Martha Kay On Fame, Depression, and How She’s Making a Difference During This Difficult Time!

Who knew that the country could turn from ‘fun’ to ‘panicked’ in just a snap of a finger?” Martha Kay shares in a whatsapp chat. For a woman whose entire career has been built around being vivacious, I wonder if she’s texting this with a smile on her face, or not. It’s hard to smile with everything going on in the world right now. However, going through her Twitter timeline I discover that she’s keeping her followers entertained anyway.

Yes, Martha Kemigisha Kagimba is a comedian. The graduate of Mass Communication from UCU hit fame when a video of her yearning for a Range Rover went viral. The internet immediately christened her with a new name — ‘The Range Rover girl’. Kagimba has since graduated from the ‘Range Rover girl’ into her own woman dabbling into everything from film to photography and radio. 

She and I have a small chat via whatsapp (because we’re social distancing) to accompany this photo shoot done in collaboration Soul Image Art, Makeup by Kamara, Natna Natural Hair, Kai’s Divo Collection and Sam of Emolsam.

What’s your biggest worry right now?

I am worried mostly because I fear our health facilities may not be adequate enough to combat the virus. We have done a good job at setting up some preventive measures but with the growing number of infected people, I worry for what is coming. Despite the advancement in technology of several 1st world countries, they have still been brought to their knees. What will become of the 3rd world countries? May God have mercy on us.

I know! It’s hard to stay sane, but I’m sure it’s even harder for you since your job is to keep us happy. What are you doing to stay sane? 

I’m being hopeful and optimistic that we shall make through it. I’m working out a lot. I’ve gained a lot of weight during the past many weeks. I’m trying to lose it. I exercise four times a week. I’m being very intentional with what I’m eating too. I’m also working on a lot of content for Youtube since I’d like to get back into it when this is over. I’m also doing a lot of Tik Tok and reading. I’m on radio, and we are still working. However, after the show, I have to go straight home. No more linking up with friends. 

You must be taking big lessons from this experience 

I am! First of all, the fact that we aren’t promised tomorrow. You need to live your day like it’s your last. Who knew things would flip like this in a snap of a finger. Just the other week, we were Corona free, and now we have 44 cases. Imagine all the Boda guys and Taxi drivers who are jobless right now. You just can’t be sure what is coming your way tomorrow. 
I’ve also learned to be self-reliant. This is the time to put your self-worth to use. I mean, you don’t have to have a boyfriend, girlfriend, or someone to keep you entertained. You have to do it on your own. 

What do you miss most about your social freedom?

I miss working. My work revolves around socializing. I mcee at events such as weddings, baby showers, and other social gatherings. All those are off. I miss making money. I also miss socializing with friends. I love to dine out with friends; going out for coffee or tea. I miss all this. 

You are a ‘selfie-made’ (social media) celebrity. What are some of the things that make you take pride in and not in being a public figure?

The positives: I get to do what I love, which is acting, social media and hosting events. I also love that I have a lot of influence, which I’m using in a positive way to entertain and also restore hope in people’s lives. 
The negatives: Everyone has something to say about you even when they actually don’t know you. When I have a bad day, and someone comes to me to say Hi. Since I’m human, I might not be able to respond to them the way they see me in those videos. But that means, them telling all and sundry that she has an attitude. 
It also sucks that you have no privacy. Media is always looking for something to pick from your life, and then exaggerate it. There also so many bullies on the internet trying to use every opportunity their way to put you down. Now, I don’t pay attention to them. Most times, they are going through dark moments, which they deal with by attacking others.

How are you using your platforms to add a voice onto the #Covid19 awareness? 

I did a couple of videos in collaboration with Talent Africa and the Ministry of Health demystifying all those myths people had about the disease. However, shortly after, I realised that people were getting lots of Covid-19 content from left right and center. It was becoming stressful. So, I got back into doing comedy skits. With all that’s going on, what people need is an escape. I’m sharing a lot of those on social media.

You spend a huge chunk of your time on social media making us happy. How do you deal with your down times? 
I have a lot of down moments, well, because I’m human. I quit being a slave to my emotions. I’ve also learned that most of the times people say or do terrible things to us because they are going through their own stuff. So, reacting to every negative comment is a waste of time. It hurts for a few hours, and later you are fine. 
During such moments I talk to myself a lot. I also listen to music or workout as an escape.

The people who are getting stressed and depressed because of everything they are seeing on social media and TV, what do you tell them?

I went through a nasty depression last year. And from it, I took a number of lessons. Many people would tell me that it would be fine. That, Time heals everything. This made things worse, because I was hurting at the moment, how was I going to make through to the time when I’d heal? Now that I made through it, I know that they were right although no one explained what it meant. 
Whatever you are going through now, if you just allow yourself to soldier through another hour or day, you are getting closer to healing. Take one day at a time. Pray about it too. If it means crying yourself to sleep, do it as long as you survive another day alive. With time, you’ll get healed. 
There’s a lot of depressing news about Covid-19 on social media, switch your twitter off for a few hours and occupy your mind with funny videos of let’s say Martha Kay (of course). That’s a day gone without you worrying about Covid-19. If you can, vent to friends, do it. It helps a great deal. Just make sure to stay alive.

You are now on radio, you are an actress, you are a photographer, you are influencing for top-tier brands. Did you see all this coming?

You won’t believe that I got a first-class degree in PR. It was at that time when that famous Range Rover video came out. I actually got a job, which I was at for almost a year. I wasn’t happy though.. I quit to focus on my passion. The bible says: A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. I read this over and over again, quit, opened an office for my photography company, did more content, and the rest has been history.
I honestly never saw myself becoming an actress. I met someone who introduced me to someone who was shooting a movie. They looked at my videos and invited me to audition. That’s how I got my first role. Then I got another. And it has been like that.
I remember my first days on radio, there are times when I considered to just not go to work. I feared that maybe I wasn’t good enough. But I just put on a brave face and went to work every day. 
For hosting events, it was even worse. My first time hosting the ASFAs red carpet, I was a nervous wreck. Days prior to the event, I reached out to every event host I knew in Uganda and beyond for advice. I watched videos and tutorials online the whole time to perfect the little I knew. It has been one lesson after another.
Many young people reach out to me for tips, I always ask them if they are willing to go the extra mile, and many of them are not. You can’t reach your full potential if you aren’t willing to make sacrifices or challenge yourself.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Photographed by Mark Bwiire  of Soul Image Art

Styling by Abbas Kaijuka of Kai’s Divo Collection

Makeup by Adrian Kamara of Makeup by Kamara

Hair by Sina of Natna Natural Hair

Creative Direction by Sam Isingoma

This story is part of ‘Woman of the Month’, a series celebrating women who are brave in their stance, a collaboration between Kai’s Divo Collection, Sam Isingoma,Makeup by Kamara, Natna Natural Hair, Satisfashion UG and Soul Image Art.

hassan@satisfashionug.com