| Sam Bagenda | |
| Other Names: | Dr Bbosa |
| Birth Date: | 31 March 1965 |
| Birth Name: | Sam Bagenda |
| Birth Place: | Mukono, Uganda |
| Nationality: | Ugandan |
| Alma Mater: | Makerere University |
| Education: | Lubiri Secondary School Caltek Academy Makerere |
| Years Active: | 1985–present |
| Father: | Sam Bakiranze |
| Mother: | Margaret Bakiranze |
| Occupation: | Singer, actor, director, producer |
Sam Bagenda, popularly known by his stage name Dr. Bbosa, (born 31 March 1965), is a prominent Ugandan actor and singer.[1] [2] Started his career as a singer, Bagenda later became a popular actor, who is best known for the roles in the Malayalam Movie Escape from Uganda and film That's Life Mwattu.[3] Meanwhile, Bagenda was also voted Ugandan actor of the millennium in 2000.[4]
He was born on 31 March 1965, in Mukono, Uganda, in a family with four siblings. His father Dr. Sam Bakiranze was a doctor and mother Margaret Bakiranze was a teacher. He started education from Auntie Clare and City Nursery schools. Later he attended Kitante Primary school and completed his secondary school at Lubiri Secondary School, Kampala and Caltek Academy Makerere. He later graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with a bias in auditing from Makerere University.[5] Meanwhile, he completed a Public Accountants course (CPA) at Graffins College Kenya as well.[6] Then he worked as an accountant for few years before entering drama.[7]
Bagenda started singing at Anglican Church Choir of St. Pauls church in Mulago during young age. However, after parish priest fired him from the church, he was joined by other members from the church choir and formed a gospel choir Sun Rose-85 in 1985. In December 1986, he first joined The Ebonies and continued to work as a deep voiced singer, alongside the late Jimmy Katumba, they performed in several festivals and later produced the popular sweet ballad Twalina omukwano neguf. His first major performance was in January 1987 at the grand opening of the current Bat Valley theatre.
He made his first acting role as a 'priest' in the stage play The Dollar. When he was at the peak of his popularity as a singer, he met the playwright and director, J.W.K Ssembajwe. In 1993, he played the role 'Dr. Sam Bbosa' in the popular Ugandan television serial That's Life Mwattu. He became a sensation in the media after the series, where he was often known as 'Dr. Bbosa' among the locals.
| Year | Film | Role | Genre | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | That's Life Mwattu | Dr. Sam Bbosa | film | ||
| 2013 | Escape from Uganda | The Mayor | Malayalam Movie | ||
| 2022 | Kyaddala | Mr. Otto | Family Drama | ||
| 2023 | Maid of Honor | Milton Othieno | Mystery | ||
| Agony and Ecstasy | |||||
| The Boss | |||||
| Land Friends | |||||
| Daisy | |||||
| The Dollar | |||||
| Dilemma | |||||
| Bibaawo | |||||
| OMG | |||||
| Kyekyo |