Queen of Katwe

Her date of birth is not certain, but it is sure that she grew up in the Ugandan slum of Katwe. When she was three her father died of AIDS and shortly afterwards her older sister Juliet died of an unknown cause. Thus begins the story of Phiona Mutesi, the Queen of Ugandan chess from one of Kampala’s poorest slums who has inspired a major new Hollywood movie. Above, she is pictured with her chess mentor Robert Katende. Photo: Muyingo Siraj.