Kireka and Uncle Mo: Analyzing Urban Development and Online Success

This report delves into the urban development of Kireka, a suburb experiencing rapid growth, and the parallel rise of Moses Kiboneka, known as Uncle Mo, a comedian leveraging online platforms. The report explores Kireka's history, location, social aspects, and economic characteristics, highlighting its transition from a banana plantation area to a bustling commercial and residential hub. Simultaneously, it chronicles Uncle Mo's journey from a mechanical engineer to an online sensation, examining his comedic style, the genesis of his skits, and his perspectives on content creation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report analyzes the factors contributing to his success, including his unique approach, relatable content, and ability to engage with diverse audiences. It also touches upon his entrepreneurial ventures, the use of social media, and his aspirations for expanding his influence. The report provides a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between urban development, online content creation, and entrepreneurial success, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of digital media and its impact on local communities.

Kireka, a city of its own
21st July 2021
By Patience
Kampala drive from Kireka town to city Centre. Few other places like Kabalagala and
Wandegeya are known for working till the smaller hours but a place that has joined the fray is
the busy and fast growing suburb. Shouting, hooting and many people pouring in from all around
is what you hear and see all day in Kireka. kireka is a home to different classes of people, its is
both a residential and a commercial place.
Background and history
Back then, Kireka had one of the biggest banana planatations in the country after Masaka.
According to local council Chairman Guster Mukasa, banana plantations were planted on a large
scale around the whole village by then.
The place was fertile and suitable for the food plants. As the plant ripened, the area turned
yellow hence visually attractive thus people who passé by and all those who got the news about
the small town by then spoke and spread a lot about it. Everyone was overheard saying “ensuku
zinkude akalega”, literally translated to mean “the banana plantations has gotten so ready”
Eventually this led to the recognition of the formerly small town, it was ugraded to a small town
from a mere market zone. It was hence christened “Kireka” explains Mukasa.
Location and places around the town
Kireka is located in the main town of Kiira Wakiso district along Jinja highway and supervised
by the Kabaka under the Buganda Land Board.
Kireka is surrounded by Namboole and Bweyogerere in the North, the East with the big hill
where the Kabaka’s palace rests, Banda in the South and Namugongo to the West.
Security

Kireka town stays awake from morning to the wee hours of the morning with barely any security
incidences. Defense secretary local councilor Godfrey Sejjemba says “we have administered
warnings and regulations to all those who commit crimes and we also tried hard to sensitize
everyone on how to be sensitized and aware of the criminals and security in the night. This has
also favored night businesses like pubs, night clubs and other small businesses.
Social places around the town.
Like any other town, social places have been set up. With very many social places have been set-
up. With very many social places for instance night clubs like de spenders, asylum and Victoria
club among others, restaurants like I feel like chicken tonight, petima restaurant.
Hygiene, transport
Like all other fast growing towns, Kireka is a clean town though dusty town, all the paces near
the commercial Centre is cleaned first thing in the morning. Transport on the other hand is
slightly cheaper, since it’s near the city centers. Transport varies between shs.800 and shs.1500
depending on the time and the means one chooses.
Land and rent
Accommodation in Kireka is a bit high on the higher side, a single room costs roughly shs
100,000-150,000. Two rooms cost roughly shs.200, 000-shs 300,000. Self-contained rooms cost
between shs 350,000 and shs 500,000. A 50 by 100 around commercial plot costs between 100m
and shs 120m. A 50 by 100 along Kamuli road costs roughly shs 50m and shs 70m. a 30 by 50
plot deep in the village of the town costs roughly shs 40m-shs 60m. a 50 by 100 in Kasokoso
roughly costs shs.45m-50m.
Uncle Mo the Kireka “Mechanic guy” reaping big from social media
28th July 2022
By Patience
Uncle Mo real name Moses Kiboneka is a youthful engineer, actor and comedian whose satirical
take on trending issues has turned him into an online sensation.

