Richard Tuwangye
{{short description|Ugandan actor, comedian, and musician}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| name = Richard Tuwangye
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1980|10|16}}
| birth_place = Masaka, Uganda
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Makerere University
{{small|(BA Drama)}}
| occupation = Entertainer, actor, comedian, MC
| years_active = 2004–present
| nationality = Ugandan
| known_for = Entertainment-comedy at Fun Factory Uganda and Master of Ceremonies
| title =
| spouse = {{Marriage|Sharon Atwiine Kagarura
| 2016}}
| children = 2
| website =
}}
Richard Tuwangye (born 16 October 1980) is a Ugandan actor, comedian, and musician. He is a founding member of Fun Factory Uganda.
Early life
Tuwangye was born 16 October 1980 to Enock Tuwangye and Hope Tuwangye in Masaka, Uganda.{{Cite web|url=https://www.watchdoguganda.com/entertainment/showbiz/20190702/71468/interview-fans-pushed-me-to-sleep-with-a-female-colleague-funnyman-tuwangye-opens-up-ahead-of-solo-show.html|title=INTERVIEW: 'Fans pushed me to sleep with a female colleague' – funnyman Tuwangye opens up ahead of solo show|last=Mulema|first=Najib|date=2 July 2019|website=Watchdog Uganda|language=en-GB|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=27 October 2019}} In 1987, he began his primary education at Molly and Paul Primary School, where he started acting in a school drama in Primary One.{{Cite web |last=Kibisi |first=Sarah |date=12 January 2008 |title=Geraldine meets UBCTV presenter |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/689838-725424-9stk89/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027143807/https://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/689838-725424-9stk89/index.html |archive-date=2019-10-27 |access-date=2019-10-27 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}} In Primary Five, he transferred to Bwara Primary School and completed his Primary Leaving Examinations in 1993. He then attended St. Henry's College Kitovu, where he completed the Uganda Certificate of Education in 1997. He continued his studies at Kako Senior Secondary School, where he earned his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education. He was later admitted to Makerere University’s School of Performing Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama in 2004.
Career
= Acting =
In 2002, Tuwangye acted in several plays at the National Theatre, including The Virgin, The Journeys, and A Jewel in Every Name. He joined Theatre Factory in October 2003 and later appeared in Hand in Hand as Daudi and The Last King of Scotland as a politician's assistant.{{Cite web |last=Frison |first=Aretha |date=10 November 2005 |title=Hand in Hand |url=http://www.ugpulse.com/arts/hand-in-hand/188/ug.aspx |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=28 October 2019 |website=UgPulse}}{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} Tuwangye also joined Rock Point Radio, where he portrayed Deo and won a Voice Actor's Award before leaving in 2007.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2011 |title=Who is your favourite actor in The Hostel? |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1009269/favourite-actor-hostel |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=newvision.co.ug}} He acted in the short film What Happened in Room 13{{Cite web |last=Tumusiime |first=David |date=21 April 2012 |title='What Happened in Room 13' a hard truth |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/691232-1390282-11xyqmbz/index.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-01-02 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}} and co-founded Fun Factory Uganda in January 2010, serving as Communications Director and performing in Comedicine.{{Cite web |last=Ruva |first=Roy |date=30 January 2015 |title=Comedy Outfit Fun Factory Warm Up for "Best of Zizinga" in Style |url=http://chano8.com/comedy-outfit-fun-factory-warm-best-zizinga-style/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2 October 2019 |website=Chano8}}{{Cite web |last=Nuwagaba |first=Edwin |date=5 January 2010 |title=Theatre Factory splits, new group; Fun Factory formed |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Theatre---Cinema/691234-836250-dh6uid/index.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=6 October 2019 |website=Daily Monitor}}
Tuwangye appeared in Speak Out, which premiered on 21 January 2010,{{Cite web |last=Ssegawa |first=Mike |date=16 January 2010 |title=MOVIE REVIEW: Speak Out |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/691232-843038-fsyeh5z/index.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}} and joined The Hostel in 2011 as Twine,{{Cite web |date=24 June 2011 |title=Who is your favourite actor in The Hostel? |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1009269/favourite-actor-hostel |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=newvision.co.ug}} leaving in the following year after fee disputes.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} He was also part of Silent Voices,{{Cite web |last=Abangirah |first=Caesar |date=9 July 2012 |title=Letting the silent voices be heard |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Letting-the-silent-voices-be-heard/691232-1449170-8o3is3/index.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Silent Voices Uganda {{!}} Silent Voices English Production 2012 |url=https://www.silentvoicesuganda.org/silentvoicesenglish-2012 |access-date=2019-10-27 |website=silentvoicesuganda |language=en}} The Play in 2012. In 2016, Tuwangye appeared as Dez in Queen of Katwe{{Citation |title=Queen of Katwe (2016) - IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4341582/fullcredits |access-date=2019-10-27}} and as Dj Kadanke in Rain.{{Cite web |last=Kaggwa |first=Andrew |date=15 November 2017 |title=Rain dominates Pearl International Film Festival awards |url=https://observer.ug/lifestyle/55983-rain-dominates-pearl-international-film-festival-awards |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=The Observer - Uganda |language=en-gb}} In June 2018, he was among nine actors signed by the Development Channel to promote the African Child Poverty Alleviator Program.{{Cite web |last=Mbabazi |first=Charity |date=24 June 2019 |title=Development Channel Signs Nine Actors |url=https://thetowerpost.com/2018/06/24/development-channel-signs-nine-actors/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=TowerPostNews |language=en-US}}
= Music =
In 2004, Tuwangye formed the VIP Modern Dance Troupe. In 2005, he wrote and recorded the song "Can't Live Without You," produced by Fenon Records.{{Cite web |last=Isaac |date=29 September 2015 |title=Fun Factory Comedian Richard Tuwangye Returns To Pursue His Music Career |url=http://chano8.com/fun-factory-comedian-richard-tuwangye-returns-to-pursue-his-music-career/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028074334/http://chano8.com/fun-factory-comedian-richard-tuwangye-returns-to-pursue-his-music-career/ |archive-date=28 October 2019 |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=Chano8 |language=en-GB}} The VIP Modern Dance Troupe later evolved into a music group and released "Tugendeyo." Following their third release, the group disbanded.{{Cite web |last=Ssejjombwe |first=Isaac |date=29 July 2017 |title=Music was never their thing – Sqoop – Its deep |url=http://www.sqoop.co.ug/201707/features/music-never-thing.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2 November 2019 |website=Sqoop |language=en-US}} In 2015, Tuwangye released a single titled "What Should I Do?".
