Dr Hilary Okello, the medic turned comedian

HILARY OKELLO, 27, is a clinician-turned- standup comedian, who has not only performed at comedy shows in Uganda but also in Kenya and Rwanda. He told Quick Talk why he dropped the white coat for the mic

Who is Hilary?

My name is Hilary Okello and that is what I still go with as my stage name. I am a medical clinician and also a standup comedian. I am also into screen writing and acting. Basically, I left medicine and took seriously the saying that “laughter is the best medicine.”

I am a Langi, though I grew up mostly in Kampala. However, when I finished my primary five at Nakasero Primary School, my father was not happy because I knew Luganda a lot and didn’t know my mother tongue; so, for my primary six and seven, he took me to Lira so that I learn my language.

So, you are a real doctor?

Yes, though I don’t practice anymore, because now I do comedy full-time. But I practiced medicine for four years until last year when my comedy started doing well and I decided to concentrate on it. But hopefully in the future I will be back to practicing medicine when I have more time on my hands.

Do most of your fans know that you are a doctor?

Most of them don’t; they think the title is just for show; it is until they interact with me or know me well enough that they realize I am a doctor for real.

Why comedy?

Comedy has always been my passion because you can have a profession and then have an occupation. So, professionally, I am a medical clinician but I am occupied on stage doing comedy.

How did you even start, in the first place?

I started comedy while at Jinja College where I was from 2009 to 2012. While there, I joined the Current Affairs Club which used to do news about what was happening at school and around the country. When I joined the club, I was the one to always read the funny news and that is how I started writing jokes.

Then professionally, I started in 2017 while at university. I joined a comedy club in Centenary park, and before long, I started going for comedy competitions like Uganda’s Next Top Comedian and slowly I kept on growing and improving my craft.

Was the decision to ditch medicine welcomed by your family?

Of course it was divisive because a lot of criticism comes in and you can’t blame them, because they are different generations. For the generations of our parents, when you finish school, there are those particular jobs they wanted you to do like being a doctor, engineer, and lawyer but today things have changed.

So, it took a while for my family to accept that I am doing comedy but with time, it started growing on them and right now everyone is fine with it and happy for me.

Did a patient ever recognize you as a comedian?

Quite a number of times actually. I remember last year before I quit, there is a clinic I used to work at in Kasangati where a gentleman came with his sick daughter for treatment and he recognized me and asked whether I was Dr Hilary the comedian. I said yes and he was like, “You man, you are very funny” and I said, “Brother, can we first work on your daughter?”

So, it has happened a couple of times; there are people who would ask for photos yet you are in your clinical coat. But it is a good thing because it creates a sense of rapport with the patient.

Do you ever incorporate your medical experience in your comedy?

Surprisingly not yet. I can write jokes about anything but I still find it very hard to write jokes about the hospital or medical settings. Maybe it is because I am a bit sentimental about them because most times when I am writing a joke then I remember someone who died or a mother who went through a very painful experience and I just stop.

What would you say makes a good standup comedian?

Knowing your audience; when you know your audience, it helps to determine the jokes you are going to use and how you use them and the amount of respect to give certain people in the audience. There are some jokes you do at a bar but cannot do at a wedding.

How do you come up with your jokes?

Usually it starts as an idea. Every time I think of something that can be funny, I write it down. If it makes me laugh, then it can make others laugh. [Shows Quick Talk notes in his phone with over 100 joke ideas]. It is from these ideas that I pick from and turn them into real jokes.

I first perform it on small stages like in bars or upcountry and see how it works. If it doesn’t work, I sit down with other comedian friends and see how to make it funnier.

Do you have jokes in Lango?

Anhaa… I am not fluent enough to make nice jokes in my language, even though I am fluent in speaking it. The reason why I decided to do my jokes in English throughout is because it opens borders for you.

I remember when I was starting off some people would tell me to do the jokes in 70 per cent Luganda and 30 per cent English but Luganda would limit me to Uganda only and find it hard to perform anywhere else. But I hope in future I will be good enough to do jokes in Lango.

Have you ever cracked a joke and the audience didn’t laugh?

Many times. We call it bombing on stage and it is a sign that you are now a comedian, because the more you bomb on stage, the more it keeps your ego in check and the more you work on yourself.

I remember there is a show I did in Kitintale and Pakwach some time back where I performed and people were just looking at me. I was like 10 minutes in and nobody was laughing and then the drunkards started giving me advice: “You go away; go and tell those jokes to your mother! Try farming”. But you learn from those experiences.

You were a radio presenter as well…..

Yes, I worked on radio for two years; 2019 to 2022 [He used to host the breakfast show at Hot 100 FM before it closed down in March last year].

I still love radio but I am not looking for job; if somebody wants me, they will come. Also waking up very early every day was not easy; eehh, I would wake up at 4 am. Yet I want a morning show because by 10 am you are done and go to do other things. But in the years to come I will do radio again.

What are you planning for comedy lovers this year?

This year, I have a new comedy special on April 21 at National theatre dubbed ‘Funny on Purpose’. It is family-friendly comedy and in English because I also have a lot of whites who like coming for my shows.

I am calling it ‘Funny on Purpose’ because I want it to be better than last year’s and funny as possible. So, I am purposefully making the jokes funny.

Last year, I did a lot of jokes about me and I didn’t do a lot of jokes about what is happening in Uganda yet we are a very funny country and you cannot run out of content about Uganda; so, this year I am going to include some of that content.

Are you dating anyone?

Yes, I have a girlfriend. We have been together for about three months now. We are going slowly.

Being a comedian, does she take you seriously?

You know they say women love funny people. I think mostly in school is where girls don’t take you seriously because they think you are just being funny. But it comes down to someone getting to know you as a person, then they know you are a go-getter and someone who knows what they want.

Who are your favourite comedians locally?

For standup comedy, I will go with Salvador (Patrick Idringi); and for sketch comedy, it is Dickson Zizinga of Fun Factory, and Amooti.

What are your pastime activities?

If I am not at a comedy show, I am either at home with family or watching movies. I also like basketball and watching football.

jjingoernest1@gmail.com