For many Ugandans, Yokana Mbuuse was the comedian whose facial expressions, unusual dance moves and unmistakable comic timing could turn an ordinary moment into laughter. Known popularly as Kapere Lufotose, he built a name in Uganda’s entertainment industry by turning the very physical features that had exposed him to ridicule into an unlikely source of fame.
But beyond the stage, television appearances and the familiar Lufotose character was another side of Kapere that deserves attention following his sudden death: the husband and father.
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Kapere collapsed while visiting his daughter at Jolibo Day Care and Junior School in Wakiso District. He had gone with his wife, Lydia Nakandi, popularly known as Mama Trump, for the school’s visitation day. He was reportedly in the company of other parents when he suddenly collapsed and was rushed for medical attention. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Buddo.
In an account of the final moments, Nakandi told Daily Monitor that the couple had spent time with their daughter at school. Kapere even stepped onto the stage and danced with her.
It was an ordinary family commitment, the kind that often goes unnoticed in the busy routines of parenthood. Yet, in the circumstances of his death, it has become one of the most poignant details of his final day.
There is something particularly heartbreaking about the fact that, on the day he died, Kapere had made time to be with his child. His last public outing was not a performance, a comedy show or an industry engagement. He was there as a father.
That detail offers a different way of remembering a man whose public identity was largely shaped by his ability to make people laugh.
A marriage built beyond appearances
Kapere’s family life was not an incidental part of his story. He and Nakandi had been together for about 14 years, having built a relationship that survived public scrutiny, financial difficulties and the prejudices that often surrounded their union.
Their story was not without its complications. In a February 12, 2026 interview with Daily Monitor, the couple opened up about their relationship and the journey that brought them together. Nakandi had seen beyond the physical appearance that had made Kapere a subject of public ridicule, while he regarded her support as one of the most important things in his life.
They eventually formalised their union in a matrimonial ceremony at Miracle Centre Cathedral in Rubaga in May 2017, during a mass wedding organised by Pastor Robert Kayanja.
They went on to raise four children together.
For Kapere, fatherhood carried a particular meaning. Having grown up without the consistent paternal support he needed, he understood what it meant for a child to miss the presence of a father. He was determined to give his own children a different experience.
In the February interview, he spoke passionately about the responsibilities of fathers, arguing that men should not leave the burden of raising children entirely to their wives.
‘Men should not leave that burden solely to their wives,’ he said, reflecting on the demands of parenthood and the role father’s ought to play in raising their children.
It was not simply an observation about parenting. It was a position informed by his own childhood experiences.
The boy who grew up without a father
Kapere’s early life had been difficult. His mother died when he was still an infant, and he was raised by his grandparents in Nansana. He later spoke publicly about the strained relationship with his father and the emotional difficulties of growing up without the paternal care he desired.
His education was also disrupted by ill health. A hernia forced him to leave school, after which he took on different jobs, including working at construction sites and as a gatekeeper, before finding his way into entertainment.
Perhaps these experiences helped shape his determination to remain present in his children’s lives. Whatever difficulties he encountered, he appeared keen not to reproduce the absence he had experienced growing up.
Fame, financial struggles and the dream of a family home
That commitment, however, did not mean life was financially comfortable.
Kapere’s career had its difficult periods. Although he enjoyed recognition and popularity, fame did not always translate into steady income. He had spoken about the challenges of getting comedy engagements and the difficulty of making a reliable living from the entertainment industry.
In 2023, he publicly expressed his frustration at not having a permanent family home, saying he wanted to build a house for his wife and children. He later acquired land in Mukono, where he hoped to establish a home for his family.
The dream was significant because it represented more than owning property. It was about giving his wife and children a place of their own, away from the uncertainty of rented accommodation.
Even in the days leading to his death, financial pressures remained part of the family’s reality.
Nakandi told Daily Monitor that they were living in a rented home in Makindye-Luwafu and had fallen behind on rent by one month, amounting to Shs320,000. She said Kapere had spent some time without work, while she too had stopped working.
She recalled receiving a call from the landlady demanding payment and telling them to leave if they could not afford the rent. Kapere reportedly stepped outside and stood against a wall, seemingly contemplating their next move.
The account is a sobering reminder that the life of a recognised entertainer can be very different from the image audiences encounter on stage or on television. Behind the laughter, Kapere was dealing with the same pressures that confront many ordinary households: rent, work, financial uncertainty and the responsibility of raising children.
It would be easy to remember him only through the difficulties he faced, but that would be an incomplete account of his life.
The comedian behind the character
Kapere’s entry into comedy was itself an unusual story. He was introduced to comedian Allan Mujuni, popularly known as Amooti Omubalanguzi, after someone recognised his potential in his distinctive appearance. He eventually joined Amarula Family, where he performed alongside Amooti and Nicholas Mpiirwe, known as Messe Bontwe.
His physical comedy, expressive face and dancing helped him become one of the group’s recognisable figures. He also appeared in Robert Kyagulanyi’s music video Mr Money, further extending his visibility beyond comedy performances.
But the man who could command an audience with a facial expression also had ambitions that extended beyond entertainment. He wanted a family, a home and a future for his children.
In one of the details that now gives his story added poignancy, his manager told the media that Kapere had expressed a wish to be buried on land he had personally purchased in Mukono. He had shared that wish with his wife, close friends and son, Trump. The land he had acquired with hopes of building a family home had also become the place where he wished to be laid to rest.
It is a striking detail in a life marked by the search for stability.
Beyond the laughter
Kapere’s death should not be turned into a competition over who was a better husband or father, nor should his family life be used to judge the private choices of other entertainers. But his story does invite reflection on a responsibility that often receives less attention than fame, money and public recognition: showing up for one’s family.
In an industry where the public often knows entertainers through their performances, relationships and controversies, Kapere’s life offers another dimension worth remembering. He was a comedian who made a living from laughter, a man who faced financial setbacks and a husband and father who wanted to provide his family with a home and a sense of security.
On Sunday, he went to school to spend time with his daughter. He danced with her, as fathers do, and shared a moment that would ordinarily have become just another family memory. It turned out to be one of their last.
For all the laughter Kapere gave Uganda, perhaps one of the most enduring parts of his legacy will be the man who, despite his struggles, kept trying to fulfil the responsibilities of husband and father.