UGANDA’S CHESS CLUB THAT INSPIRED QUEEN OF KATWE MOVIE STRUGGLES TO STAY AFLOAT 

The  famous chess club in a slum of Uganda’s capital that became the focus of the Hollywood movie Queen of Katwe is still producing champions but faces a daily struggle to survive.

Run by chess coach Robert Katende, portrayed by David Oyelowo in Disney’s 2016 film, the SomChess Academy in Katwe continues to change lives through chess yet financial hurdles threaten its future. “We use chess as a teaching tool. To identify the potential of the learners and guide them to their destiny,” Mr. Katende told the BBC.

What began in 2004 with a single chessboard has grown into a movement, producing stars like Phiona Mutesi a former school dropout who became a three-time national champion and Woman Candidate Master. Her journey, depicted in the film starring Lupita Nyong’o, showcased chess’s transformative power. But today, the academy’s survival hangs in the balance.

After Queen of Katwe’s release, Katende expected a share of profits of 67 percent, he says, to sustain his programs. Instead, Disney reported a $5M loss on the film.

“The loss put me in a bad spot because people think that I have hidden some money,” he said. “Many think I’m a wealthy Hollywood chess coach, but the hard truth is we are yet to benefit.”

Though the film brought global attention, funding remains scarce. “We have scaled down operations and closed down some chess training centres due to lack of funding,” Katende admitted. Before COVID-19, Katende’s initiative supported 26 staff members; now, only eight remain. Over 2,500 children and 800 prisoners still benefit from his programs, but resources are stretched thin. “Thousands of players scramble for only 120 chess boards,” he said.

Uganda’s current junior champion, 19-year-old Jovan Kasozi, missed a key tournament last year after failing to raise $400 for airfare. “But I’m not giving up on chess,” Kasozi said. “The game stimulates my mind and makes me think like a computer.” Despite setbacks, Katende remains determined. “Chess is a metaphor for life.”