Harriet Makubuya, famously remembered by many fans for her iconic role in the popular 90s theatre production That’s Life Mwattu, has finally spoken about the real reasons she stepped away from the acting world and relocated abroad.At the height of her fame, Nakawunde was a familiar face on Ugandan stages, especially through her performances with The Ebonies, where she played the memorable village wife character that made her a household name.
Despite the recognition and love from audiences, she revealed that life behind the scenes was far less glamorous. According to her, the earnings from acting were not enough to sustain her basic needs or match the lifestyle she hoped to build.She explained that after receiving her breakthrough in Uganda’s entertainment scene, she quietly made the decision to leave the country without informing many people, a move that later surprised both fans and fellow actors.Her journey eventually took her to England, where she had to start life afresh.
Nakawunde shared that continuing with acting there was not easy, as it required rebuilding her reputation from the ground up in a highly competitive environment.She noted that unlike in Uganda, where she already had a name, she had to prove herself all over again, something that demanded time, energy, and strong personal determination.
Instead of returning to the stage, she chose a different path and shifted her focus into the health sector, where she has since built a more stable and sustainable career.Speaking during a recent visit home, she also appeared on Spark TV, where she shared that she now returns to Uganda about three times a year, not only for holidays but also to educate people on matters of health and wellbeing.
