Fun Factory Uganda

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.

Fun Factory Uganda
IndustryEntertainment
Founded5 January 2010 (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,
Kampala
,
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

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
Present cast
Series Recurring Characters Notes
Hannington Bugingo The Musoga Series Lukakamwa
Lying Series Kikonyogo Also known as Chicco
As Andrew Mwenda The journalist
Radio host
Richard Tuwangye The arrogant Munyankole Always talking to an "Amos" on the phone
Junior Kisitu's nephew, who has a cat-and-dog relationship with his uncle
UTI (Under the Influence) Phobia The drunkard
Dickson ZZizinga Kisitu A man who depends on his sister and comes to her in case of emergencies
Hajji Series Hajji A conservative Muslim man with an elastic number of wives
Sheikh Zzizu A Muslim cleric who has a wealth of knowledge above everyone else and is always predicting the future
Kuddzu Isaac The Musoga Series Lyagobba
Kasumali A chaotic and unpredictable character
Anne Kansiime
Herbert Ssegujja Teacher Mpamire
As Drake Ssekeba The journalist
Frobisher Lwanga UTI (Under the Influence) Amnesia
Nina Katamba Hajji Series One of Hajji's wives
Cathy Bagaya
Tindi Mustapha Hajji Series One of Hajji's wives
Gloria Kebirungi
Simon Kalema UTI (Under the Influence) Tilapia
English teacher English school teacher with a unique English that he himself calls 'Engrish'
Raymond Rushabiro UTI (Under the Influence) Insomnia
As Kasirye Ggwanga
Gerald Rutaro
Evelyn Kemizinga Junior's mother
Hajji Series One of Hajji's wives
Veronica Namanda Hajji Series One 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
Show Year TV Recognition
U-Turn 2010–2015 NTV
  • Voted second best locally produced TV programme after NTV's Akawungeezi[19]
  • Most watched TV programme (Synovate Survey)[20]
2015–2017 NBS
Mizigo Express 2018–present Pearl Magic (DStv)[25]

Awareness campaigns
  • April 2015 – Comedicine was used in an awareness campaign when FFU partnered with the Citizens' Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU), in order to encourage people to register to vote.[26]
  • April 2015 – Raised 2 million shillings from the show Organised Chaos to help with treatment of Rosemary Nankabirwa, a former news anchor with NTV Uganda.[27][28]

See also

References
  1. Vision, Reporter (8 January 2010). "Theatre Factory splits up". New Vision. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  2. Ruva, Roy (30 January 2015). "Comedy Outfit Fun Factory Warm Up for "Best of Zizinga" in Style". Chano8. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  3. De-Hayden, Jack (14 March 2010). "Is Fun Factory breaking Theatre Factory's legs?". The Observer.
  4. Nuwagaba, Edwin (5 January 2010). "Theatre Factory splits, new group; Fun Factory formed". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  5. Chimp, Reports (31 January 2013). "Fun Factory's Journey Back to National Theatre". Chimp Reports. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  6. Sqoop, Writer (6 April 2012). "Fun Factory to launch new home with Easter shows". Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  7. Sqoop, Writer (11 January 2013). "Home is always best, as Fun Factory comedians return to National Theatre". Sqoop. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  8. Batte, Edgar. R (16 March 2017). "Nourish your heart with Comedycine". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  9. Muriisa, Habre (11 January 2018). "Why Fun Factory Has Halted Their Weekly Shows Again". Chano8. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  10. Ogwal, Lawrence (30 August 2014). "Comedians leave Hoima, Masaka fans in stitches". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  11. Ocungi, Julius (6 December 2014). "Comedians leave Gulu fans with painful ribs". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  12. "MORNING AT NTV: Fun Factory's Five-Star Madness - Features | NTV". www.ntv.co.ug. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  13. Matooke, Republic (17 December 2014). "Kansiime Sponso'rs Fun Factory's 5 Star Madness". Matooke Republic. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  14. Kaggwa, Andrew (21 December 2015). "Fun Factory in 5-star madness". Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  15. Kushaba, Duncan (20 December 2016). "Fun Factory ends year with a bang at 5 Star madness". New Vision. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  16. Ruva, Roy (16 December 2016). "Fun Factory Ends Year With a Bang at 5 Star Madness". Chano8. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  17. Muhumuza, Timothy (30 November 2019). "Five Star Madness leaves ribs cracking: In pictures | Kampala Sun". Kampala Sun. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  18. Ssejjombwe, Isaac (30 November 2019). "Fun Factory leaves revellers yearning for more madness". Sqoop. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  19. "Fun Factory sign 200m deal with NTV". 13 April 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  20. "NTV Loses Popular U-Turn Show to NBS TV". Xclusive UG. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  21. "U-Turn show now on NBS TV". Sqoop. 18 September 2015.
  22. "Twaweza Uganda teams up with Funfactory, release a song 'yambala mask' to create COVID- 19 awareness". Matooke Republic. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  23. Nafulah, Annah (23 September 2020). "Fun Factory in new COVID-19 awareness hit". Capital FM. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  24. Batte, Edgar R. (21 December 2020). "Covid-19: Fun Factory use song to sensitise Ugandans". Sqoop. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  25. "Pearl Magic turns 1". 30 September 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  26. Sqoop, Writer (10 April 2015). "Fun Factory to root for voter registration". Sqoop. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  27. Ruva, Roy (10 April 2015). "Two Million Raised for Rosemary Nankabirwa at Fun Factory Comedy Night". Chano8. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  28. UgandaOnline, Writer (10 April 2015). "Fun Factory dedicate show to Rosemary Nankabirwa". Uganda Online. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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