Are Robert Kisubi & Henry Rugamba Really That Eloquent?

There is something about a certain Robert Kisubi, who used to work for Umeme until he quit to set up a PR consultancy firm. In the time that I have known him, he’s above board, well respected in the community and better sill, a very stirring orator.

Robert Kisubi

That perhaps explains why Julie and Michael indicated him as the master of ceremonies at their wedding reception a few weeks ago. Robert rose to the chore with little exertion, though there was need to counsel some of the guests that they had to be ‘sharp and on-the-ball’ to appreciate some of his jokes, sublime sarcasm and wry sense of humour.

Whilst he’s a Musoga though not from the royal family, Robert held court much better than any of the previous Kyabazinga’s have done while holding court at the palace in Bugembe. He didn’t swagger because that’s not his style. If I had said otherwise, he would most probably have sought me out and lynched me. Rather, he ‘crooned’ in suave - spewing out his quips in bravura that had the guests lapping up every word he had to say. That wedding reception without Robert, would still have been a wedding reception without Robert, but with him as MC, it was like going to a wedding reception at the comedy club – full of roaring laughter, dabbing tears away and anticipation.

Robert and Mrs Kisubi At The Wedding After His MC Duties

Coincidentally, Robert just happens to be my cousin, Julie the bride, my sister and Michael the groom, is somebody I have known since the mid -70s. I can almost hear many of you screaming out that this is abuse of Sunday Vision column space to promote my family interests, but what the heck, just deal with it!

Interestingly enough, Robert’s partner at the PR consultancy firm is Henry Rugamba. Like Robert, Henry too, is an eloquent speaker, savvy and superbly sharp on the wit. I have been to a couple of weddings where he is MC, and he’s never slid off the rails. He flows, he charms, he stuns and he goes out of his way to deliver way above expectation.

Henry Rugamba

The last wedding that I went to before Michael’s and Julie’s, was a disaster. I don’t know who suggested Galabuzi (names of course have been changed) as MC, but he was a calamity right from the start. As soon as he picked up the microphone, he consumed the first five minutes telling us about his attainments in school, university and at work.

There’s more. Barely had the wedding party settled into their seats at the high table, he called his girlfriend to come stand by him and then rambled on for ten minutes about her attributes and what she does for him. Jeez, who does that?!

Barely fifteen minutes into the reception, many of the guests were fed up with him though, I was aghast when I found out at the last wedding meeting that he was going to be MC. So, Bold Guest sitting on the fringes of the hall shouts and heckles something along the lines of: “Listen man, we didn’t come here to get bored with your very unfunny jokes and to listen to your CV. Just stick to the programme!”

For all of his accomplishments that Galabuzi bored us with during his spiel, one thing that he failed to grasp, was the concept of ‘quitting while you’re ahead’ for it all came to a head when Bride and Groom returned to the hall after changing.

A Wedding Party

Says Galabuzi: “Look at the stunning bride, does she not look lovely in her outfit?” Then added: “My girlfriend has also changed into an outfit she bought while in South Africa,” then invited her to come and stand by him so we could see and admire her.

I should have cringed as Brides Brother surfaced out of nowhere, slapped him twice on the ear, tore into him in Luganda, wrenched the microphone off him and violently shoved him away, but I didn’t because the slap to his ear was so justified. Adangamu!                    


Pictures: Agencies