He does his comedy in the comfort of his garage in Kireka, wearing his overalls and looking
every bit the mechanic quick talk caught up with him at Nyange Automobile workshop in Kireka
for a chat.
“My name is Moses Kiboneka. I got Uncle Mo as a nickname from my friends. I am a guy who
has interest in both sciences and arts. My day job is totally science (mechanical engineering) and
mu hobby (comedy) which is also becoming a job now in arts, he narrates.
He adds that, “I actually met arts before I met sciences, because I started acting and being on
stage back in nursery school before I even knew that”, I would specialize in sciences. I used to be
in music, dance and drama at school. “I actually wanted to be a lawyer, but my father told me to
get into engineering (studied electrical engineering at Kyambgo University”.
Later I continued with my studies and fell in love with sciences because of its realism. Sciences
were just very easy” Kiboneka says.
So, how does an engineer turn into a comedian?
I come from a family where people are effortlessly funny. I was the kind of guy who looked at
things and said funny things about them. In 2010, I got into Rotary club, where I met someone
who used to work at NTV, who told me I could do a show like Trevor Noah’s Daily show. I
wrote a script, took it to NTV where I met Moses Seruga who promised to push it for me so that
it gets on TV.
Unfortunately, Serugo left NTV and everything stopped there. In 2016, there was a rotary club
which organized a comedy fund raise and my club won. The winner was given a chance to go to
comedy files at theatre Labonita and perform a stand-up comedy skit there.
But the second time I performed, it was at Laftaz bar and I struggled with my punch lines
because very few people there understood English. When I walked out og there, I vowed never to
do comedy again. I resorted to writing reviews of different events in the country and posting
them on my social media pages and may people liked them.
This concept of shooting skits from your garage, how did you come up with it?

When covid 19 struck, I used to come to the garage but there was no work, because (of the
lockdown). We were so idle, I was even getting depressed. In those moments, I started to write
and send the script to my friend who had promised to help me shoot if she liked it. She liked it
and we started planning to shoot.
However, I did not have a place to shoot from because I wanted a set like the daily show with
desks, lights but the guy went to request to shoot from his office jokingly told me to shoot from
my garage, put on my (overalls) and shot from there. I just wanted to be a person communicating
his opinion on stuff, but overtime I refined my craft until the day people said I am a comedian.
I would be lying if I said from the beginning, I wanted to come out branded as a comedian, and
my work just launched me to be the comedian. (I was aiming for) observation satire.
So you are the people covid-19 has been a blessing in disguise to?
Blessing in disguise to!
Honestly, I can only see it now. I started shooting in July last year and between July and
November, I did about 16 videos. It was not easy I reached video seven and I felt tired. I wanted
to shoot one more video then give up. The video I shot was what 17 Uganda hosted big brother.
(The video has a very funny spin on the Big Brother show, in relation to Uganda’s stereotyping
nature. Quick talk still remembers the hash tag pay mwebe from his one).
I was tired of doing this, in that video I was even sleeping, not that I wanted it to be like that, but
I was tired mentally. Surprisingly it went viral and that is what made me come back to be this.
Before that video, I was even enjoying myself like I am now. It is now that I can look back and
appreciate the hardships I endured and didn’t stop (otherwise), it was just an alternative to not be
idle.
What do you consider (being) shooting a skit?
It is important that what I want to talk about is the news because that way it is relatable and easy
for people to get interested. It also has to be relatable to people beyond Uganda. Even if I am
talking about something in Uganda. I should be able to give it a regional touch.

Some perceive your kind of comedy as being for the elites and urban people, is it so?
But the muntu wa wansi is the most well fed person when it comes to the comedy circuit in this
country because almost every comedian is working for them. I wanted to do content that speaks
to me, because the first person you are going to sell your product to is yourself. But I choose this
because although the other one is an easy road, it is packed and there is a lot of competition.
But along the way, I have learnt that the people who listen to me are effective buyers of products
and even the endorsements I get are different (he has worked with international brands such as
fire boy, Adebayo, Nandi, Prudential, Guinness) and crafting my comedy like this makes it go
beyond Uganda while maintaining a local audience because I tell Uganda stories.
What is your favorite skit, so far?
The one I did for DTB bank Vs Ham Kiggundu. I even kept laughing at my own lines while
shooting. No wonder it went so viral. There is also the one I did recently about the Dubai Expo.
Those two for me are the videos I have shot and was like “why am I silly?”
How big is the team you work with?
It is usually me and one other person on camera though sometimes I can have an extra person to
help make sure I am at par with the script. I am easily distracted when I have so many people on
the set and forget my lines. That is why I also usually shout on Sundays when there are few
people moving around.
What makes you different from other content creators?
(Promptly) I perform in a motor garage (burst into laughter). My set is so different and it makes
the show stand out. I do the same funny stuff people do on stage, but I do them at the garage.
What else do you like doing away from fixing cars?
I am an events Mc, I enjoy emceeing other than that, I am always at home chilling, sleeping, and
resting. I enjoy being in my own space charging the batteries to start again.
What is that one thing your funs would be surprised to know about you?

