‘Memories of Love Returned’ documentary by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine

Memories of Love Returner Synopsis

On April 24th, 2002 Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s car broke down in the small town of Mbirizi, Uganda. While waiting for the car’s repair he stumbled upon a small photo studio and met photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, whose work spanned from the late 1950’s up till 2006 when he passed away. This chance encounter turned into a 22 year journey documenting and exploring Kibaate’s life and photography and the profound impact it had on Ntare’s life and the lives of the entire community he documented. Check out the official trailer here: Memories of Love Returned

About Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine

Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is an award-winning flmmaker born in the United States to Ugandan parents. Mwine’s documentary about Ugandan photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo is a beautiful tribute to the late artist and a compelling story about the complex social dynamics at work in the small village where Ssalongo once lived and worked. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s impeccable portfolio includes roles in ‘Treme,’ ‘Bosch,’ ‘Heroes,’ ‘The Knick’ and ‘The Lincoln Lawyer. The award-winning filmmaker is best known for his astounding portrayal of Ronnie, the complex anti-hero in Lena Waithe’s Showtime series ‘The Chi.’  

Behind-the-Scenes History of an Extraordinary Documentary

What began as a chance encounter in a small Ugandan town evolved into a 22-year journey of discovery for Mwine. The film unveils the extraordinary life and work of Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, a Ugandan photographer who quietly documented the soul of his community for over five decades. With hundreds of thousands of images, Kibaate’s archive stands as a testament to history, identity, and the enduring power of photography to reconnect lost moments with the present.

Executive-produced by Oscar award-winner Steven Soderbergh, the film follows Mwine’s quest to create the first-ever exhibit of Kibaate’s lost work in his hometown. The stunning open-air exhibit, Memories of Love Returned, was unveiled at a local petrol station, showcasing over 5,000 images that brought the community’s forgotten past back to life. The documentary also highlights Mwine’s connection with Kibaate’s 30+ children and reveals how Kibaate captured portraits of same-sex friends and couples, defying societal norms in a country where anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has made such displays of affection nearly impossible in public.

Memories of Love Returned has been hailed as one of OkayAfrica’s Ten Best African Documentaries of 2024 and is an official selection at leading festivals including PAFF, Slamdance, and FESPACO. In 2024, it won Best International Documentary at the African International Film Festival in London and Best Documentary Feature at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival.