Disney star Nikita Pearl Waligwa dies aged 15

Disney star Nikita Pearl Waligwa has died after losing her three year battle with brain cancer, aged only 15.

Nikita, who starred in Queen of Katwe, was given the all clear in 2017 but doctors in India found a second aggressive tumour only two years later.

Tributes have been pouring in for the “talented soul”, who “stunned the Disney Film World” and had “so much potential”.

Nikita passed away on Saturday night after battling a brain tumour that was first diagnosed in the same year the smash hit film was released.

She starred in the 2016 Disney film about a chess prodigy, Phiona Mutesi, from a Ugandan slum.

The young actress played the part of Gloria, a pal of Mutesi, as they grew up in Katwe – the largest of Kampala’s slums.

The film is based on the true story of a young girl who took up chess aged nine and went on to compete internationally.

Oscar-winning Lupita Nyong’o took on the role of Mutesi’s mum, and David Oyelowo played her chess teacher.