In a recent meeting with the editorial staff of Next Media, Col Edith Nakalema, the head of the State House Investors Protection Unit, had one major question: Why do some of you hate the NRM government?
The question set off a chain of dramatic and animated reactions highlighting the complex relationship between the state and the media in Uganda.
For this story, Bbeg Media talked to six people who attended the meeting to corroborate our information. We decided to keep their identities anonymous for fear of facing reprisals. (All photos used in this story were taken from Next Media’s X handle).
Background
On June 17, the editorial staff of Next Media was informed that they would be meeting Kin Kariisa, the company’s chief executive officer. These included reporters, editors, news anchors, talk show hosts, and a few senior managers from other departments.
Unbeknownst to most of them, Kariisa had invited Nakalema to have a talk with them. The meeting took place in the Media Hub, a spacious room on the second floor of the new building.
Staff had been told that the meeting dubbed “must-attend” would start at 10.00 am, but it kicked off properly at 10.23 am.
“Start by introducing yourself,” Kariisa told the gathered staff. The colonel wants to know the people she is talking to.”
One by one, the staff introduced themselves, reciting the mandatory company maxims after the introduction (Such as: I aim to learn, relearn, and unlearn; I master the basics; Never solve a problem twice).
As they made the introductions, Nakalema, dressed in a flowery Kitenge dress and high-heeled cream heels, sat quietly-smiling occasionally and making mental notes of how some people were introducing themselves.
After the introductions, Kariisa delved into the real purpose of the meeting.
“Col Nakalema wants to talk to you about the importance of loving your country, or what is called patriotism,” Kariisa said, according to three people who attended the meeting. “So let us all listen to her.”
Nakalema then took the stage, and after the usual pleasantries, she went to the heart of her presentation.
“Why do some of you hate the NRM?” she asked, leading to murmurs and some raised eyebrows.
“Kaggwa Njala, you hit the government hard. You ask NRM people tough questions that you don’t ask the opposition. Why?” Nakalema attacked.
Kaggwa Njala put on his trademark sheepish smile before raising his hand. “I ask fair questions, he said before Nakalema interjected. Okay, tomorrow, be fair to us. Even you, Kungu, sometimes you hit the government.
Paul Kayonga, the Deputy Luganda News Producer, raised his hand insistently. At first, Nakalema, afraid to lose her train of thought, ignored him. But Kayonga insisted, and he was picked.
Right away, Kayonga told Nakalema that the thesis that NBS journalists hate the NRM was not correct.
“Our role is to cover news, and we have done so objectively,” he said.
Kayonga, however, pointed out that the bitterness of some journalists towards the government is understandable because they have been mistreated by security personnel.
“I remember when I was roughed up by army men when I had gone to cover a function at the NUP headquarters in Kamwokya towards the 2021 elections. We were putting on jackets marked with the NBS logo. My camera person Joshua Mujunga sustained serious injuries,” Kayonga said as some staff cheered.
At this juncture, Kariisa intervened, cautioning that the meeting should not lose focus.
Nakalema, looking perplexed, just looked on.
However, she maintained that it was important for NBS journalists to have a good relationship with state actors.
For instance, she said that on several occasions when Dalton Kaweesa was news manager, she would engage him positively.
“Dalton knew which story was good or bad, and I had a good relationship with him. Even Dora [Atwongyeire], I sometimes call her and point out that some stories are not good,” she said.
We were not able to talk to Kariisa but a senior manager at the station confirmed the meetings, prefering anomynity.
“She apologised for what has gone wrong between the security and the media and said it will not happen again. We told her that as a media compnay we love Uganda and cannot hurt it,” the manager.
Bbeg Media understands that the meeting was part of Next Media’s efforts to have the ban on covering President Museveni lifted.
For the last three months, NBS TV, NTV, and Daily Monitor journalists have been barred from accessing functions where Museveni is the chief guest.
Kariisa, we have been told, has tried several avenues to try and rectify this, including reaching out to people like Nakalema who are believed to have the president’s ear.
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