Queen of Katwe star, Nikita Waligwa dies at 15

Young Ugandan actress who starred in ‘Queen of Katwe’, Disney’s biographical drama film, Nikita Pearl Waligwa, is dead at 15.

The teenage actress was said to have passed away on Saturday at the TMR International Hospital, in Naalya, Kampala, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

According to BBC, she had the first tumor in 2016 but Mira Nair, the director of the ‘Queen of Katwe’ movie, mobilized people to fund her treatment in India.

Fare thee well Nikita Pearl Waligwa. You were a darling to many and we have lost you to brain tumor at such a tender age. Nikita was in S.3. Rest in Perfect Peace dear pic.twitter.com/ny8I9YAjsQ

— Gayaza High School (@gayazahigh) February 16, 2020

The 2016 film was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, who took up chess aged nine despite not being in school and went on to compete in international tournaments.

It starred Lupita Nyong’o as her mother and David Oyelowo as her chess teacher.

15 year old Nikita Pearl Waligwa,who starred as 'Gloria', in a Disney's movie, Queen of Katwe, is dead. Nikita succumbed to brain cancer on Saturday. Rest in peace little one. pic.twitter.com/WTjhicg4pz

— Lucky Mbabazi (@LuckyMbabazi) February 16, 2020

Waligwa played the role of Gloria, a friend of Phiona who explained the rules of chess to her.

She was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 and Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair reportedly mobilised people to help fund her treatment in India, with Ugandan doctors quoted as saying they did not have the necessary equipment.

She was given the all-clear in 2017 but last year was found to have another tumour.