= Stand-up =
In 2013, Richard performed as part of the acts celebrating Pablo's nine years in the comedy industry.{{Cite web |last=Batte |first=Edgar R |date=2 December 2013 |title=Pablo marks nine years standing up |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Reviews/Pablo-marks-nine-years-standing-up/691232-2095696-270k7x/index.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}} On 12 July 2019, he hosted his first solo comedy show, titled "Laugh Conquers All."{{Cite web |last=Ssempijja |first=Reagan |date=16 July 2019 |title=Tuwangye stages maiden stand-up comedy show |url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1503633/tuwangye-stages-maiden-stand-comedy |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=newvision.co.ug}}{{Cite web |last=Ampurire |first=Paul |date=28 June 2019 |title=Richard Tuwangye Hit a Home Run with His Maiden Stand-up Special |url=https://www.softpower.ug/richard-tuwangye-hit-a-home-run-with-his-maiden-stand-up-special/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=28 October 2019 |website=Online news from Uganda and the East African region - SoftPower News |language=en-US}}
= Host =
In March 2009, Tuwangye co-hosted the launch of NewFem contraceptive by the Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG) alongside Gloria Kasujja.{{Cite web |last=Namaganda |first=Agnes |date=21 March 2009 |title=It's about freeing your mind |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/FashionBeauty/691228-700992-o1q4jyz/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027143804/https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/FashionBeauty/691228-700992-o1q4jyz/index.html |archive-date=2019-10-27 |access-date=2019-10-27 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}} In May 2010, he emceed the Buzz Teeniez Awards ceremony.{{Cite web |last=Batte |first=Edgar |date=11 May 2010 |title=Bebe, Cindy rule Buzz Awards |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/artsculture/Entertainment/812796-915858-vdjt2qz/index.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=Daily Monitor |language=en}} In May 2018, he hosted Live Sipping Night at Racer's Bar, Bukoto, and in October 2018, he emceed Kenneth Mugabi's maiden concert, "Strings of My Soul."{{Cite web |last=Nalubwama |first=Bayan |date=22 October 2018 |title=Kenneth Mugabi's performance could make you fall in love! |url=https://www.sunrise.ug/gossip/201810/kenneth-mugabis-performance-could-make-you-fall-in-love.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=28 October 2019 |website=The Sunrise}}
Personal life
Tuwangye is the second of five siblings, born to Enock and Hope Tuwangye. He married Sharon Atwiine Kagarura on 3 June 2016.{{Cite web |date=4 June 2016 |title=Comedian Richard Tuwangye weds fiancée Sharon- Photos |url=https://bigeye.ug/comedian-richard-tuwangye-weds-fiancee-sharon-photos/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=BigEye.UG |language=en-US}} The couple has two children.{{Cite web |last=Sqoop |date=1 April 2016 |title=Comedian Tuwangye to wed fiancee in June – Sqoop – Its deep |url=http://www.sqoop.co.ug/201604/four-one-one/comedian-tuwangye-to-wed-fiancee-in-june.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=27 October 2019 |website=Sqoop |language=en-US}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Citations |
| 2006
| | |
| 2006
|They Stopped Eating Fruits |Sebiku |
| 2008
|Speak Out |Boda boda man mobilizing people to stand against corruption. |
| 2007
|What Happened in Room 13 |Peter |
| 2016
|Queen of Katwe |Dez |
| |Silent Voices
|Husband to a troubled wife |
| 2017
|Rain |Dj Kadanke | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes !TV Network |
| 2005
|Hand in Hand |Daudi |An unemployed hustler full of mischief | |
| 2011
|The Hostel |Twine | | |
| 2010 - 2015
| rowspan="2" |U-turn |Various roles | |style="text-align:center;" |NTV |
| 2015 - 2017
|Various roles | |style="text-align:center;" |NBS |
| 2018–present
|Mizigo Express |Clinton |A Nigerian tenant who turns out to be a conman |DStv (Pearl Magic) |
Theatre
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Citation |
| 2002
|Bogolio, a houseboy |
| 2002
|The Journeys | |
| 2002
|A Jewel in Every Name |An orphaned son of a woman killed by the war in Northern Uganda |
| 2003
|The Adams | |
| 2006
|The Nasty Good Stories | |
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tuwangye, Richard}}