“Queen of Katwe” actress Esteri Tebandeke is in urgent need of a kidney transplant, with the donor required to be Blood Group O+.
Besides starring in the 2016 Disney production, “Queen of Katwe,” she also starred in a 2016 fantasy thriller, “Imperial Blue.”
The actress starred with Oscar Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and Critic’s Choice Award winner David Oyelowo.
According to information obtained from her social media platforms, the 37-year-old has been living with chronic kidney disease since early 2015. Her condition has deteriorated so much that doctors have recommended she has a kidney transplant.
It is estimated to cost $87,500 (about Shs314m).
On Tuesday, March 22, her husband of 11 years, Samuel Lutaaya Tebandeke, posted a long social media plea on her behalf.
“In her own words: I love what I do and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to do this work and be part of incredible projects. I hope to continue to share what God has given me the ability to do. I have been living with chronic kidney disease since early 2015, and I have managed to stay in relatively good health all these years. It hasn’t been easy changing my diet, my working methods, and life in general. But I have been able to survive with very few health scares over the years. Until now.
“I have had to give up or delay a number of things over the years, like childbearing, I had to give up dancing and acting jobs on days when I was not physically well. My doctor has recommended that I have a preemptive kidney transplant because my kidney function is dangerously low and I am now at end-stage kidney disease. With this surgery, I will be able to avoid the possibility of dialysis, which is costly in the short, medium, and long term.
With your help, I can beat this and go back to work and share my gift with the world. I NEED YOU.”
Contributions can be sent to Absa Bank Uganda, Account number 6007242881 (account name Esther Brenda Tebandeke) or Mobile Money 0778833857, 0757489459 (Samuel Tebandeke), or 0782767177 (Sarah Auma).