(in a mock whisper) I am actually very shy. I have done over 50 videos so far in a space of
months but I never get used to people. I am the performer that doesn’t like to look at people.
Wow. But were you a naughty child growing up?
I was actually quiet. I come from a family where people are very talkative and very funny and I
am the fifth born of six so, they had all the airwaves. I talk now because I have authority over
saying funny things. All my siblings were very loud people. So I grew up quiet but it didn’t take
away that fact I loved to speak.
But are you people really earning from these online platforms?
You tube (his channel) I am Uncle Mo has more than 18,200 subscribers pays us per month if
you are monetized and people watch it, brands start realizing that you have influence and you
start getting endorsements because you can deliver a message.
How far do you wish your career to go?
For me, my win is influence, so I want to have as much influence as possible. If one day I am
doing this and the whole world is watching, I will have won. For now, what is more important to
me is development, because the more you keep on doing it, the better you get.
(Speaking to Uncle Mo, it is easy to forget that this guy is actually an auto mechanic a job a
tweep recently said, he does even better than the comedy).
Fact file
Born (he declines to say when) ad raised in Kireka to Moses and Maureen Sseranga. An alumnus
of Budo Junior School and King’s College Budi, Kiboneka was admitted to Makerere University
for a Bachelor’s degree in statistics, on government sponsorship.
The same year, Kyambogo University offered him a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering
on private sponsorship; he took up offers, attending day and evening classes at the respective
universities because he wanted the stipend that came with the government sponsorship. At
University, his brother invited Kiboneka to work part time at Nyange Automobile workshop
where we digitalized their invoicing and payment systems at a fee but also engineer discovered

his love for automobile mechanics. Today he is partner and general manager at the same garage
and has never participated in electrician.
Taking football into the slums of Kireka
17th August 2022
By Patience
The initiative includes renovating a school field and teaching “Italian Soccer” to 350 boys and
girls in Kireka, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Kampala. Implemented by AVST, the
project develops an educational model that promotes soccer as a tool for social inclusion and
positive socialization.
For Rebecca Apio, having the chance to train with a former Italian soccer player who was part of
the team that won the 2006 FIFA world cup is a dream coming true. Rebecca is a student at Luigi
Guissani High school in Kireka.
One of the poorest neighborhoods in Kampala and is sponsored by AVSI through the Distant
Support Program. She is among the 350 boys and girls who are participating in the goal for
Ugandan project. Implemented by AVSI in partnership with the Italian Soccer players
Association (AIC) and the Association CDO (Compagnia delle Opera) Sport. The project
develops an educational model that promotes soccer as a tool for social inclusion and positive
socialization.
“Goal for Uganda has been a great chance for me as soccer has always been part of my life”.
Celebrates Rebecca who until last year wasn’t attending school because her parents couldn’t
afford it. “Here, at Luigi Giussani High School, I rediscovered my value and I feel I’m now the
protagonist of my life. When we are on the field, we are all committed to a common challenge,
with no differences in languages, origins, or economic situation.
To get her we’ve learnt a lot, but above all we have had fun. Soccer is an exciting game and I
would like to play more.
The project kicked off on April 1st, when soccer players Damiano Tommasi, who went to the
2002 FIFA World cup and Simone Perrotta who was a member of the team that won the 2006

