The Pearl of Africa

A film about love, hate and being transgender in one of the world’s most transphobic places. Uganda, a small land-locked country in East Africa. Once named The Pearl of Africa by Winston Churchill. A country blessed with its diversity in ethnicity, gender, flora and fauna. Yet in all this richness it struggles to recognise & appreciate this diversity.

Enter the life of Cleopatra Kambugu, a 27-year-old Ugandan Transgender Woman. She’s biologically born male, but against all odds transitioning into the woman she knows she was born to be. In the film we get to follow her as she questions gender expression and identity, reshape attitudes and uncover the realities of a people whose existence has been shrouded in myth and prejudice. In a feature length documentary we embark on a life changing journey. We follow Cleo who seeks to shine light on the intricate concepts of her gender identity. She rewrites the story of a transgender woman that has for long been shrouded in darkness and misunderstood.