Hannington Bugingo: Biography, Early Life, Family, Education, Career and Achievements

Who is Hannington Bugingo? Flash Uganda Media looks at his biography, age, wife, family, tribe, achievements, and relationship with Charles Bafakuleka Mwebaze, Ruth Nakate, Esther Mirembe Bugingo, Phillip Luswata, Kwezi Kaganda, Farouq Twesigye, Frobisha Lwanga, Faith Kimuli, Julius Lugaya and the early life and education of a Ugandan comedian, actor, and film producer.

Hannington Bugingo, often known as “Bujju” in the comedy world, is a Ugandan comedian, actor, film producer, businessman, and ad strategist. 

He is the founder and president of The Uganda Comedians Association (TUCA) and the managing director of Fun Factory Uganda. 

He is best recognised for his role as Sam in Mizigo Express, although he also appears as various characters in Fun Factory’s comedies.

Early Life and Education

Hannington Bugingo was born on May 12, 1981, at Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, to the late Charles Bafakuleka Mwebaze (who died on January 13, 2022) and Ruth Nakate (mother).

Bugingo is the fifth born in a family of five children.

His father established the Kiwuliriza Church of Uganda in Namuwongo while serving as a reverend in the Church of Uganda. From there, he grew up for almost seven years before his mother moved him away to study.

His mother was an entrepreneur who dealt with agricultural goods and could move around the country with Bugingo depending on the crop season.

Bugingo had his primary education at Namalemba Mixed Day and Boarding School in Busembatya, Iganga. 

He later attended St. Leo’s College in Fort Portal for his O-levels before transferring to Lubiri Secondary School for his A-levels. 

He then enrolled at Makerere University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Drama degree.

On September 18, 2009, Bugingo married Esther Mirembe Bugingo. Esther is an employee at the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. They together have four children: three sons and the youngest a girl.

Career and Professional Work Experience

Bugingo travelled to Mbale for his practical exams in his second year of university, where he was the principal performer in a play called The Bear and I.

After the play, Philip Luswata his lecturer at that time approached him and suggested they start a theatre club. When they returned to Kampala, Bugingo met and created Theatre Factory with Phillip Luswata, Kwezi Kaganda, Farouq Twesigye, Frobisha Lwanga, Faith Kimuli, and Julius Lugaya.

The group’s debut performance took place in mid-September 2003 in front of only fifteen people, which included the owner and employees from his workplace. They were initially compensated with a dinner of plain chips because the proprietor claimed he had invested in the idea and didn’t have any extra cash.

Bugingo appeared in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland, starring Forest Whitaker and Kerry Washington, as the Minister of Health’s bodyguard. 

The same year, he co-starred with Lupita Nyong’o in the short film Roho as Ragos.

Bugingo appeared in Kiwani as Kaggwa alongside Juliana Kanyomozi in 2008. He also co-directed the film alongside Henry H Ssali. 

In 2008, while still working for Theatre Factory, he joined Scanad Uganda Limited, an advertising agency. He worked there until 2011 when Metropolitan Republic hired him as a copywriter. 

After a disagreement with the administration of Theatre Factory, Bugingo and thirteen other members founded a new group called Fun Factory Uganda in January 2010. He was appointed general manager.

Bugingo left his position as a creative strategist at the Metropolitan Republic in 2013 to focus on Fun Factory Uganda and the advertising agency KIB Marketing and Advertising Agency that he and his pals had founded.

In 2015, he created the film Situka as part of an effort to urge young people to ‘stand up’ (Situka) for their rights.

Achievements and Awards

Bugingo was elected as the first president of the Uganda Comedians Association (TUCA) in February 2019, promising to eradicate profanity from the comedy business.

Bugingo raised funds in 2020 to advance the career of emerging artist Razor Blade Lutabalala.

Bugingo and the Metropolitan Republic received a bronze award at The Loerie Awards for their MTN SIM card registration campaign.

Films

• The Last King of Scotland (2006)
• Roho (2006) where he acted as Ragos. 
• Kiwani: The Movie (2008) where he acted as Kaggwa
• Situka (2015) where he was the Executive producer

Television

• U-turn (2010 – 2015) on NTV
• U-turn (2015 – 2017) on NBS
• Mizigo Express (2018) on Pearl Magic (DStv)

Controversies

The Ugandan government proposed a law in January 2019 mandating all artists to register with the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. 

Before filming a video, every artist would have to acquire authorization from the ministry, according to the proposed legislation.

Hannington Bugingo stated, “We are not attempting to oppose the government, nor are we claiming that all of the points raised in the bill are incorrect. However, as artists, we were poorly represented. Our primary concerns are not drugs or performing for more than two hours, but rather copyright. The government will undoubtedly profit greatly if this plan is passed, but what about us artists?”

As TUCA president, he wrote to President Yoweri Museveni urging him to implement copyright laws to protect Ugandan artists’ works.

He then requested an Shs 47 billion Stimulus Fund to aid in the rehabilitation of the Culture and Creative Industries sector from the effects of Covid-19.

President Yoweri Museveni asked Uganda’s Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to investigate the Shs47 billion stimulus package requested by the country’s culture and creative sectors.

Museveni praised Bugingo for his contributions to the growth of culture and creative industries before promising him that his requests will be met.

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