Queen of Katwe star, Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies of brain tumor, aged 15

Nikita Pearl Waligwa, an actress who starred in the Queen of Katwe, a Disney film about a chess prodigy from a Ugandan slum, has died at age 15, according to the BBC.

Waligwa played Gloria, a friend of the protagonist Phiona, who explained the rules of chess.

She was initially diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016 and Queen of Katwe director Mira Nair reportedly mobilised people to help fund her treatment in India, with Ugandan doctors quoted as saying they did not have the necessary equipment.

She was given the all-clear in 2017 but last year was found to have another tumour.

The 2016 movie was based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi, who took up chess aged nine despite not being in school and went on to compete in international tournaments.