The Bad Mexican

The Bad Mexican is a 2017 Ugandan comedy short film written and directed by Loukman Ali. The film opens with the caption: 'Unfortunately this is a true story...' plus skylines of Kampala City. It stars Adnan Senkumba who plays Kenneth Senkumba, a man with a dream to submit his award-worthy script entitled The Bad Mexican to an influential producer at the Masters Music office so that he can make loads of money. He dreams that it will be more than enough to refund Moses (played by Joel Okuyo Atiku) in full and also enjoy himself at the beach with girls. Despite paying the 'thug' for the past eight months, the money keeps accumulating. Ken owes him $300 and he always collects. While driving himself to deliver the script, Kenneth parks after his friend tells him on phone that Moses wants him and he had given him Ken's number; he would rather kill himself than let Moses torture him. Ken's stomach starts grumbling because of the bad Mexican food he had eaten as recommended by the friend. He shits in his pants and has to change them in time for the presentation, his friend (advised by Jess - a girlfriend sitting on a sofa and watching TV) tries telling him to contact a company called Trendz that delivers clothes by GPS but because of bugs in their app; a motorcycle courier instead delivers a grey French cap (nkofira) worth 20,000 UgX. Disappointed, Ken is forced to pay the young lad (he had earlier splashed water on from a pothole puddle in Industrial Area) for his multi-coloured 'ugly trousers'. The boy walks away happy in his boxers with some cash in hand. After submitting his script in a khaki envelope, a lady gives him a number and tells him not to call it but rather they would use it to call him if he is selected. The following day, Moses holding a bat and his three goons start looking for Ken at his apartment block. The film features dialogue in English, Luganda and Lugbara though captioned.

Reception

The Bad Mexican has been screened at various film festivals including the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) and Ngalabi Short Film Festival. Jude Zambarakji commented, "The editing was excellent!" Dorothy Lewa Bende and Shifah Musisi thought the film was "amazing". Scene transitions caught people's attention and the CGI of the helicopter was very photorealistic basing on the fact that Loukman is a creative motion graphics designer and sketch artist.