Alex Muhangi joined Fenon Records to replace Benon Mugumbya

Mugumbya, the co-founder of Swangz Avenue, had been working with Fenon while singing at the same time.

That's the time he was the one-half of Benon and Vamposs.

It reached a point where he couldn't spread himself between singing and producing. At the time of leaving Fenon, he and Vamposs, who also goes by Vampino, had been hired to perform in the U.S.

Steve Jean, the owner of Fenon, couldn't allow him to travel and leave work behind, so they agreed to part ways.

But this was a blessing in disguise for Benon Mugumbya, as the money he made from the music tour was used to acquire equipment to start his studio in 2008.

So, when he quit, Steve Jean hired Alex Muhangi to replace him, Muhangi said in an interview.

Muhangi had already been getting side gigs with Fenon to voice ads for MTN in Runyankore/Rukiga.

At the time, he was working with Vision Radio, owned by businessman Fred Kafoko, who also runs Vision Empire. Fred is the husband of the songstress Agatha Kafoko popular for songs like Simiyoni, Kabekakye and Mwami Kulikayo.

Who is Alex Muhangi?

The comedian, who hails from Rukungiri, went to Nyakina Primary School, Kigezi High School, Crested S.S. Makindye, Makerere University (Bachelor of Journalism and Communication) and UMCAT(diploma in journalism and mass communication).

He joined Vision Radio in Mbarara after interning at Capital FM. While at Vision, he started voicing adverts for MTN in Runyankore/Rukiga and they would be recorded at Fenon Records.

When Benon Mugumbya was leaving Fenon, Alex Muhangi was hired to replace him since he knew how to edit audio.

Fenon offered him a salary of Shs800k, higher than the 450k he was earning on radio. While still at Fenon Records, he participated in the Standup Uganda comedy competition and he was among the winners that teamed up to form The Krackers.

The Crackers used to host shows at Effendy's Bar and Restaurant every Wednesday, before they grew to become Mic Check and started hosting shows at Theatre Labonita, still on the same day.

The move to Labonita was orchestrated by businessman Jonathan Kyeyo who would betray them twice. Mic Check attracted some sponsors but business didn't run long because Kyeyo stole the sponsorship money.

After splitting, Kyeyo opened Laftaz Comedy Lounge and started hosting his shows, but Muhangi was among those who were sidelined and he decided to focus on his corporate work.

A year after the split, Pepsi came with sponsorship money and reunited Laftaz and Mic Check. They named the new group Jazz Comedy Uganda. This also didn't last long before Jonathan Kyeyo fled with over Shs200m that Pepsi had given them.

After this incident, Muhangi took a break from stage performance until he was hired by The Improv in the U.S. for a comedy tour and earned the Shs25 million he used to start Comedy Store.