Just as a single photograph can evoke deep longing, Memories of Love Returned is Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s soul-stirring documentary—a journey through love, loss, and legacy, seen through the remarkable life and lens of Ugandan photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo. It’s a powerful search for identity and a moving testament to the healing power of reconnection. On April 24th, 2002, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s car broke down in the small town of Mbirizi, Uganda. While waiting for the car's repair he stumbled upon a photo studio and met photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, whose work spanned from the late 1950’s up till 2006 when he passed away. 

This chance encounter turned into a 22 year journey documenting and exploring Kibaate’s life and photography and the profound impact it had on Ntare’s life and the lives of the entire community he documented.
The film is centered on a large-scale outdoor exhibit in Kibaate’s hometown, which led to the community's discovery of long lost photos, family secrets and never before seen family members all being brought to life through Kibaate’s work.   


  Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is presently on the 2024 - 2026 film festival run of his documentary feature "Memories of Love Returned," spotlighting the life and work of the late great Ugandan photographer Kibaate Aloysius Ssalongo, which Steven Soderbergh is executive producing. The film won Best Documentary at the Zanzibar International Film Festival, the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Pan African Film Festival, and the Best Documentary Feature prize at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival 2024. It won Best International Documentary and won the Special Jury Mention Prize at the Africa International Film Festival 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria. Memories of Love Returned was also selected as one of the Top Ten African Documentaries of 2024 by OkayAfrica.