Disney Queen of Katwe star Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies aged 15

Disney Queen of Katwe star Nikita Pearl Waligwa has died aged 15 after being diagnosed with brain tumour. 

Nikita is famous for starring in the Disney film about a chess prodigy, Phiona Mutesi from a Ugandan slum. She played the part of Gloria, a pal of Mutesi, as they grew up in Katwe- the largest of Kampala’s slums. The film is based on a true story of a young girl who took up chess aged nine and went on to compete internationally.

The youngster was originally diagnosed in 2016 and after a year was told she was cancer free after having radiotherapy. Tragically not long after, her mother Rachel Asiimwe Waligwa was diagnosed with cancer and was told she had two months to live.

However she had a miracle and survived against all the odds. Although bad news continued for the family as Nikita developed another tumour. According to reports she died at hospital in Naalya, Kampala last night.