A storm is brewing in Uganda’s comedy industry, with a growing revolt against the Uganda Comedians Association (TUCA) now out in the open.
A few weeks ago, comedian and promoter Alex Muhangi announced the formation of a new comedy association, openly denouncing TUCA and its leadership. Muhangi revealed that several comedians had approached him, frustrated by what they described as years of inaction by the existing body.
“According to the comedians, TUCA has not done anything for them,” Muhangi said. “They asked me to step in as interim chairman so we can organise ourselves.”
Although Muhangi initially declined to name those backing the move, the rebellion has since gathered momentum.
Earlier this week, a group of prominent comedians including Patrick Salvador Idringi, Madrat and Chiko, and Ehma Napoleon publicly confirmed their support for Muhangi’s leadership.
“We sat and came to a consensus that Muhangi is the right person to steer the comedy industry forward,” Salvador said.
Salvador also addressed a contentious issue that has continued to fuel anger within the comedy fraternity: claims that TUCA recently received money from the federation on behalf of comedians.
“It has been said that TUCA received money, but we have never received any money from the federation,” Salvador stated.
What appears to have deepened the frustration, he explained, is that when comedians followed up with various offices, they were repeatedly told that the funds had already been released, supposedly to comedians.
“In every office we went to, they confirmed that the money was released,” Salvador said. “But the challenge has been identifying who exactly received it.”
According to him, matters took an even more troubling turn when they reviewed official lists.
“We found that our names had already been signed by other people,” he said. “We questioned why there was no due diligence. How can people who have worked in this industry for over 15 years have someone else sign and take money on their behalf?”
With the formation of the new association, the comedians say their long term vision is unity, accountability, and proper representation within the industry.
The Uganda Comedians Association (TUCA) was formed in 2020 to serve as a representative body for comedians across the country, with a mandate to advocate for their welfare, professional development, and collective interests. Over the years, TUCA has positioned itself as the official voice of the comedy industry, engaging with promoters, federations, and cultural institutions on behalf of its members.
However, the association has faced recurring criticism from comedians who accuse it of weak leadership, limited transparency, and failure to deliver tangible benefits. The current revolt highlights long standing frustrations and has reopened debate about governance, accountability, and representation within Uganda’s comedy industry.
Don’t want to miss out on any story? For updates on all Sqoop stories, follow this link on Telegram: https://t.me/Sqoop and Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel
