey To Jamaa’ - Besides ‘Sanyu’, what projects are you currently working on?
Currently it’s been ‘Sanyu’, but there are a few others I have been able to do while I was on ‘Sanyu’, including the MTN Senkyu advert, Mirinda Fruity and Mirinda Orange advert. - What are some of the challenges you have faced in your career as an actress?
Firstly, at the time of my first Acting gig, I made a huge sum of money. Beginning on a high note and then being faced with the reality of the growing Ugandan film industry, was one of the challenges I faced. Most of the projects were funded using producers’ personal finances, hence the budget was rarely as grand as I’d have wanted. The basic salary range was between UGX 100,000 to UGX 300,000, while some projects were even pro bono. This discouraged me because by then, I only wanted jobs that would pay similar to the amount I first earned. However, as I matured, I eventually reached a point where my focus shifted from the finances attached to a project, to the story being told. As a result, my motive became telling impactful stories, as opposed to maximizing profit.Another challenge I faced, was the lifeline attached to actors/ actresses in Uganda. Most casting calls and producers stressed wanting young fresh talent, which was mostly categorized between ages 8 to 15. From age 16 onward, there was less hope for me as an actress in Uganda, because the stories and characters created were either above or below my teenage bracket. Eventually, I believed that I had outlived my existence in the Ugandan film industry until God blessed me with the role of Melissa in Sanyu.Lastly, another huge challenge I faced was a lack of exposure. Considering that I was still a child by the time I started acting, my parents were very protective and did not allow me to use social media. This limited my ability to use social media as a tool to showcase my work. Similarly, considering the limited budgets of the projects I later featured in, most producers could not market or promote their movies, hence even after acting in a plethora of movies, people still did not know who I was, or the projects I was involved in.
- What career milestones do you hope to accomplish as an actress?
One of them is acting in a Netflix original film. Another would be acting with Viola Davis or John David Washington because they are iconic actors, who I admire. Lastly, I would love to win a globally recognized award like an Academy Award, Emmy or Golden Globe.
- What impact do you hope to leave as an actress?
I hope to inspire people to be themselves through my acting. Society has taught us that there’s “a proper way of doing things”, but that has taken away from our individuality. Through my acting, I hope to remind people to stay true to themselves and be who they are, as a means of self-realization and personal growth.
Additionally, I hope to inspire people to be confident and come out of their shells, by encouraging them to use their God-given gifts, for the benefit of those around them.Rachel Nduhukire on the set of ‘Sanyu’ series - What inspires your fashion?
I would say my fashion sense is rooted in my identity. Therefore, I believe in being decently smart and tend to wear very abstract and unique designs, that reflect who I am as an individual. - What is currently on your African playlist and watchlist?
My current African playlist comprises artists like the amazingly talented Kamanzi Ruth (Uganda), Ty Bello (Nigeria), Lloyiso (South Africa), Simmy (South Africa), Azawi (Uganda) and BurnBoy (Nigeria). My African watch list comprises of Sanyu Series and Mizigo Express (Uganda), alongside Netflix Originals like ‘Blood Sisters’, ‘Blood and Water’ and Loukman Ali’s ‘The Girl in a Yellow Jumper’.
At the start of my acting career, I used to watch a lot of Western content, until I realized the importance of immersing myself in African culture, as a means of strengthening my identity as an upcoming African Actress.
Currently, I watch a lot more African content on Netflix and designated African channels, like Pearl Magic Prime and Maisha Magic, because the content is Afrocentric, and influences my identity. As a result, I am inspired by African actors and actresses like Michael Wawuyo Jr, Patrick Nkakalukanyi, Nancy Isime, Khanyi Mbau and many more. - What is your dream travel destination in Africa?
Africa is a very green continent, with beautiful water bodies, people, and cultures. I would love to experience the different cultures and cuisines from South Africa, Seychelles, and Zanzibar. - What is your secret to feeling and looking good?
God is number one. There’s a way God makes you glow! That’s where my confidence comes from. Number two is sleep. Sleep is one of the remedies to resting your mind and body, which results in feeling and looking good. The third secret is drinking water. Water rejuvenates the mind and the body while replenishing your skin. Lastly, surrounding yourself with the right friends, who encourage, motivate and push you to be a better person, is one of the best things you can do to look good and feel good. - What’s your skincare routine like?
For my skincare routine, I use Neutrogena products and Moringa oil. The trick to a successful skincare routine is consistency. You need to be applying the products consistently for you to see the results. - What is on your bucket list?
One of the things on my bucket list is going to Bali! It is a beautiful travel destination with vibrant culture, that I would love to explore. I would also love to watch a Manchester United game live and meet Rashford because he’s the G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time)! - What social media accounts are you following right now?
I follow fellow actors that I look up to, like Viola Davis, Timothée Chalamet and Marsai Martin. I also follow Ugandan content creators, like Shnaks and Raymond Kahuma, who have relatable and humorous content.Actress Rachel Nduhukire - What social media trends do you currently love?
I would say Tik Tok dance challenges. I love dancing, but lack dancing skills. Therefore, the easiest way for me to learn is through dance challenges. - What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
The most important lesson life has taught me is to be receptive to change. As a teenager, I prided myself a lot in being organized and having my life plans but nothing went as planned (laughs) because God’s ways are not our ways. Another is learning to work with others, especially on set. I have learnt to love people and understand who they are, regardless of where they come from and what they are doing. - How do you unwind?
Reading novels and watching animations, have always been some of my favourite ways to unwind. Listening to music, singing or playing the violin, also help rid me of any day’s stress. - What would people be surprised to know about you?
That I am a bookworm. I am perusing a degree in International Relations, which is a course rooted in historical occurrences and how they have shaped the world today. I enjoy reading history alongside historical biographies of key historical figures. - What is your favourite local saying and what does it mean?
It is ‘amazzi gakulukutila gye gatakulukutila nga ko’. It is a Luganda saying that means water flows where it has never run before. - What is the most Ugandan thing about you?
My palette. As much as I am a sweet tooth, I love traditional food like yam, posho, mulokoni and nakati.Actress, Rachel Nduhukire
