Maurice Kirya’s ‘A Man Like Sam’ Documentary Earns Global Recognition

A Man Like Sam, the award-winning documentary directed by Ugandan filmmaker, musician and actor Maurice Kirya, recently returned to Uganda for its regional premiere at Century Cinema, Acacia Mall, Kampala.

The documentary follows the life of Samuel Mugabi, a Ugandan man with Down syndrome, offering an intimate look at his journey towards independence and the family, community and determination that have shaped his experience. Rather than allowing Samuel’s diagnosis to define his identity, the film places his voice and lived experience at the centre of the story.

For Kirya, the film is ultimately a story worth telling because of its humanity. It captures the pain, joy and complexities that come with raising a child with Down syndrome, while exploring themes of hope, faith, determination and resilience. At its heart, however, is a message that extends beyond disability: everyone deserves a chance.

A Man Like Sam has made an impressive journey through the international film festival circuit, collecting major recognition along the way. The documentary was awarded Best Short Doc at the Alpine International Film Festival in Switzerland and Best International Film at the Brittany International Film Festival in France.

Kirya’s work as director has also received significant recognition. He secured multiple Best Director honours, including wins at the Hollywood International Indie Film Festival and Cinema Royal Paris. The film additionally received an Honorable Mention at Scotland’s Scarlett International Film Festival.

Its international journey did not stop there. A Man Like Sam was named a Semi-Finalist at Cannes Indie Shorts in France, received a nomination at the New York Shorts International Film Festival, and earned another nomination at the prestigious “I Will Tell” International Film Festival in London, scheduled for September 2026.

A Man Like Sam forms part of Upasuaji International’s “Advocacy on Screen” initiative, which uses storytelling to challenge cultural stigma, correct medical misconceptions and advocate for dignity and inclusion for people with Down syndrome across East Africa.

Through film, he has transformed a personal story into a broader conversation about how society understands disability—and about what becomes possible when families and communities choose opportunity over limitation.

Samuel’s journey is not presented as a story of someone who needs society’s pity. It is a story about possibility. It asks audiences to look beyond a diagnosis, beyond assumptions and beyond the boundaries that society can unconsciously place around people.

For Kirya, that is the power of storytelling to take one person’s experience and make an entire audience reconsider what they thought they knew.

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