Loukman Ali stands as a prominent Ugandan filmmaker known for directing, cinematography, screenwriting, and production, with breakthrough projects spanning Ugandan cinema and Nollywood collaborations. Born on June 1, 1990, in Kampala, his works have achieved global reach via Netflix and earned accolades at key African film festivals.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Loukman Ali |
| Date of Birth | June 1, 1990 |
| Place of Birth | Kampala, Uganda |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| State of Origin | Kibuli neighborhood, Kampala |
| Partner | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Director, cinematographer, screenwriter, producer, graphic designer |
| Net Worth | Approximately $200,000 USD |
Early Life and Education
Raised in Kampala’s Kibuli area with Comorian heritage from his father, Ali faced dyslexia yet thrived in visual arts, mastering Photoshop, 3D animation, shooting, and editing as a teen. By age 16, he illustrated cartoons for New Vision newspaper after a contest win.
Post-secondary school, he enrolled briefly at Makerere University before leaving to build skills in studios and agencies as a video producer, motion graphics artist, and art director.
Career
Ali started with short films like Monday in 2013, shot in Norway, and The Bad Mexican in 2017, shown at big festivals. His first big movie, The Girl in the Yellow Jumper in 2020, was Uganda’s first on Netflix. It is a crime story with stars Edlyn Sabrina and Arfaan Ahmed, and it played at film events worldwide.
Next came short films The Blind Date and Sixteen Rounds in 2021. He did everything on them: direct, write, produce, and film. People liked their action style a lot.
In 2022, he worked on Nigeria’s Brotherhood, a crime film with actors Falz and Tobi Bakre. He quit partway due to idea fights but still won awards for it. In 2023, he made Ubuntu Uppercut, a fight short, and Katera of the Punishment Island for Netflix. That one tells an old Ugandan story about sending girls to an island.
Ali likes styles from directors like Tarantino and Spielberg. Nigeria has more money for films than Uganda. In 2024, French companies gave him cash for a new movie, and he held auditions in Kampala. He also filmed episodes of the TV show Kyaddala.
Personal Life
Few details surface about Ali’s family or relationships today. He often highlights his strict mother’s influence on his strong female characters and his gentle father’s role in fostering discipline, with drawing serving as his youthful refuge.
Net Worth
Estimates peg Loukman Ali’s wealth at roughly $200,000 USD, stemming from films, Nollywood roles, and creative direction.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Monday | Director, Producer |
| 2017 | The Bad Mexican | Director, Producer, Writer |
| 2020 | The Girl in the Yellow Jumper | Director, Producer, Writer |
| 2021 | The Blind Date | Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer |
| 2021 | Sixteen Rounds | Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer |
| 2022 | Brotherhood | Director, Cinematographer |
| 2023 | Ubuntu Uppercut | Director, Producer, Writer |
| 2023 | Katera of the Punishment Island | Director, Producer, Writer |
| TBA | Captain Ddamba | Director, Writer |
Awards and Nominations
- Best Short Film, Uganda Film Festival (2021).
- Best Director and Best Cinematographer, Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA 2023) for Brotherhood; film took Best West African Film.
- Best Director, Realtime International Film Festival (2021) for The Girl in the Yellow Jumper.
- Nomination for Best Short Film, Durban International Film Festival (2021).
