A new dawn has come for Uganda’s growing tourism industry and her ever-so-dynamic creative sector, a mashup of which has sparked new interest about the country in the documentary ‘Back to the Source – the Nile’, Gen Salim Saleh notes.
General Caleb Akandwanaho also known as Salim Saleh was the Guest of Honor (in absentia) at the highly attended Kampala premiere of the new documentary starring Ambassador Judyth Nsababera – Uganda’s Consul General to the People’s Republic of China.
Back to the Source – the Nile, follows Ambassador Nsababera as she returns to Uganda and traces the journey of the River Nile from its source in Jinja and traverses the country’s most extraordinary landscapes – the ancient forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the volcanic highlands of Kisoro, the open plains of Lake Mburo, the thundering force of Murchison Falls, the warmth of Mbarara and the Ugandan agricultural heartland.
This intimate, cinematic journey across Uganda is hugely anchored on her decision to confront a phobia she has lived with since childhood – deep water – occasioned by a near drowning accident at age 13.
The world premiere of ‘Back to the Source – the Nile’ held in Guangzhou, China on December 12th, 2025 Guangzhou garnered a capacity turnout of over 300 guests and additional 73 million views across Chinese digital platforms.
Directed by award-winning Ugandan Storyteller/filmmaker Derrick Ssenyonyi, the documentary combines emotional storytelling with high-end cinematography, weaving culture, adventure and identity into a visual masterpiece.
In his remarks, Gen Saleh noted that the documentary is not just a compelling story but also a value product that has been “explored, created and delivered” through a long link of contributors.
“As head of the Operation Wealth Creation initiative, I’m excited to be a partner on this production. Through this documentary, Mr. Ssenyonyi and his team have explored, created and delivered value which is the philosophy of wealth creation. I am very grateful that you have been able to document this wealth,” Gen Saleh said.
After the construction industry, he added, the creative sector is the most linked sector with various producers meaning numerous people contribute but also gain from a single project.
“As somebody who has been involved with the creative sector for 15 years now, I’m very happy that steps have been taken to regulate and improve incomes of the creatives by the copyright law which has been passed. I want everybody to welcome this new dawn of filming and drama, and we pledge support to the creative industry,” he said.
Speaking at the premiere, Ambassador Nsababera said the event was more than a film screening, “It is a homecoming, a rediscovery and a moment of truth for me as a person and for us as a nation. This documentary began with a fear I have carried since I was thirteen years old. The Nile, however, our Nile, kept calling me home.”
“When the raft flips and the river takes over, the film’s emotional center arrives. This is not a metaphor constructed for the camera. The fear is real. The trust required to surrender control – to the river, to the team, to the country itself – is genuine. And what follows is a reflection on what it means to truly know and represent a place you call home,” the production team said in a statement.
To Ambassador Nsababera, the film is not about bravery in the traditional sense but rather about surrendering “to the truth of who we are.”
Derrick Ssenyonyi, the Director, also unveiled a new website where people can access the documentary at a cost of only US$2.
Ssenyonyi noted that the reason for this innovation is to ease access for every internet user but most importantly to maintain the fabric of the story from the social, cultural and creative perspective.
“It is hard to get your story on huge platforms like Netflix and even when you do, the shared production rights will most likely affect the narrative, the specifics of the filming equipment and the general output. In the ‘Back to the Source – the Nile’ we tell our story, the Ugandan story on our own terms and we are making it easy for everyone to access,” Ssenyonyi said.
The premiere drew in other stakeholders who marveled at the content of the film but also credited Ambassador Nsababera for the extra mile invested in promoting Uganda outside of diplomatic ventures.
Allan Kasujja the Executive Director of the Uganda Media Center heaped praises on the film noting that Uganda has been struggling with telling its story but the documentary is a clear result of what happens when the creative industry with in the country is trusted and empowered.
“What I saw today is probably the best thing I have seen in a very long time. And as a result of that, my hope is restored not only because of the beauty of the country and seeing it captured beautifully but also because of the people behind it. Uganda is beautiful, Juju (Ambassador Judyth) and Derrick have so ably captured that,” Kasujja said.
Through drone aerials, immersive sound design, and authentic field footage, the film presents Uganda at a visual standard that competes on international platforms. It presents Uganda as layered, grounded, and alive – a country of conservation and community, of agriculture and wildlife, of culture and everyday human beauty – not just a destination but a lived experience.
