Hannington Bugingo

Last updated

Hannington Bugingo
Hannington Bugingo.jpeg
Bugingo in 2019
Born(1981-05-12)12 May 1981
Kampala, Uganda
Alma mater Makerere University
(BA Drama)
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • film producer
  • advertising strategist
Years active2003–present
Known forMizigo Express
Spouse
Esther Mirembe Bugingo
​
​
(m. 2009)​
Children4

Hannington Bugingo (born 12 May 1981) is a Ugandan comedian, actor, film producer, and advertising strategist. He is the managing director of Fun Factory Uganda and also the founding president of The Uganda Comedians Association (TUCA). He is known for his role as Sam in Mizigo Express and also portrays various characters in Fun Factory's Comedicine.

Contents

Early life and education

Hannington Bugingo was born 12 May 1981 at Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda to Charles Bafakuleka Mwebaze, [1] a reverend, and Ruth Nakate, a businesswoman. The last-born in a family of five, Bugingo attended Namalemba Mixed Day and Boarding School, Busembatya, Iganga, then St. Leo's College, Kyegobe, Fort Portal for his O-levels, and later went to Lubiri Secondary School for his A-levels. Afterward, he joined Makerere University, where he pursued and completed a Bachelor of Arts in Drama [2]

Career

Early work

Towards his second year of university, Bugingo went to Mbale to do his practical exams. "We were performing a play titled The Bear and I was the lead actor. The audience applauded me quite a lot. They were impressed with my acting so I convinced myself that I could act." [3] It was after the play that his then-lecturer, Philip Luswata, approached him and suggested the idea of forming a theatre group. When they went back to Kampala, Bugingo, together with Phillip Luswata, Kwezi Kaganda, Farouq Twesigye, Frobisha Lwanga, Faith Kimuli, and Julius Lugaya met and formed Theatre Factory. [3] The group's first performance was in mid-September 2003 in front of only fifteen people, comprising the owner and staff members of his workplace. Initially, they were paid with a meal of plain chips only because the owner said he had invested in that project and didn't have money to pay them. [4]

2006–2009

In 2006, Bugingo acted as the Minister of Health's bodyguard in The Last King of Scotland [ citation needed ], starring Forest Whitaker and Kerry Washington. In the same year, he acted as Ragos in a short film called Roho alongside Lupita Nyong'o. [5]

On the set of Roho. L-R: Hannington Bugingo, Ayub, Sam Ibanda, Lupita Nyong'o The making of Roho short film.jpg
On the set of Roho. L–R: Hannington Bugingo, Ayub, Sam Ibanda, Lupita Nyong'o

In 2008, Bugingo acted in Kiwani as Kaggwa [6] beside Juliana Kanyomozi. Together with Henry H Ssali, he also co-directed the movie. [7] [8] While still with Theatre Factory, he joined Scanad Uganda Limited, an advertising agency, in 2008. He worked there until 2011, when Metropolitan Republic headhunted him as a copy writer. [9] It was during this time that Bugingo won a bronze medal with Metropolitan Republic at The Loerie Awards for the MTN SIM card registration campaign. [10] [11]

2010–2019

In January 2010, Bugingo, together with thirteen other members, after a disagreement with the administration of Theatre Factory, broke away and formed a new group called Fun Factory Uganda. He became its general manager. [12] [3] [13]

In 2013, Bugingo quit his job as a creative strategist at Metropolitan Republic to concentrate on Fun Factory Uganda and the advertising agency that he and his friends had opened, called KIB Marketing and Advertising Agency. [14]

In 2015, he produced the film Situka. "The project, meant to encourage youths to 'stand up' (Situka) for their rights, think of the future...is a story that covers the entire country, Africa, and the globe". [15]

In January 2019, the government of Uganda proposed a bill suggesting every artist should be registered under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. According to the bill, every artist would have to obtain authorization from the ministry before shooting a video. Bugingo had this to say about it: "We are not trying to fight the government; neither are we saying that all points highlighted in the bill are wrong. But as artistes, we were not represented well. Our biggest problems are not performing for more than two hours or drugs, but copyright. The government will definitely earn much if they pass this bill, but what is in it for us artistes?" [16]

In February 2019, The Uganda Comedians Association (TUCA) was formed and Bugingo was elected as the founding president, while promising to wipe out vulgarity from the comedy industry. [17] [2] As TUCA head, he wrote to president Yoweri Museveni to push for enforcement of copyright law to protect the works of Ugandan artists. [18]

2020–present

In 2020, Bugingo raised money to launch the career of up-and-coming artist Razor Blade Lutabalala. [19]

Bugingo was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of the Uganda National Cultural Centre in April 2024. [20] [21]

Personal life

Bugingo, or "Bujju", as he is commonly known in the comedy industry [22] married Esther Mirembe Bugingo on 18 September 2009. His wife works with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. [3]

