Nikita Pearl Waligwa – Brain Tumor
The 2016 biographical movie, the Queen of Katwe recounted the tale of Phiona Mutesi, a young girl who overcomes adversity and changes her family’s fortunes. Nikita Pearl Waligwa was one of the stars who brought the film to life, but sadly, she died in February 2020 at the age of 15.
Waligwa had a brain tumor that eventually took her life, and she passed away while receiving treatment at a Kampala-based medical facility. She portrayed Gloria, Phiona’s friend, and shared the screen with Lupita Nyong’o as her mother. Nyo’ngo explained that Waligwa gave the character vibrancy despite battling a grave illness off the screen.
