Actress Nikita Pearl Waligwa, who was one of the stars of the Disney film, Queen of Katwe, has died at the young age of 15.

According to the Ugandan newspaper The Daily Monitor, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016.

The film, which starred Lupita Nyong’o and David Oyelowo, was based on the real-life story of Phiona Mutesi, a chess prodigy. Waligwa played Gloria, Mutsei’s friend in the film.

Both Nyong’o and Oyelowo posted tributes to Waligwa on social media:

View this post on Instagram

We mourn the loss of our beautiful Nikita Pearl Waligwa. She was a ball of light in @queenofkatwemovie and in life. Her battle with a brain tumor was humbling to witness. Her light will live on. ????#rip

A post shared by David O (@davidoyelowo) on Feb 16, 2020 at 10:19am PST

View this post on Instagram

It is with great sadness that I post about the passing of Nikita Waligwa, the sweet, warm, talented girl whom I worked with on the film, Queen Of Katwe. She played Gloria with such vibrancy. In her real life she had the enormous challenge of battling brain cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and community as they come to terms with having to say goodbye so soon. May she truly rest in piece. May it be well with her soul.

A post shared by Lupita Nyong’o (@lupitanyongo) on Feb 16, 2020 at 3:44pm PST

The Daily Monitor also says that Waligwa was said to be tumor-free in 2017, but another tumor was found last year. She went to school at Gayaza High School in Uganda.

READ MORE:

Review: Mira Nair’s ‘Queen of Katwe’ Is Disneyfied Black Girl Magic

Photo: Disney

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