In March 2019, Bugingo was inducted into the Rotary Club of Kampala Munyonyo. [2]

Bugingo's father died in January 2022, at the age of 78. [1]

Filmography

Film

List of film appearances, with year, title, and role shown
YearTitleRoleNotes
2006 The Last King of Scotland BodyguardBodyguard to the Minister of Health
2006RohoRagosWeed seller who witnesses a murder
2008 Kiwani: The Movie KaggwaPickpocket and conman
Co-producerTogether with Henry H Ssali
2015 Situka Executive producer

Television

List of television appearances, with year, title, and role shown
YearTitleRoleNotesTv network
2010 - 2015U-turnVarious rolesNTV
2015 - 2017Various rolesNBS
2018–PresentMizigo ExpressSamTenant and sidekick to Kabogozza, the landlordPearl Magic (DStv)

Related Research Articles

Juliana Kanyomozi is a musician actress and entertainer. She is a multiple award-winning Ugandan pop musician, an R&B and Afro Beat Singer well known among Western Uganda's decent musicians. Juliana was born on November 27, 1980, at Toro Fort Portal in Western Uganda of the Mutooro tribe. She is one of Western Uganda's descent among other musicians including Angella Katatumba, Allan Toniks and Ray G.

Herbert Mendo Ssegujja, is a Ugandan comedian and actor, who performs under the name Teacher Mpamire. He is most famous for mimicking the Ugandan president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He assumes the stage name Teacher Mpamire.

Situka (A Call for Action) is a Ugandan feature film about two lovers: Amanio (Hellen Lukoma), an ambitious young woman with a passion for politics, who inspires her boyfriend Muganga (Bobi Wine), an industrious young daredevil, to stand up for justice in society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Muhangi</span> Ugandan comedian and actor

Alex Emix Muhangi, commonly known as Alex Muhangi, is a Ugandan comedian, actor sound engineer, director and host of the comedy show, Comedy Store Uganda. He was listed as one of the top 10 Ugandan comedians and personalities in 2016 and 2017 by New Vision and as one of the pioneers of standup comedy in the English language in Uganda.

Comedy Store Uganda, is a weekly live stand-up comedy show that was created in 2016 by comedian Alex Muhangi, who is also the host since the show’s inception. The show is recorded on Wednesdays at UMA Multi-Purpose Hall Lugogo in Kampala and airs Fridays on NTV Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akite Agnes</span> Ugandan comedian, actress, and philanthropist

Akite Agnes is a Ugandan stand-up comedian, actress, MC, and philanthropist. She is popularly known for her role as Arach in the series The Hostel. She has also acted in Pearl Magic's Girl from Mparo as Mama Brian, the nosy neighbour. Her style of comedy reflects on the daily issues that people face as they go about their lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arise Woman! Comedy Jam</span> Ugandan stand-up comedy show

Arise Woman! Comedy Jam is a Ugandan stand-up comedy show created and hosted by Akite Agnes. The event happens annually on International Women's Day in celebration of the achievements of the woman in the society and has an all female cast. The show takes place yearly on 8 March. Proceeds from each show go to an identified Charity organisation

Patrick Idringi, known as Patrick Salvado, is a Ugandan comedian, actor, master of ceremonies, radio personality and engineer. He is also known as "The Arrogant Man". He was first runner up in the MultiChoice Africa organised comedy competition, Standup Uganda in 2009. He reached the semi-finals of the World's Funniest Person competition in 2016 and was nominated in 2017 and 2018 in the Savannah Comic Choice Awards as the Pan African Comic of the Year. He is also quite known for his sheer arrogance and hypocrisy

94 Terror is a 2018 Ugandan war-drama film set in the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The film premiered on 14 December 2018 at a red carpet event at Theatre Labonita in Kampala and won Best Viewers' Choice Movie Award at the 2018 Uganda Film Festival Awards in the first week after the release.

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.

Richard Tuwangye is a Ugandan actor, comedian, and musician. He is a founding member of Fun Factory Uganda.

Kenneth Kimuli Amooti is a Ugandan comedian, playwright and journalist. He is well known as Pablo in the Ugandan comedy circles. He won the first Multi-Choice Stand Up Uganda comedy competition. After losing both parents to HIV/AIDS at an early age, he has formed charity organisations; Pill Power Uganda and Tangaza Arts Centre which aim to support youth living with HIV/AIDS.

Pastor Aloysius Bugingo is a Ugandan born-again pastor and businessman. He is the Director of Salt Media Group of Companies, and a church in Makerere, Kikoni, Kampala, the House of Prayer Ministries International. He was named the most influential born-again preacher by the East Africa Book of Records.

