Queen of Katwe Legacy Lives On Amid Financial Struggles in Kampala Slums

Edited By: Widad WAHBI

Nearly a decade after Queen of Katwe brought global attention to the chess dreams born in the slums of Uganda, the spirit of the film lives on. But for Robert Katende, the man behind the movement, each day is a battle to keep the game going.

From a modest beginning in 2004 with a single chessboard in Katwe, a low-income neighborhood in Kampala, Katende has built a legacy that has transformed thousands of lives. The civil-engineer-turned-chess-coach turned to the game as a way to mentor children, helping them find discipline, strategy, and purpose in a setting where opportunities are scarce.

“Chess is a metaphor for life,” Katende told the BBC. “A bad move can cost you the game—just like in life. But it also teaches you to think ahead, to adapt, and to find opportunity in adversity.”

His most famous protégé, Phiona Mutesi, joined his academy at the age of nine, having dropped out of school. Through determination and guidance, she rose to become a three-time national junior champion, competed internationally, and earned the title of Woman Candidate Master by age 16. Her journey inspired Disney’s 2016 film Queen of Katwe, with Lupita Nyong’o portraying her mother and David Oyelowo playing Katende.

While the film brought worldwide acclaim, it did not result in lasting financial stability for Katende’s initiative. Disney reported a $5 million loss on the production, meaning Katende, Mutesi, and her mother never received the 67% share of profits they had been promised. “People think I’m a wealthy Hollywood coach,” Katende says. “But the truth is, we haven’t seen any profits.”

Still, he is grateful for the exposure the film brought: “If Disney hadn’t made the film, we wouldn’t be where we are. It opened doors and attracted partners who shared our vision.”

Since founding SomChess Academy, more than 4,000 children have passed through its programmes. Some have become doctors, engineers, and lawyers. Others, like Patricia Kawuma, an 18-year-old two-time national junior champion, continue to compete and thrive. “Chess has taught me discipline, strategy, and how to plan,” Kawuma says. Her winnings have paid for her siblings’ school fees.

But the momentum is under threat. The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a blow to the academy’s financial base, forcing Katende to close several centres and reduce staff from 26 to just eight. With only 120 chessboards for thousands of students, the shortage is stark.

Uganda’s current junior champion, 19-year-old Jovan Kasozi, missed an international tournament last year because he couldn’t afford the $400 airfare. “But I won’t give up,” Kasozi said. “Chess makes me better at mathematics—it trains my mind like a machine.”

Katende has expanded his reach beyond Katwe, launching chess sessions in Ugandan prisons and across slums in Kenya, Rwanda, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, and Malawi. More than 2,500 children and 800 inmates are currently enrolled in his programmes.

Yet he knows the clock is ticking. Without sustainable funding, many of these initiatives may stall. But Katende remains hopeful that Disney—or others—might step in again to support the long game.

“I still believe in the power of chess to change lives,” he said. “And I believe we’re just getting started.”