Omukebete to honour late wife in National Theatre show

What the report says

Ugandan comedian David Katende, better known as Omukebete, is preparing to return to the National Theatre in Kampala this Friday for a show that he says will be dedicated to his late wife, Esther Nannungi, according to Sqoop Uganda. The performance, titled “Joking Is Not for Jokers,” comes after Nannungi died last month following a four-year battle with lupus.

Sqoop Uganda reports that Katende had booked the venue in July for an October show, and that his wife supported the plan by giving him money to buy three VIP tickets. Those tickets, originally meant for them to attend together, have now become part of the emotional meaning of the event. Katende is quoted saying the prospect of taking the stage without her is the most painful moment of his career.

The article frames the show as both a comedy performance and a tribute, with Katende reflecting on how laughter can coexist with private grief. It says the project was initially linked to an inspirational book about how people use humour to hide pain, but the loss of his wife has changed the significance of the evening. For audiences, the event will be a comedy show; for Katende, it is also a personal farewell and a difficult test of whether he can continue in comedy without her. Sqoop Uganda says it is not yet clear whether this will be his final performance.