KAMPALA — Comedian Yokana Mbuuse, popularly known as Kapere Lufotose, has died at a hospital in Buddo, Wakiso District.
His death was announced on Sunday, November 1, 2026, by journalist and content creator Kasuku, who shared the news on social media.
“Comedian Kapere is gone. He has passed on at a hospital in Buddo,” Kasuku posted.
Kapere’s management later confirmed the news, saying he had not been suffering from any known illness before his death. The circumstances surrounding his final hours and the cause of death remained unclear.
Preliminary accounts suggest that the comedian and his wife had visited their children along Entebbe Road earlier on Sunday. He was also reportedly seen at a party at Thrones Lounge in Bugolobi during the early hours of the morning.
Kapere was a familiar figure in Uganda’s entertainment industry, particularly in Luganda comedy, where he built a following through his distinctive appearance, facial expressions, dancing and comic performances.
He made his name as part of the Amarula Family, a comedy group associated with Amooti Omubalanguzi and Messe Bontwe. His unconventional style made him stand out among performers, while his stage name became widely recognised among comedy audiences.
His introduction to the industry followed an encounter with a taxi driver who reportedly encouraged him to meet Amooti. The comedian gave him an opportunity to perform, and Kapere gradually turned the audience’s reaction to his appearance into a successful comedy identity.
His skit Lufotoose helped popularise the name Kapere Lufotose. He subsequently appeared in television productions and music videos, including Bobi Wine’s Mr. Money, where he portrayed a wealthy man trying to win a woman’s attention through material possessions.
However, his journey to fame was preceded by years of personal struggles.
Kapere lost his mother during infancy and was brought up mainly by his grandparents in Nansana. He previously revealed that his father rejected him because of his physical appearance and hearing impairment.
In January 2025, appearing on the Mwasuze Mutya programme, he recounted a painful childhood encounter in which his father allegedly threatened him and told him he was unwanted.
His education was interrupted by a severe hernia that made him afraid of participating in physical activities. He eventually left school around Primary Four.
He later worked at construction sites to earn a living before receiving free medical treatment through the Mukisa Foundation in Lungujja. A friend identified as Bashir had helped bring attention to his condition.
After recovering, Kapere learned to make key holders, reportedly producing about 150 daily. He also worked as a gatekeeper at the foundation.
In a 2013 interview with Daily Monitor, he described himself as “ugly and proud of it”, explaining how he had embraced the physical features that had once subjected him to rejection and ridicule.
Outside entertainment, Kapere was married to Lydia Nakandi, popularly known as Mama Trump. The couple had been together for about 14 years and formalised their marriage in a mass wedding ceremony conducted by Pastor Robert Kayanja.
They had children together, and Kapere often spoke about his determination to give them the love and care he had missed growing up. His wife previously described him as a responsible and supportive husband.
He also pursued political ambitions. In 2015, he announced plans to join politics and presented a manifesto at a press conference featured on NTV’s Zungulu programme.
Years later, he expressed interest in seeking political office in Makindye under the National Unity Platform. He argued that people with limited formal education could still represent their communities effectively if they understood the challenges facing ordinary citizens.
In his later years, Kapere remained active on TikTok, sharing comedy clips and personal experiences. He also publicly complained about declining opportunities in Uganda’s comedy industry and what he considered a lack of support from some promoters and fellow entertainers.
Bobi Wine was among those who mourned him, describing his death as devastating and remembering him as a brother, friend and comrade who made difficult moments lighter.
Kapere’s death leaves behind a career built on turning personal experiences into comedy and connecting with audiences through a style that was uniquely his own.
His exact age had not been officially confirmed. Funeral arrangements and further information about his death were expected to be communicated by his family and management.
