15-year -old Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the Ugandan actress that played Gloria in the sensational movie, Queen of Katwe has passed away due to a brain tumour.
She passed away at a hospital in Kampala despite attempts from the team to help raise funds to battle her treatment in India after Ugandan doctors claimed to not have the necessary equipment to sufficiently treat her.
She was diagnosed sometime in 2016 with the disease, managed to get it into remission before a new tumour was discovered last year.
Her passing was announced on Sunday by Gayaza High School. A touching message was written on the school’s Twitter account.
“Fare thee well Nikita Pearl Waligwa,” the school wrote. “You were a darling to many and we have lost you to a brain tumour at such a tender age.” “We are gutted as @gayazahigh community, No words can explain the pain at the moment. R.I.P Nikita.”
Others including Lupita Nyong’o also took to Instagram to share a consolatory message in regard to her passing