Fun Factory Uganda
Fun Factory Uganda is a Ugandan entertainment company based in Kampala. It was founded in 2010 with its flagship product as sketch comedy. It also has branched into Television shows and Event management. It has a cast ofg 17, 9 of whom trained from Makerere University School of Liberal and Performing Arts. Their products include Comedicine, U-Turn and Mizigo Express.
History
Founding
After performing in Theatre Factory for six years, a misunderstanding developed between the members and the administration. Fourteen of the members then broke away to form Fun Factory, on 5 January 2010 leaving only two members in the original Theatre Factory group.2010–2019: The Hustle Begins
''The search for a home''
After the break away, their 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 more youth and other fans than their Theatre Factory Counterparts. With an ever growing audience the management of the parking increased the group's rent, This caused them to shift to Hotel Africana poolside. After a few months, they had a disagreement with hotel management, causing them to relocate to Cinema Plaza. However things got more challenging there that they decided to go on a new location search. They finally came to a mutual understanding with National Theatre.''Comedicine''
Comedicine is a weekly Sketch comedy show that takes place every Thursday at 8pm, since inception of the group, except the first weeks of 2018. The success of Comedicine, attracted Mirinda to partner with Fun Factory in the regional Mirinda Comedy tour in 2014.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 | Who is always talking to an Amos on phone | |
Junior | Kisitu's nephew who has a cat and dog relationship with his uncle | ||
UTI | Phobia | The drunkard | |
Dickson ZZizinga | Kisitu | That man who always depends on his sister and comes to her in case of emergencies | |
Hajji Series | Hajji | A conservative Moslem man with an elastic number of wives | |
Sheikh Zzizu | A Moslem 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 | 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 | Tilapia | |
English teacher | English school teacher with a unique English which he himself calls 'Engrish' | ||
Raymond Rushabiro | UTI | 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
- Daniel Omara
- Akite Agnes
- Okello Okello
- Patrick Salvador Idringi
- Don Andre
''End of Year Shows''
2014 - Five Star Madness
2015 - Five Star Madness
2016 - Five Star Madness
2019 - Five Star Madness
''U-Turn''
U-Turn is a Television show that is shot 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 U-Turn. It was aired on NTV every Monday at 7:30pm from 2010 to 2015. In 2012, U-turn was voted as the second best locally produced show on TV Following an annual survey by Synovate, U-turn was the most watched entertainment TV show in Uganda. This prompted Mirinda, the show's sponsors to come to an agreement and air U-Turn on NBS So, in 2015, U-Turn started airing on NBS TV.''Mizigo Express''
Mizigo Express is a Sitcom that is the latest production by Fun Factory. It premiered on 3 October 2018 and is shown on Pearl Magic of DStv every Wednesday.Filmography
Awareness campaigns
- April 2015 – The Comedicine platform was used in an Awareness campaign when they partnered with Citizen's Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda where they used their theatre platform in an awareness raising campaign about participating in the voter's register update and also registering to vote.
- April 2015 – Raised 2 million shillings from the Organised Chaos show to help with treatment of Rosemary Nankabirwa, a former news anchor with NTV Uganda