Amarula still has it. - Words; BY Da Puzo

Photos by Ahmed Kayiwa

Tel: +256-712-834507, Email: kayiwamed@yahoo.com

 Before they hit back with their latest comedy series, Ugandan comedy click “the Amarula” family had for a while been battling Jabs from the Ugandan entertainment press. The jabs thus emphasized the group’s comedy skits as the same old ones that they had started with five years ago. The ones about Former Kampala mayor Sebbana Kizito claiming he had done a commendable job of maintaining the clock tower by fixing the tower’s clock battery, the many about young “dethoothing” Ugandan Lasses etc.

Well about these Jabs I say why would one pay them mind anyway if they thought they were doing the same old skits. The solution would perhaps be for their detractors to give them fresh ideas through written scripts than criticize the lads. I still believe the Amarula family is “locally” the most hilarious Ugandan comedy click whose stand up acts are as effortless as a pulley.

They had to beat the detractors by cooking up something fresh and indeed toward the end of the year 2006 they hit back with a fresh production known as Akabadi K’omwaka that was highly attended by loyal and fresh fans together at the Hotel equatorial poolside. ”It was the most highly attended comedy show Ugandan comedy history. Says Mike Kyeyune ”who attended the show. What is however not yet clear is how girl group Blu*3 took a Jab at them by the comic clique when they opened that show miming to a blue three song and dressed up as American cheer leaders.

They also introduced three new characters to their clique. The midgets who for some strange reason look quite alike in appearance.

Some pictures of fans that ran in the press after the show could clearly show hearty laughter. The pictures almost suggested that the fans in their hearts were saying guys stop killing us. Take for example that famous laughter from Movement mobiliser Mondo Mugisha and Hon. Mike Mukula.  Amarula has also managed to in discriminatively convince the public that they can take on any individual or company comically. They’ve done skits on President Yoweri Museveni, Vice president Gilbert Bukenya, and Michael Ezra, promoter Tony Sengo as well as the 2003 T.V Show Big Brother Africa in which one of the Amarula guys sits in a basin that passes for a Jacuzzi.

They’ve also cracked that famous one about a newly born-again chap who walks up the pastor’s pulpit to confess in his testimony that he is happy that Jesus elevated him from robbing simple things like shoes, petty cash to bit things like Mobile phones and cash. This statement causes the pastor to chase him away quick.  Amarula has also performed to sold out concerts in London UK through their promoter their Tony Sengo. “When those guys are in town, Ugandan Londoners seldom come in droves to catch those “stupid” Jokes about home says Frank Mukasa, a Ugandan that has watched them in London peaking of London the comedians seems to act about all as when they returned they also acted about their London escapades about how a few things were strange to some of them while in London hence making Mr. Bean seem correct about some decisions he takes when faced with a new predicament.

They also managed to hook up a fresh deal with WBS television. It was to put a comic side to life’s daily issues of politics, relationships, the church etc through their TV production. The side Mirror. Truth be told they are reeling of new fantasies and a first time viewer wouldn’t avoid cracking a rib.

Some of their skits include a scenario where Kampala city councilor Godfrey Nyakaana is approached by a fan telling him that some of his subjects are demonstrating about some land issues. The lads put a comical twist to this by showing Messe aka Nyakaana immediately jumping out of bed visibly angry he picks up his boxing gloves to go and physically fight the demonstrators. “Seems these guys forget I am a former boxer he goes.
The other is an illustration of how a pastor finds out that his wife has been having a secret relationship with a guy who fries chapattis aka chapatti Sika (according to the comedians).The manner in which the pastor explains his predicament to his flock the next day to the viewer can cause a mixture of hypocritical pity and shy giggles for the pastor.  Perhaps for this scene what might not go down well for moralists is the obscene trivialities muttered by Amarula’s Amooti “Omubalanguzi”.

At some point the pastor gets to funny for his interpreter he cannot help but crack up himself.  The cameras capture that too but who cares since it’s a whole comic concept. Another noteworthy scene is the wedding one.  Where when it come to vows the bride refuses to accept statements such as keeping in marriage in wealth and poverty.”She” (Amooti) explains that she already has enough problems with her husband’s height deficiency and therefore cannot take on poverty in marriage.

Irish Kyebandula the guy who reads the comical news is on point too. He puts the word “show” to life with his effortless hilarious news readings. If you’ve grown up in Uganda then you have met UBC (formerly UTV) news anchor Bbaale Francis (at least on your television screen). Amarula perhaps pays him homage and respect by creating a similar albeit comic personality of him through Iris kyebandula.  This scene’s highlight is the part where the camera’s show the news anchor deep in slumber yet a live report that he had earlier on forward announced has passed on. In some scenes they show him extremely bored with his Job. They show him dropping mocking lines at newsmaker perhaps thinking he’s off the air only to realize that the whole world is watching and as courtesy would dictate he has to apologize.

A peep into the new Amarula production makes one notice assiduous effort at what they are good at. Amarula can still make you crack……….a rib.