Coomedian Okello Okello. PHOTO/FILE/CURTESY
The second and third rows at Uganda’s National Theatre were packed with guests who rarely get front-row access to comedy. These were audience members with hearing impairments—alongside their interpreters—at Okello Okello’s Comedy Black Friday, an inclusive stand-up show staged last Friday in Kampala.
The show, now in its third edition this year, marked a significant step in making Ugandan comedy accessible. On stage, two sign language interpreters took turns translating each skit in real-time, ensuring that every punchline, satire, and social commentary reached all corners of the room.
“This is the least we can do for society,” said comedian and host Okello Okello. “Entertainment has cut out a number of our brothers and sisters. It’s my joy seeing the deaf in theatres and laughing equally like the rest.”
The night’s lineup featured a blend of seasoned performers and fresh talent, including Napoleon Emmah, Pablo Kimuli, Uncle Mark, Kalela, Suuna Lawrence, Jacques Rwothumio, and Kenyan comic Arnold Savior, the evening’s special guest. Okello said the selection leaned toward “corporate comedy” — clean, professional humor that aligns with his brand and audience.
The jokes weren’t all new, but the delivery still had the audience in stitches. Uncle Mark, in a familiar routine, riffed on the types of thieves in Katwe, a Kampala suburb known for its tough reputation. “Other thieves switch off the phones they steal,” he said. “In Katwe, they don’t. You’ll call and they’ll bargain with you.”
Kalela parodied controversial Ugandan preacher Prophet Kakande, while veteran Pablo offered a satirical take on televangelist Benny Hinn’s recent Kampala crusade, poking fun at how attendees were allegedly divided into “essential” and “non-essential” categories.
As with previous editions, the night ended with a signature roast session—each performer firing playful jabs at one another. Ehma Napoleon took flak for his oversized boots, Optional Allan for his height, Kalela for his hairline, and Okello Okello for his fashion sense. Arnold Savior’s outfit also became fair game.
Though the crowd included many of Okello’s friends, former schoolmates, and industry colleagues — an audience known for its loyalty — the success of the evening pointed to something broader: a growing appetite for inclusive entertainment.
The next edition of Comedy Black Friday is scheduled to be a themed special titled “Rich Friends, Poor Family.” Okello says it’s his way of giving back to fans who have supported his comedic journey from the start.
