My hustle to comedy

M y dream to study was shattered in Primary Two in Masaka because of financial constraints. I’m from a polygamous and unstable family. Everyone survived on their own.
In 1994, my aunt brought me to stay with her in Luzira, a Kampala suburb. We lived near Lakeside College, Luzira and I admired the students. One day, I decided to sneak in as a ghost student from Senior One and stopped in Senior Two.
Due to space constraints, I moved to my uncle’s house in the same neighbourhood.He got me a job as a porter at a construction site without pay. Fast forward, in 2006, DJ Isma, a friend connected me to work as a clown and MC at Club Melody and Skyrac in Luzira. This was a night gig and during day, I would attend a video hall where I was paid Shs2,000 a day.

Turning point
In 2007, I got a job with Knockout waragi as a salesperson. They used to hold promotion events upcountry where I would travel with them. I did this for four months and left. I joined X-tinaz, a dance group where I earned shs2,000 per show. This lasted one month.
Then a friend introduced me to another dance group, Stingers- which included artiste Sheeba Karungi- as MC. My stage name was MC Cool J, and I earned shs10,000 per show.
One afternoon, I was walking through Bwaise market and Uganda Telecom had a promotion going on. I approached them for a voice test. I sampled for them and scooped the job right away. They took me to their offices and wanted me to sell sim cards, I refused and they hired me as a comedian. they paid me Shs150,000 per month.
I performed during Uganda Telecom events in skimpy clothes. I started attracting media attention. I was all over TV and newspapers. I got many promotional deals with Warid and MTN as their events’ MC.
In 2010, besides doing only promotions, I came to Chez Johnson Hotel in Nakulabye where I applied to start doing comedy. They paid me Shs10,000 per show. It is where I am working up to date. I had rented a house in Bwaise.

Moving on
After one year at Chez Johnson, a woman spotted me and she connected me to Kandolindoli comedy group at Bat Valley. The group boss, John Ssegawa, asked me to act which I didn’t like. I told him I preferred stand-up comedy, but he doubted my ability. He gave me a chance to try it out. For five months, I managed to pull off good shows and the audience grew at Bat Valley Theatre. That was where I got the name Kapale because I always wore leggings while performing.
My comedy clips started airing on TV, and a friend advised me to claim money for that. My boss got furious and didn’t want to pay me but later, we agreed and he started paying me Shs350,000 per month.

Life changed
After saving some money, I bought a car, Toyota Limited at Shs1.7m because I badly wanted to ease my movement at work. It was in a bad mechanical condition and I got another car after six months.
In 2012, Miles Rwamiti, the NTV Koona presenter introduced me to Salvador Idringi, so I could join the Crackers Comedy group at theatre Labonita. Salvado first told me to sit in the audience and watch them perform. My first performance was great. I started earning shs450,000 per month and shs100,000 per show.
The group later split and I went solo. I’m occasionally called to perform. Of recent, I have been performing at Mirinda Comedy tours and at Laftaz Comedy Lounge every Wednesday.

Preparation
Before taking to the stage, I sit by myself to calm down. I always want to focus because I don’t rehearse my skits. I only perform randomly on stage. Different audiences prefer different jokes. When you try to be obscene and the crowd remains dormant, switch to other jokes until you get them laughing.

Benefits
I’m constructing a home in Nansana. After, I hope to start up a side business. I plan to focus on performing at big events.

What is wanting in the comedy industry?
Creativity is needed in comedy. Many people think I’m obscene. Yes, I’m obscene but in a subtle way that children cannot tell. I don’t think it is bad.
Worst experience
I always like joking about the people from the north. Some time back when I was called to perform in the north. I joked about them, they got furious and told me to leave the stage for others. I apologised and switched to other jokes.
Besides comedy, I got married to a woman who disappeared with my one-year-old daughter. Now, I’m single and searching for a light-skinned woman. She should be well-off because I hate dependants.

MC Kapale’s fans say…

“ He is naturally funny. You can tell from his jokes that even in his daily life, puns are a part of him. He stretches what seems like a normal notion and breaks it into bits of hilarity. You don’t need to listen to a long story awaiting the punch line. Each sentence he utters in the direction of the actual punchline, is a good character of a joke.

Solomon Muleyi Journalist

“ Unlike other comedians who are seasonal, Kapale will make you laugh even when he is still backstage. He is so creative that he tries as much not to recycle jokes.

Florence Kia Student, Makerere University Kampala
Compiled by Lawrence ogwal