MC Kapale Says He Earned Just Shs15,000 While Helping Build Uganda’s Comedy Industry
Ugandan stand-up comedian MC Kapale has offered a candid look into the difficult beginnings of the country’s comedy industry, revealing that he once earned just Shs15,000 per performance despite being among the entertainers who helped popularize stand-up comedy in Uganda.
Looking back on his early career, Kapale reflected on performing at veteran actor and comedian John Segawa’s famous Kandolindoli comedy shows, which were held at Bat Valley Theatre in Kampala. According to the comedian, the modest payment barely covered the cost of getting to the venue, highlighting the financial struggles many pioneers faced while helping establish what has since become a thriving entertainment sector.
His recollections have reignited conversations about the sacrifices made by Uganda’s first generation of comedians—and how those experiences helped shape today’s comedy scene.
Performing for Passion More Than Profit
Speaking about those early years, Kapale said he would receive Shs15,000 for every night he performed at Kandolindoli, one of the country’s best-known comedy platforms at the time.
“By the time I used to perform comedy at John Segawa’s Kandolindoli events, he would pay me Shs15,000 per night.”
For Kapale, the amount was far from enough.
He explained that even basic transportation expenses were difficult to meet, especially since he owned a car that required fuel every time he travelled to perform. Instead of enjoying financial rewards from his growing popularity, he says much of his income disappeared before he even reached home.
That reality, he says, forced him to think differently about how comedians could earn money beyond what promoters offered.
Rather than accepting the situation as unavoidable, Kapale says he searched for an alternative that would allow performers to receive direct appreciation from audiences.
His solution would eventually become one of the most recognizable traditions at Ugandan comedy shows.
The Birth of the ‘Luseke’ Culture
Kapale claims he was the comedian who introduced ‘luseke’, the practice where audience members voluntarily tip comedians while they are performing.
Today, the gesture is common at many comedy events across Uganda, but according to Kapale, it was born out of necessity rather than entertainment.
“I’m the one who started ‘luseke’ at comedy shows because he (John Segawa) would pay me Shs15,000 yet I had a car to fuel.”
He added that many people underestimate the struggles experienced by veteran comedians who laid the foundation for the industry.
“People keep belittling us and saying we never worked for our success, but the truth is we worked for peanuts while paving the way for today’s generation of comedians.”
His remarks paint a picture of an era when comedians relied heavily on determination and passion, often performing despite limited financial rewards.
For Kapale, audience tips became more than an extra source of income—they became a practical way for performers to bridge the gap between their earnings and the real cost of pursuing comedy as a profession.
Criticism of Comedy Promoters
Kapale also expressed disappointment with some of the promoters he worked with during those formative years.
According to the comedian, performers frequently supported promoters and remained committed to building the industry, yet they were not compensated in a way he believes reflected their contribution.
“Even back then, the promoters were not good-hearted people. We would sympathize with them and show them love, but they simply took advantage of us and benefited from our hard work.”
His comments suggest that financial challenges were not limited to low appearance fees but also reflected broader concerns about how comedians were treated within the entertainment business.
While Kapale’s account reflects his personal experience, it also adds another perspective to ongoing discussions about fairness, compensation, and recognition within Uganda’s creative industries.
The Legacy of Uganda’s Comedy Pioneers
Long before stand-up comedy became a regular feature on television, corporate events, and sold-out theatre productions, pioneers like MC Kapale and John Segawa were helping introduce the art form to wider audiences.
Kandolindoli comedy shows became an important platform for nurturing comedians and exposing Ugandans to live stand-up entertainment. Many performers who later became household names either performed on similar stages or benefited from the foundation established during that period.
Although the industry has evolved significantly over the years—with larger audiences, sponsorship deals, digital platforms, and increased commercial opportunities—Kapale believes many veterans endured years of financial hardship while helping create those opportunities.
His reflections serve as a reminder that the industry’s current success was built through years of persistence from performers who often worked with limited resources.
Kapale’s comments go beyond discussing his own earnings.
They reopen an important conversation about how creative professionals are valued during the early stages of an industry’s growth. Many successful entertainment sectors around the world have stories of pioneers who struggled financially before their professions became commercially sustainable.
His account also highlights how innovation can emerge from difficult circumstances. The ‘luseke’ culture, which many comedy fans now consider part of the live show experience, was, according to Kapale, created as a practical response to low performer pay.
Whether viewed as a personal reflection or an industry critique, his experience offers insight into the challenges faced by Uganda’s comedy trailblazers.
Behind the laughter audiences enjoyed for years were comedians navigating financial uncertainty while remaining committed to entertaining crowds night after night.
Kapale’s memories reflect the less-visible side of Uganda’s entertainment history, where passion often outweighed financial reward. His story also underscores the pride many veteran performers take in having helped build an industry that now offers opportunities to a new generation of comedians, even if the journey came with personal sacrifice.
As Uganda’s comedy industry continues to grow, MC Kapale’s reflections offer a reminder that today’s thriving scene was shaped by performers who persevered through difficult beginnings and modest pay.