Anne Kansiime on stage with Cyrus Baguma. PHOTO/ISAAC SSEJJOMBWE
Anne Kansiime’s comedy grill at Sheraton Kampala Hotel Gardens on Saturday was tailored around going personal, where the chefs would each get 15 minutes to verbally attack or throw ‘insults’ at anyone.
The producers of the show, who included comedians Timothy Nyanzi, Dr Hillary Okello and Ehma Napoleon, had earlier briefed the participants and offered them materials they could use with the disclaimer of ‘leaving emotions at home’.
There was skepticism when Miria Matembe, a Ugandan lawyer, politician and gender equality advocate was put on the lineup alongside Salvador, Madrat and Chiko, Nana Kagga, GNL Zamba, Gaetano Kagwa, Prim Asiimwe, Skylanta, Sheilah Gashumba and Daniel Omara Daniel. With her seniority and the topic of discussion, many feared that Mtembe would either walk off the stage or end up losing her cool during the process. But she proved everyone wrong with the way she responded when she took to the stage. With Gabbie Ntate’s Cheza For Yesu song playing in the background, Matembe took to the stage dancing.
She bragged about how the rest of the participants should be proud rubbing shoulders with her and how she does not know any of them yet they claim to be celebrities. The kind of punchlines she threw caught the audience by surprise. Like telling Gaetano Kaggwa who had earlier roasted her for being fired as the Minister of Ethics and Integrity that he was the reason why she lost interest in that job.
“My son-in-law said I was the minister of ethics and integrity and I remembered the day and time I knew Uganda had morally degenerated. When he was in South Africa in Big Brother I, the minister for Ethics and Integrity used to watch him shamelessly exercising and demonstrating sexual immorality.
Being a person responsible for building ethics values and morals among Ugandans I asked myself what I was going to do and the man arrived at the airport and was received with honours and glory. As if that was not enough, the president sent a helicopter to receive him and I knew I was doing the wrong job,” Matembe said, receiving an uproar from the crowd.
From Gaetano, she went to GNL, telling him how his hair, chains and clothes make him look like a member of the LGBT. The Baboon Forest Entertainment proprietor had earlier thrown jibes at almost everyone, starting with Matembe saying she is respected because she is considered the fore founder of feminism in Uganda but the hot air is hot flashes from what is called ‘Menopause’.
“This makes sense because she is always opposing men.” GNL added. However, the Nsimbi artiste was on stage for more than 30 minutes which caused the other roasters to rush through their sessions, yet the show, organised by Talent Africa Group started a little later than scheduled.
Salvador, Madrat and Chiko, Prim Asiimwe and Sky Lanta did not fully utilise their time on stage while Kansiime too did not exhaust her time. Despite confirming that she would be available, Sheila Gashumba never made it at the function but that did not stop the hosts of the night; Richard Tuwangye and Deedan Muyiira, GNL and Matembe from roasting her.
