Nikita Pearl Waligwa, the child actress from Uganda who acted in the 2016 Disney movie Queen of Katwe has died at the age of 15.
According to Gayaza High School (which she has been attending since 2018), she died of a brain tumor.
Waligwa portrayed Gloria, the friend of Phiona (the main character) in Queen of Katwe and her school says that she was a darling to many.
Indeed it’s heart breaking. She will dearly be missed by everyone @gayazahigh . She was a darling to many. R.I.P Nikita https://t.co/txwiAEHBeb
— Gayaza High School (@gayazahigh) February 16, 2020
According to local media, Waligwa was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 but made a full recovery. Unfortunately, another tumor was found and it ended her young life.
15 year old Nikita Pearl Waligwa,who starred as 'Gloria', in a Disney's movie, Queen of Katwe, is dead. Nikita succumbed to brain cancer on Saturday. Rest in peace little one. pic.twitter.com/WTjhicg4pz
— Lucky Mbabazi (@LuckyMbabazi) February 16, 2020
Queen of Katwe shows the life of a Ugandan girl (Madina Nalwanga) living in the slums in Katwe who learns to play chess and becomes a master after her victories at World Chess Olympiads.
The movie received positive reviews from critics, with a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
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