Nakasongola, Uganda: Satirical journalist and voice-over artist, Ivan Kyeyune, popularly known as the voice behind the viral Zungulu comedy segment on NTV Akawungeezi, finally crossed from laughter to legislation after winning the Nakasongola County parliamentary seat on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket in the 2026 general elections.
Kyeyune’s victory comes on his third attempt at elective politics, sealing a long journey that began in media satire and culminated in national leadership, an arc that mirrors the changing face of Ugandan politics, where celebrity, relatability and grassroots connection increasingly translate into votes.
But Who is Ivan Kyeyune?
Born and raised in Nakasongola, Kyeyune grew up under the guidance of his father, Steven Kayizi, who envisioned him becoming a medical doctor. That dream appeared plausible early on. Kyeyune attended Mulusa Academy, Wobulenzi, where he excelled in sciences, offering Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture at A-Level.
But Senior Six proved a turning point. “I lost focus for reasons I cannot explain,” Kyeyune says. “It reflected in my results, and I missed out on medicine.”
With medical school out of reach, Kyeyune enrolled for a Diploma in Electronic Installation at Kyambogo University. His technical training later landed him a job at Radio Simba, initially as an electronics technician, far from the microphone that would later make him famous.
But it was at Radio Simba that fate intervened. The station was searching for a sports presenter, and veteran broadcaster J.J. Semanda spotted something in Kyeyune that even he did not fully understand at the time. He nudged him towards on-air work, unknowingly setting him on a path into Uganda’s media spotlight.
The birth of Zungulu
Zungulu was born in 2017, after senior journalist Frank Walusimbi, then at NTV, noticed Kyeyune’s distinctive humour and voice work on radio. Walusimbi proposed a satirical twist to conventional news bulletins and handed Kyeyune raw footage to experiment with.
“I did one take, and he approved it immediately,” Kyeyune recalls.
When the first Zungulu clip eventually aired on NTV, Kyeyune was unaware, as he was at the gym. His phone soon exploded with calls and messages as Ugandans embraced the five-minute satire that poked fun at politics, bureaucracy and everyday absurdities.
Since then, Zungulu grew to become one of Uganda’s most recognisable comedy-news hybrids, drawing massive TV and YouTube audiences. “It runs for only five minutes,” Kyeyune once joked, “but its impact is bigger than shows that run for 30 minutes with no sponsors.”
But not all laughter came without consequences. Kyeyune recalls a controversial Zungulu episode aired during the State of the Nation Address, showing MPs and ministers dozing off.
The clip went viral, but also attracted official attention. “We received a letter from State House warning us never to make satire clips about government officials again,” Kyeyune said, describing it as a reminder of the fine line satire walks in Uganda’s political space.
From laughter to leadership
Despite the challenges, Zungulu transformed Kyeyune’s life and network. He says the skit opened doors across society, from judges and ministers to business elites and ordinary Ugandans at home and abroad.
“I’ve met everyone,” Kyeyune said in a recent interview. “Even traffic officers along Luweero highway know me and won’t arrest me. Ugandans everywhere reach out. I’m forever indebted to my people.”
That bond with ordinary citizens proved decisive at the ballot box. Campaigning on relatability rather than rhetoric, Kyeyune leveraged humour, name recognition and community engagement to finally secure the Nakasongola County MP seat, succeeding where he had previously fallen short.
His election adds him to a growing list of media personalities turning political capital into electoral success, reaffirming how visibility, authenticity and connection are reshaping Uganda’s political landscape.
For Ivan Kyeyune, the journey from satirical voice-over to Parliament is complete, but for his supporters, it marks the beginning of a new chapter, where the man who made them laugh is now expected to speak for them on the floor of Parliament.
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