Fun Factory Uganda

Last updated

Fun Factory Uganda
Industry Entertainment
Founded5 January 2010;14 years ago (2010-01-05)
Founders
  • Hannington Bugingo
  • Richard Tuwangye
  • Veronica Namanda Kiwanuka
  • Dickson Zzizinga
  • Gerald Rutaro Mbabazi
  • Kwezi Kaganda
  • Kuddzu Isaac
  • Frobisher Lwanga
  • Veronica Tindichebwa
  • Evelyn Kemizinga
  • Ninah Katamba
  • Anne Kansiime
  • Emma Kakai
  • Destiny Mutaasa
  • Catherine Bagaya
HeadquartersFirst Floor, F03, National Theatre, ,
Uganda
Key people
Hannington Bugingo
(Managing Director)
Richard Tuwangye
(Communications Director)
Dickson Zzizinga
(Creative Director)
Veronica Namanda Kiwanuka
(Assistant Creative Director)
Gerald Rutaro
(Finance and Administration)
Products

Fun Factory Uganda is a Ugandan entertainment company based in Kampala. It was founded in 2010, with its flagship product being sketch comedy. It also has branched into television shows and event management. FFU's cast are trained at Makerere University School of Liberal and Performing Arts. Their products include Comedicine, U-Turn, and Mizigo Express.

Contents

History

Founding

Fun Factory Uganda got its start when fourteen members of Theatre Factory [1] had a misunderstanding with the group's administration and broke away to form their own troupe on 5 January 2010, leaving only two members in the original Theatre Factory group. [2] [3] [4]

2010–2019: The hustle begins

FFU's inaugural show was on 14 January 2010, performing at Pan World parking lot. They then proceeded to perform weekly on the same days and times that they used to at the National Theatre, where they attracted many youth and other fans. [3] With an ever-growing audience, the management of the parking lot increased the group's rent, [5] causing them to shift to the Hotel Africana poolside. After a few months, they had a disagreement with the hotel management, [6] and had to relocate again, this time to Cinema Plaza. However, things were more challenging there, so they decided to search for a new location. They finally came to a mutual understanding with the National Theatre. [5] [7]

Comedicine

Comedicine is a sketch comedy created by FFU that has aired on a weekly basis. [8] since inception of the group, except the first weeks of 2018. [9] The show's success attracted soft drink brand Mirinda to partner with Fun Factory in the regional Mirinda Comedy tour in 2014. [10] [11]

Onstage during Comedicine Haven't we had enough for the night.jpg
Onstage during Comedicine
Present cast
SeriesRecurring CharactersNotes
Hannington BugingoThe Musoga SeriesLukakamwa
Lying SeriesKikonyogoAlso known as Chicco
As Andrew Mwenda The journalist
Radio host
Richard TuwangyeThe arrogant MunyankoleAlways talking to an "Amos" on the phone
JuniorKisitu's nephew, who has a cat-and-dog relationship with his uncle
UTI (Under the Influence)PhobiaThe drunkard
Dickson ZZizingaKisituA man who depends on his sister and comes to her in case of emergencies
Hajji SeriesHajjiA conservative Muslim man with an elastic number of wives
Sheikh ZzizuA Muslim cleric who has a wealth of knowledge above everyone else and is always predicting the future
Kuddzu IsaacThe Musoga SeriesLyagobba
KasumaliA chaotic and unpredictable character
Anne Kansiime
Herbert Ssegujja Teacher Mpamire
As Drake SsekebaThe journalist
Frobisher LwangaUTI (Under the Influence)Amnesia
Nina KatambaHajji SeriesOne of Hajji's wives
Cathy Bagaya
Tindi MustaphaHajji SeriesOne of Hajji's wives
Gloria Kebirungi
Simon KalemaUTI (Under the Influence)Tilapia
English teacherEnglish school teacher with a unique English that he himself calls 'Engrish'
Raymond RushabiroUTI (Under the Influence)Insomnia
As Kasirye Ggwanga
Gerald Rutaro
Evelyn KemizingaJunior's mother
Hajji SeriesOne of Hajji's wives
Veronica NamandaHajji SeriesOne of Hajji's wives

Guest appearances

End-of-year shows

Fun Factory Uganda has been hosting an end-of-year show called Five Star Madness since 2014. [12]

2014 - Five Star Madness [13]

2015 - Five Star Madness [14]

2016 - Five Star Madness [15] [16]

2019 - Five Star Madness [17] [18]

U-Turn

U-Turn is a television show filmed and produced from live shows that take place every Thursday. Originally, it was called Barbed Wire, under Theatre Factory, but when the members formed Fun Factory, they recreated the show and renamed it. In 2012, U-Turn was voted as the second best locally produced show on TV. [19] Following an annual survey by Synovate, U-Turn was the most watched entertainment TV show in Uganda. This prompted Mirinda, the show's sponsor, to come to an agreement and air U-Turn on NBS [20] So, in 2015, U-Turn started airing on NBS TV. [21]

Mizigo Express

Mizigo Express is a sitcom produced by Fun Factory. It premiered on 3 October 2018.

Discography

Filmography

Works
ShowYearTVRecognition
U-Turn2010–2015NTV
  • Voted second best locally produced TV programme after NTV's Akawungeezi [19]
  • Most watched TV programme (Synovate Survey) [20]
2015–2017NBS
Mizigo Express2018–presentPearl Magic (DStv) [25]

Awareness campaigns

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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