FIFA World Cup, alongside A/C’S staff, begun training 350 students aged 13 to 17 years old
from the Luigi Giussani High School. The school was built in 2005 thanks to the tenacity of a
group of women who survived violence of excellence in the heart of the Kireka slum where
students and teachers can experience quality education and personal growth.
The project goal for Uganda is carried out at the Luigi Giussani High School which becomes a
focal point for education in the quarter of Acholi and Kamuli. In one year boys and girls and
teachers will be involved in three training sessions with Italian coaches in Kireka and two skype
sessions halfway through the project with the coaches.
Practices will be followed by two sports events where the school’s team will play with other
students, involving more people in the initiative. Alongside the activities all sports infrastructures
of the school have been renovated, including the Luigi Giussani High School main soccer field.
This project responds to the sustainable development Goals 3,4 and 5 as it enhances quality
education and personal growth sports. Not only does this project promote educational model in
which soccer is a tool for social inclusion but it also tackles the thematic of gender equality and
healthy lives, addressing the well-being of both boys and girls.
Poor Planning leading Kampala into a mega slum
17th Auugust 2022
By Patience
A panoramic view of Kampala City from the Gaddafi Mosque in old Kampala. Such areas if not
developed into better infrastructure could make Kampala a mega slum in 10 years from now.
A recent World Bank report shows that Kampala may turn into a mega slum in 10 years if the
housing is not properly planned. What can be done to stop this trend? On an early Monday
morning, hundreds of people cross the Kampala Kireka road in banda a city surburb. Among
them are children going to school and their parents making their way to work. Some trek along
the railway line to reach the city Centre.
Most of them emerge from Banda slum area. The place is dominated by tiny roofed houses, some
constructed on or near drainage lines overlooking the mogas fuel depot. There structures are

mostly homes and a few serve as shops. The slum is in between some modern housing structure
in Kyambogo and Kireka.
On a rainy day, the area inhabits mini lakes and the other parts look like potato fields. This is just
one of the slums in Kampala. World Bank’s fifth Uganda Economic updates which was released
on March 2 titled, The Uganda Economic Update; The Growth challenge. Can Ugandan cities
get to world? Warned that Kampala could turn into a slum in the next 10 years if planning
authorities do not act fast enough, “failure to unlock the potential of cities may result in a
declaration of growth and the emergence of dysfunction slum citie in which people live in
appalling conditions, “the report reacts in past”.
The appalling conditions already exist. Scathing about the pace of planning and making
affordable housing in the city, the report points out that the situation especially in Kampala, if
not addressed, will worsen the already existing poor living conditions in the slums. “With the
proliferation of informal housing and sprawling slums. Congestion is increasing rapidly, creating
chaotic conditions and resulting in a deterioration of the physical and social environment,@ it
further points out.
Why the rise of slums?
The rise in the number of slums is attributed to the rise in rural urban migration. People through
the city in search of jobs. From the 2014 population census, Kampala has an estimated
population of 3.5 million people. Philippe Dorgier, World Bank country director for Tanzania.
Uganda and Burundi says this figure could rise to 10 million in the next 10 years and this could
result in Kampala becoming a mega slum.
“Kampala could either become a modern city metropolis or a mega slum in the next 10 years due
to high urban population growth rate with low economic activities and poor infrastructure “he
says Kampala lacks properly planned housing for his growing population. Lamudi an online
property listings company notes that on average, the demand for rental properties outpaces
supply by almost 20 percent.
What could be done?

In November 2014, Kampala City Authority (KCCA) announced it would not approve plans for
construction of one and two room houses mizigo around Kampala and Wakiso. Some players in
the industry have said this move if approved, could un look the low-cost housing challenge in the
city.
Should KCCA’s proposal be passed by parliament, we expect to see drastic increase in low cost
housing projects in Kampala and Wakiso. We should also expect to see an improvement in social
infrastructure such as roads, says Shakib Nsubuga, Lamudi Uganda Country Manager. KCCA IN
2014 secured a shs.400b loan from World Bank meant to improve roads, lighting and other
infrastructure within the city. As some of this infrastructure, especially roads, improve the
private sector could come on board to have proper housing in place.
Improved coordination within the city if done before the rapid population explosion, the World
Bank report says can deliver a well-designed and properly organized Kampala.
“To ensure the development of functional cities the public sector will require the coordination of
a range of different types of investment, involving investment in physical planning for buildings
and the provision of transport, housing and social services” said Rachael Sedudde, Senior
Economist at the World Bank and lead author of the report. “Each layer faces its own
coordination challenges. It is better to anticipate and plan for this at the very early stages of the
urbanization process as it becomes very difficult to correct mistakes retrospectively.
Taking note of this is Dr.Joseph Muvawala,the executive director National Planning Authority
(NPA),who emphasizes that as planners,catering for rapid urbanization is indicated in the vision
2040.The NPA is the architect of the vision 2040.The NPA is the architect of the vision 2040 and
part of it includes providing at least 12.6million housing units across the country in the next 30
years.
“In line with the projected fertility decline, Uganda will need about 12.6 million new housing
units in the next 30 years. This means the government in partnership with the private sector will
invest in constructing appropriate housing estates in planned urban and rural areas to provide
decent urban settlements, “The vision 2040 roads”
And low cost housing?

