For Papa Daniel Mushikoma, acting was never in the plan.
He was the man behind the scenes, doing marketing and events to push other people and brands into the spotlight while keeping himself far from the cameras. Yet fate has a way of scripting its own scenes.
One afternoon, while going about his daily hustle in Kampala, he received a call from a friend urging him to fill in for an absent actor on a film set. That impromptu call began the journey that has transformed Mushikoma into one of Uganda’s recognizable television actors.
In the sixth episode of Pearl Magic Prime’s Home Of Our Stars season 3, Mushikoma told host Judithiana Namazzi about how he accidentally landed into acting, a career that he has grown to love and the opportunities and challenges that have come with it.
“Acting picked me, I didn’t pick it, he said. I was hesitant when I got that call, but I decided to try it out, and I was given a role just like that. That series was “Coffee Shop” and then not so long after that, the producer of “Mistakes Girls Do” looked for me for a role too.
From that, I did another series called “What If” where I acted as a lawyer.” Despite getting into acting unexpectedly, Mushikoma thinks acting is in his blood because his mother used to do music, dance and drama and therefore he is not surprised to find himself doing the same thing.
Growing up, he used to sing in the church choir, play drums and act in drama skits for Christmas and Easter. Mushikoma had initially tried his hand at music and even collaborated with some of Uganda’s most celebrated names, including Radio and Weasel, Davis Ntare, and Mun G.
Though most of that work was never released, it remains a cherished chapter of his creative journey. Today, audiences know Mushikoma best as Maxwell in Pearl Magic Prime’s Damalie, a role so convincing that it has blurred the line between his real self and the fictional character.
The intensity with which he embodies Maxwell has sometimes come at a personal cost.
“One day I was in a supermarket doing some shopping and this lady came out of nowhere saying she doesn’t like me because I beat up my wife,” he shared.
“At first I was perplexed until she mentioned my character’s name, and I knew where her anger was coming from.”
Though such moments can be unsettling, Mushikoma noted that it is also a good thing because it means that he is delivering in his role. Even at home, his performances sometimes follow him.
He admits to rehearsing lines in different characters while alone much to his family’s amusement. Yet the most striking reaction came from his mother, a devout Christian who was shaken after seeing him consult a witch doctor to bewitch his brother-in-law in Damalie.
“My mum was shocked when she watched that scene. You know I was raised in a Christian family. She called me and said she hopes that ended on set,” he said with a laugh.
Mushikoma recognizes the challenge of acting where sometimes it requires slipping fully into another life often to the point where separating self from character becomes a challenge.
“Once you wear a character, one of the biggest challenges is trying to separate yourself from it in real life. It is not easy to detach your character from your real-life personality, but with time you master it,” he said.
Mushikoma’s journey has also given him the privilege of working alongside Uganda’s acting veterans like Philip Luswata in Damalie. He recalled going back home and sleeping early the first time he was told he was going to work with Luswata because he wanted to keep time the following morning so as not to disappoint him.
“You give Phillip a script, he looks at it once, puts it aside and starts rolling. You ask yourself how he masters everything so quickly. That guy is anatural. When you work with him, you also have to bring your A-game,” Mushikoma told Judithiana.
Yet for all his talent, he admits he rarely enjoys watching himself on screen.
“It feels really weird. I tend to think maybe I didn’t do well, but then I get positive reviews from audiences, and I believe I am doing a good job.”
Talking about the Ugandan film industry, Mushikoma is proud of how far it has come to a point now where they no longer plead with people to join the industry, but now they do so willingly with parents even bringing in their kids themselves.
“Now we can proudly introduce ourselves as actors, unlike in the past where you felt like if you did so, people wouldn’t take you seriously,” he said adding, “I am very happy with where the industry is going. The future is very bright.”
Papa Daniel Mushikoma may have stumbled into acting by accident, but he has stayed by choice. What began as a coincidence has become his calling, a path that challenges him, shapes him, and connects him with audiences in unforgettable ways.
You can catch Damalie Monday to Friday at 8:30 p.m. on Pearl Magic Prime DStv (Channel 148) and GOtv (Channel 303). Viewers can also stream the show live or catch up using the DStv Stream and GOtv Stream apps.
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