State Research Bureau (film)

State Research Bureau, also marketed as S.R.B., is a Ugandan action film directed by Matt Bish. It's a story based on Uganda's dark past and exposes the brutality of the President's secret intelligence police that ran safe houses.

Plot

Before 1986, a family tries to flee the troubled country, but are intercepted by state operatives. They meet the notorious Captain Yusuf who runs a safe house (prison). It's the 1980s, but Yusuf's unit reflects the State Research Bureau during the 1970s.

Cast

S.R.B. featured Roger Masaba as the notorious intelligence chief, Joel Okuyo Atiku as James, Cleopatra Koheirwe and Matthew Nabwiso. Also making an appearance is Roger Mugisha, the inspiration for Matt Bish's first film Battle of the Souls in which Okuyo and Nabwiso had starred back in 2007.

Release and reception

2013 Uganda Film Festival

The film premiered in Kansanga, a suburb of Kampala, Uganda at Wonder World (former Didi's World) on 25 January 2011, the 32nd Anniversary since Idi Amin's Overthrow by Tanzanian armed forces plus Ugandan exiles and an evening just before the 25th Anniversary of the National Resistance Movement's Liberation Day. In 2013, it swept the inaugural Uganda Film Festival Awards organised by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), winning in four categories. One unforgettable line in the movie, though sarcastic, is: "Welcome to Hotel Arua, hahaha!" Although shot mainly in Jinja, Uganda, it was inspired by the stories of real life survivors of the era. The movie starts in Arua where innocent civilians are gunned down, reminiescent of the Ombaci Massacre during the Obote II regime.

The first edition of the Uganda film Festival wrapped up on a Friday at the Kampala Serena Hotel helipad gardens, with overwhelming numbers of Ugandan film producers, actors and fans. The closing event of the weeklong festival climaxed with an awards-giving ceremony. One of four judges who selected the best of Ugandan films was South African actress Rosie Motene of the Generations series fame. The award for Film of the Year, Best Screenplay and Best Uganda Feature Film went to State Research Bureau, a Matt Bish production that delves into Ugandan’s tumultuous history, set during the 1980s liberation war.

Matt's Acceptance Speech: I'd like to thank all my actors for listening and working extremely hard to get their work done, would also like to thank Thomas Karsten my D.O.P for accepting to join the crew in Jinja, my little brother Roger Mugisha for being there for me and providing great inspiration, my wife Catherine for her support as a wife and a friend, my little daughter Hannah Beverly for bringing the blessings home and to my fans, thanks for trying to support the Film Industry in Uganda. We need you who know of its existence to continue supporting it and tell those who don't know of its beauty. And last but not least I'd like to thank UCC for a good start and hoping and praying that they continue doing a great job of helping young filmmakers develop and grow in the arts. And to my lovely staff at Bish Films, please continue working hard and change the face of entertainment in Uganda. Good Night and Good Luck...