From screen to suspicion: Luswata’s Trick Stars experience

When Trick Stars aired at the height of its popularity between 2011 and 2013, Albert Luswata became one of the most recognisable faces on Ugandan television. But the fame that came with his role as a conman in the edutainment series often followed him in unexpected ways.

“People didn’t separate me from the character. I remember sitting next to a woman in church, and she immediately held onto her bag. She thought I would steal it,” Luswata says.

The show, which aired on NTV Uganda, was designed to educate the public about common fraud tactics at a time when cases of conmanship were widespread. Luswata starred alongside Edwin Mukalazi, Ramala Kyomuhendo, Adnan Senkumba and Francis Bwanika Bbale.

According to Luswata, Trick Stars was initially developed as a serious drama, but its creators later adjusted the format to make it more engaging.

“We realised that people respond better when they are entertained. That is when humour and the conman character were introduced, and it made the programme more relatable.”he says.

To convincingly portray the role, Luswata says he invested time in understanding how conmen operate.

“You cannot act what you don’t understand. There are different types of conmen and different types of victims. Studying those dynamics helped me bring the character to life,”he explains.

However, that realism created confusion among some viewers, who struggled to distinguish between the actor and the role.

“Some people genuinely believed we were real conmen. Yet our intention was to show how these tricks work so people could protect themselves,” he says.

He adds that the cast occasionally faced hostility from actual fraudsters who felt exposed by the programme.

“There were instances of threats because we were revealing their methods,” Luswata notes.

Some of the scenes that defined the show remain vivid in his memory. In one episode, a housemaid was persuaded to hand over a refrigerator after being convinced that the actors had been sent by her employer.

“She even asked us to take it for repair. In the end, we left with the fridge. It sounds unbelievable now, but that is how some of these situations happen,” he explains.

In another segment, a staged relationship was used to trap a victim into paying money to avoid a fabricated accusation.

“These stories reflected real-life scenarios,” he says. “That is why people related to them.”

Luswata’s journey into acting began in primary school at Mitala Maria, where he took part in drama activities and developed an early interest in performance. At Uganda Martyrs High School, he deepened that interest through music and drama, despite missing out on some early opportunities.

“It was challenging, but it pushed me to keep going,” he says.

He later joined Caltec Academy for A-level, where he formed a drama club, before enrolling at Makerere University to study music, dance and drama. By the early 2000s, he had started appearing in professional productions, including projects focused on HIV/AIDS awareness.

Beyond Trick Stars, Luswata featured in Katemba mu kooti, a courtroom drama that blended legal storytelling with humour.

“At first, the scripts were very technical,” he says. “But when we introduced comedy, it became easier for audiences to connect with the stories.”

He also appeared in productions such as Omusajja Omuloge and Musitwa The Garage Man, which he describes as some of his most memorable work.

Reflecting on fame, Luswata says he initially found public attention difficult to adjust to.

“I never really saw myself as a celebrity,” he says. “But over time, I came to appreciate the support, especially from young people who have followed my work over the years.”

Looking ahead, he expresses concern about changes in the film industry, particularly the impact of new technologies.

“Artificial intelligence is now being used to create content. It raises questions about the future of actors and writers.”

He also points to the growing influence of social media platforms, where short-form content is increasingly shaping audience preferences.

“People want quick, entertaining content. That is something the industry has to adapt to,” Luswata says. “

Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic that creativity and adaptability will sustain the industry.

“As things change, we have to find ways to remain relevant,” he says.

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