Journalist Ivan Kyeyune, popularly known as the voice behind the viral Zungulu comedy segment on NTV Akawungeezi, has stepped onto a bigger stage after securing the Nakasongola County parliamentary seat on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket in the 2026 parliamentary elections.
Kyeyune, who has spent years entertaining Ugandans with his witty voice-overs on news highlights, says Zungulu has transformed his life in unimaginable ways. Speaking in an interview with YouTube channel Gossip Live, he revealed that the segment, which has been running since 2017, has opened doors across all spheres of society.
“If I’m to tell you what Zungulu has given me, we can take forever,” Kyeyune said. “I’ve met judges, ministers, wealthy businessmen, police officers—even traffic officers along Luwero highway know me and won’t arrest me. Ugandans everywhere, even abroad, reach out to me. I’ve been beyond blessed by this skit and I’m forever indebted to my people.”
Education Background
Ivan Kyeyune was born and raised in Nakasongola, where his father, Steven Kayizi, envisioned him pursuing a career in medicine. Kayizi hoped to see his son working in a hospital or clinic, treating the sick.
Kyeyune attended Mulusa Academy in Wobulenzi for his secondary education, where he excelled in the sciences. At A-Level, he offered Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Agriculture.
However, things took a different turn in Senior Six. “I lost focus for reasons I cannot explain, and it reflected in my results. I performed poorly and missed out on the opportunity to study medicine,” Kyeyune recalls.
With his dream of becoming a doctor cut short, he opted for a diploma in Electronic Installation at Kyambogo University. Upon completion, he set out to find work and eventually landed at Radio Simba, where he was hired as an electronics technician.
Interestingly, around the same time, Radio Simba was in search of a sports presenter. For reasons he still finds puzzling, senior staff member J.J Semanda saw potential in Kyeyune and pushed him towards the role—marking the beginning of his unexpected journey into the media world.
The Birth of Zungulu
Kyeyune recalls that Zungulu was born in 2017 when veteran journalist Frank Walusimbi, then a news anchor at NTV, reached out to him after enjoying his work on Radio Simba. Walusimbi suggested creating a satirical twist to the usual news bulletin and handed Kyeyune some raw footage.
“I was still an active radio presenter then, so I wasn’t nervous,” Kyeyune narrated. “I did one take of the voice-over, and Walusimbi approved it immediately.”
Though it took two months for the first clip to be aired, Kyeyune wasn’t even watching when it finally hit TV screens—he was at the gym. Friends and fans bombarded him with calls and messages celebrating the unique and hilarious addition to the news.
Since then, Zungulu has grown into one of Uganda’s most beloved comedy-news mashups, attracting massive audiences both on TV and YouTube. “It lasts only five minutes, yet its impact is bigger than shows that run 30 minutes with no sponsors,” he joked.
When Humour Met Trouble
But not all the skits have been received with laughter. Kyeyune recalls one particularly controversial episode during the State of the Nation Address, in which Zungulu captured MPs and ministers dozing off.
“That clip went viral, but we got a letter from State House warning us never to make satire clips about government officials again,” he said.
From Laughter to Leadership
Kyeyune believes that his connection with ordinary Ugandans—earned through humour, relatability, and consistency—was one of his biggest assets that saw him secure the Nakasongola County MP seat.
