# 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.

## History
### Founding

Fun Factory Uganda got its start when fourteen members of Theatre Factory 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.

### 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. With an ever-growing audience, the management of the parking lot increased the group's rent, causing them to shift to the Hotel Africana poolside. After a few months, they had a disagreement with the hotel management, 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.

### Comedicine

Comedicine is a sketch comedy created by FFU that has aired on a weekly basis. since inception of the group, except the first weeks of 2018. The show's success attracted soft drink brand Mirinda to partner with Fun Factory in the regional Mirinda Comedy tour in 2014.
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

* Daniel Omara
* Akite Agnes
* Okello Okello
* Patrick Salvador Idringi
* Don Andre

### End-of-year shows

Fun Factory Uganda has been hosting an end-of-year show called Five Star Madness since 2014.
2014 - Five Star Madness
2015 - Five Star Madness
2016 - Five Star Madness
2019 - Five Star Madness

### 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. 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 So, in 2015, U-Turn started airing on NBS TV.

### Mizigo Express

Mizigo Express is a sitcom produced by Fun Factory. It premiered on 3 October 2018.

## Discography

* Yambala Mask
* Weekume Weka

## Filmography

Works :
| Show | Year | TV | Recognition |
| U-Turn | 2010–2015 | NTV | Voted second best locally produced TV programme after NTV's Akawungeezi Most watched TV programme (Synovate Survey) |
| | 2015–2017 | NBS | |
| Mizigo Express | 2018–present | Pearl Magic (DStv) | |

## 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.
* 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.