Bullion is a 2014 Ugandan crime drama film produced by Henry Ssali and directed by Phillip Luswata. The film stars Allan Tumusiime, Kenyan actor Ainea Ojiambo, singer Juliana Kanyomozi and her sister Laura Kahunde, radio presenter and Fun Factory's Veronica Tindi, comedian Anne Kansiime, Michael Wawuyo and his son Michael Wawuyo Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abryanz</span> Ugandan fashion designer

Titus Brian Ahumuza, commonly known as Abryanz, is a Ugandan fashion designer.

Abbas Kaijuka is a Ugandan fashion designer, stylist and fashion collector known for his brand Kai's Divo. He is a recipient of the East Africa’s Male Fashion Designer of the Year award at the 2020 East Africa Fashion Awards and the Fashion Designer of the Year award at the 2016 Abryanz Style & Fashion Awards and received various nominations including the East African Designer of the year award at the 2017 Swahili Fashion Week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judith Heard</span> Ugandan fashion model

Judith Allen Heard, commonly known as Judith Heard, is a Ugandan environmentalist, fashion model and event host known for launching the 50 Million Trees for Africa climate change campaign. She was crowned Miss Africa in Miss Elite Awards 2021 from Egypt, Miss Environment International Africa 2022 in Mumbai, India and Hollywood Green Carpet Fashion Awards’ Global Young Leader for her interplay between ecological action, civil rights, equality and global feminism in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akau Jambo</span> South Sudanese comedian, actor and writer

Akau Jambo is a South Sudanese stand-up comedian, and actor. He is the founder of Juba International Comedy Festival the first comedy festival in South Sudan. Akau is also a Mandela Washington Fellow, 2022 cohort.

Cotilda Inapo is a Ugandan female stand-up comedian, actress, freelance copywriter, motivational speaker and events host who joined professional comedy in 2009 as the first officially recognized female standup Comedienne in Uganda. She was a regular with the Crackers whose performances were broadcast as the "Mic Check" comedy show on NTV and NBS from 2010 to 2013

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naira Ali</span> Ugandan musician

Nabattu Naira Ali is a Ugandan musician and performer.

References

  1. 1 2 Mwesigwa, Solomon (13 January 2022). "Comedian Hannington Bugingo announces the death of his father". MBU. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Ruva, Roy (27 March 2019). "The Year Just Keeps Getting Better and For Comedian Hannington Bugingo". Chano8. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Batte, Edgar. R (14 September 2012). "Bugingo taking comedy seriously". Sqoop. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  4. ↑ Chimp, Reports (20 July 2017). "We Used to Perform for Plain Chips-Bugingo Recounts Journey to Comedy". Chimp Reports. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "Roho". IMDb. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  6. ↑ Vision, Reporter (27 March 2008). "Juliana takes to the silver screen". The New Vision. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Kiwani (2008)". IMDb. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  8. ↑ Batte, Edgar. R (26 April 2008). "Kiwani.The Movie: A fair film for a first attempt". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  9. ↑ Nkahebwa, Rowland Bon (23 August 2018). "INTERVIEW: I Do Not Regret Becoming A Comedian-Fan Factpry's Bugingo Hannington". Chimp Reports. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  10. ↑ Sqoop, Writer (5 October 2012). "Metropolitan Republic wins award". Sqoop. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  11. ↑ Chimp, Reports (1 October 2012). "MetropolitanRepublic Uganda Wins the Loerie Award". Chimp Reports. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  12. ↑ Ruva, Roy (30 January 2015). "Comedy Outfit Fun Factory Warm Up for "Best of Zizinga" in Style". Chano8. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  13. ↑ Nuwagaba, Edwin (5 January 2010). "Theatre Factory splits, new group; Fun Factory formed". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  14. ↑ Sqoop, Admin (20 April 2013). "Bugingo quits metropolitan". Sqoop. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  15. ↑ "Tickling the youth into action". 6 June 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  16. ↑ Kisakye, Allen (20 January 2019). "Voices, reactions of artistes on the proposed Government bill". Watchdog. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  17. ↑ Ssejjombwe, Isaac (11 July 2019). "Putting a stop to vulgar comedians is our priority – Hannington Bugingo". Sqoop. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  18. ↑ Kalema, Stephen (25 March 2021). "Comedian Bugingo asks for Shs47 bn stimulus package from government, Museveni responds". Watchdog Uganda. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  19. ↑ Ssegawa, Mike (4 August 2020). "Fun factory's Bugingo embarks on reinventing Razor Blade's unfulfilled career promise". Watchdog Uganda. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  20. ↑ Kiganda, Hussein (15 April 2024). "UNCC New Board of Trustees to start with bringing audiences back to theatre". New Vision. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "UNCC Board Inaugurated as Government Promises More Support to the Arts and Creative Industry". spiners.net. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  22. ↑ Isaac, Writer (19 September 2015). "Bobi Wine is The Best Actor in Uganda - Bugingo". Chano8. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.