I was dumped a week after our first kiss - Ssegujja
What you need to know:
Herbert ‘Mendo’ Ssegujja is a man of many skills. A comedian with Fun Factory and a professional teacher at Standard High School Zana where he teaches History. He’s widely known as Teacher Mpamire and famously known for mimicking President Museveni, ISAAC SSEJJOMBWE catches up with him.
The first thing you do in the morning..
A prayer to thank God for another day. Then I go on to check my emails, followed by YouTube. Of course I always check for the latest Arsenal news, Real Madrid, WhatsApp and Facebook.
The first thing you do when you get to work..
I greet my bosses before heading to class.
Earliest childhood memory..
When I footed from Kampala to Luweero (27 miles) after losing my transport money.
First best friend…
David Ganya.
First kiss
I kissed a classmate called Rebecca behind a mango tree at Bowa Primary School.
What class were you in?
I was in P.4.
How did it feel?
Hahaha it was sweet and having it in the banana garden made it even sweeter.
What happened after?
She ‘chucked’ me a week later.
First childhood hero.
My grandmother Nnalongo Margaret Namuleme.
Why is she your hero?
She raised me and made me what I am today.
First girlfriend.
I would say Rebecca although I stopped at only kissing her.
First book you read.
The Minds of Achievers by Grace Musiime Mugyenzi.
First job.
I was a construction porter.
First salary.
I was earning Shs2,500 per day as a porter on a building site.
Current job.
I am a teacher and comedian.
What do you like about your job?
It is so interactive. I love interacting with Audience and students. When it comes to comedy, I have won and been recognized in different awards. For example, I was the best comedian at the Youth Expo Stand-up Comedy Awards, Discovery Of The Year in the African Youth Awards, Comedian Of The Year in Rising Star Awards and comedian of the year in Starqt Awards.
What don’t you like about it?
Comedy is so demanding. You have to be updated every time.
Most memorable experience?
Studying at the most prestigious comedy school (American Comedy Institute in New York) for a one year course in comedy performing and writing.
Best advice and from who.
To always put my trust in God. This was from my grandmother Jaja Nalongo Margaret.
Biggest regret in life?
Losing my father in 2006 when my talent had just started blossoming. He would have been proud to have his son as president.
Mendo meets Museveni
Talking to the East African newspaper, Segujja says much as he started imitating the President in 2003, he first came face to face with Museveni at a sendoff party for Amelia Kyambadde on July 30, 2010.Kyambadde had resigned from her job as Museveni’s principal private secretary to join politics.
He sent the President into gales of laughter while the audience was left wiping tears of mirth. On that day, Mendo mimicked Museveni extolling names beginning with letter ‘K.’