Plans to provide low cost housing within the city continues to face challenges such as failure to
evict squatters, poor land tenure system and limited access to credit. For instance, National
Housing and construction company (NHCC) has been for the last two years in the process of
evicting from the Kasoboso area in order to construct what they term as low cost housing.
Another low-cost housing project has delayed by more than eight years in Naguru and Nakawa
as the constructor opec Prime properties struggles to raise financing for the project on 160 acres
of land. Market forces such as the demand according to the World Bank report, have failed to
solve the low cost housing problem.
“A low of regulate the land market needs to be put in place to improve management of land and
infrastructure financing. Housing policies need to be reviewed in the light of market failure to
address the need for housing by low- income earners” the report reads, “notably rent fees in
slums is shs.50,000 per month unlike the market rates for a one bedroom house in the outskirts
which triple depending on location.
Waste collection and disposal problems
19th August 2022
By Patience
A pungent and hurried smell greeted me as I walked into Natete Municipal market, haggling over
the high prices of vegetables and some meat. As I approached the main entrance, I saw buyers
running off. Both buyers and sellers covered their noses. The situation left me wondering what
went wrong.
As I gazed at the fish department, I stopped near a hawker selling footwear. Then I discovered
where one would come from. Near the market management offices, a 2 ton waste disposal tipper
dumped its offensive load near a rusty ramp. Green flies buzzed gleefully at the unexpected
bounty.
I witnessed significant negotiations between private firm (Nabulagala up deal joint venture)
employees and market officials. Someone there appeared to be familiar. It turned out to be my

high school buddy, Josephine. During her senior six vacations, she landed a job at Nabugabo.
She oversees the Rubaga revenue collection unit.
Market authorities yelled at the top of their lungs for the prompt clearance of rotting garbage.
According to a market seller, their executives do not pay the rubbish pickups, but the vendors
pay on time. That’s why Josephine had directed the co-workers to dump the rubbish in front of
the management offices. I silently grinned as I remembered Jospehine’s character. She was from
Kabale, a Mukiga girl who was very strict about money and discipline.
Someone patted my shoulder as I turned to get discreetly. I took my time turning Josephine stood
there, her enormous hands resting on her broad hips, “what are you doing here? “she demanded.
She hugged me when I showed her my shopping bag. We spoke a few minutes. The driver
whispered in her ear. The agony had ended. The rubbish was being put back into the truck after
the management had paid. Josephine waved goodbye and stepped into the front passenger seat as
the truck swung to the entrance and disappeared along the unpaved Kinawa Nakawuka road.
I also hopped on a boda boda and returned to my hostel in Mengo which was only a few meters
away from the University. For a while, something buzzed in my head. Kampala city was a stench
filled melting pot with no solid waste management. This throat has a significant impact on all
divisions in greater Kampala the Capital city. I pondered the high taxes we pay the collections
and why the city was deteriorating.
The council provides solid waste collection and rubbish management as one of its primary
services. KCCA has engaged private businesses to manage solid waste trash, but they under pay
these companies and some do shoddy work. A garbage collection strategy’s principal purpose is
to collect as much appropriately sourced, segregated waste as possible in a timely and cost
effective way to provide clean and fresh air to city people. Something was a miss with municipal
government and councils.
Prostitution- A rife problem for young girls and women
13th August 2022
By Patience