Movie-inspiring Katwe chess academy falls on hard times
Phiona Mutesi and her chess coach Robert Katende during the premiere of ‘Queen of Katwe’ in Kampala on October 7, 2016.
What you need to know:
- The academy had hoped to receive some money from the film's sales to further its course.
- When Disney decided to make the film Queen of Katwe, they gave Katende a one-time grant of $50,000.
A famous chess academy in Katwe, a slum in Kampala, Uganda that set the stage for Lupita Nyong'o's 2016 Hollywood film Queen of Katwe, is struggling to stay afloat.
The academy had hoped to receive some money from the film's sales to further its course, but the film turned out to be a loss-making venture.
The academy run by chess coach Robert Katende, whose character was played by actor David Oyelowo in the film, has now scaled down its operation, closing some of its centers and drastically reducing the number of its staff.
Katende set up the chess academy in 2004 to help children from the slum. Within a year, nine-year-old Phiona Mutesi, who had dropped out of school, joined — and went on to become a chess prodigy, winning international accolades and eventually a scholarship. She currently works in Canada.
Film based on the book
Phiona was awarded the title of Woman Candidate Master by the World Chess Federation aged 16.
It was her remarkable story that was depicted in the film, with Oscar-winner Lupita playing her mother.
Disney became aware of the academy after a book about Ms Mutesi, was published by journalist Tim Crothers in 2012.
When Disney decided to make a film based on the book, they gave Katende a one-time grant of $50,000 (Sh5.075 million then).
Katende was then able to buy a property in Katwe where the academy would be based as well as the establishment of the club in other parts of Uganda. He had hoped for more residual income from the film.
Investment of $15 million
Katende, Mutesi and the chess champion's mother had all been promised a substantial share of any Disney profits – 67 per cent, he told the BBC.
However, Katende was informed that after an investment of $15 million (Sh1.522 billion) the film had only made $10 million (Sh1.015 billion).
“The loss put me in a difficult position because people think that I have hidden some money,” Katende told the BBC.
“Many people think I'm a wealthy Hollywood chess coach because of the film. The hard truth is that we have yet to benefit from its profits.”