By Joshua Walakira
Veteran radio/TV journalist Basajjamivule Bwadene Nsolonkambwe, who recently quit NBS TV’s Eagle program in total acrimony, has landed a more rewarding remuneration package. Whereas he was merely a panelist at NBS earning a monthly retainer of just Shs1m, he has been offered a bigger and more influential position to manage (as GM) the newly opened Baba TV owned by wealthy Jinja MP Moses Grace Balyeku. The fast-growing Baba TV is based in Jinja but also operates a plushier modern studio in Ntinda trading center where it operates in a multi-storied building. It’s strongest in Busoga sub region where it has a strong partnership with the institution of Kyabazinga and it’s said that by the time Mivule badly fell out and quit NBS, he was already on the verge of sealing the Baba TV deal that will monthly earn him much more than he earned at NBS. At Baba, Mivule will be earning Shs4m per month as salary as General Manager (GM). He will also be hosted for a talk show to discuss major events of the week (Tamale Mirundi style) every Sunday 5-7PM. “He will be going on air to be hosted Tamale Mirundi-style every Sunday and serve as GM for the rest of the days,” said a source well briefed on the matter. “He has had financial issues and so the Baba TV management had to first dust off all the dirt [okukubako enfufu to put him on map again. Shs30m had to be released for his rehabilitation and he used Shs26m to buy a Toyota Wish car [UBE series] and the Shs4m balance went into rent settlement and relocation to a more decent place of abode.” We were unable to speak to Mivule as his Airtel line was off each time we tried but well briefed sources said his new employers (who have engaged him now for three weeks) are expecting him to rapidly grow the new brand to the level of overshadowing more established TV channels like NBS.
MORE EXPECTATIONS;
Convinced that they have now crippled and neutralized NTV to the extent of not being to cause trouble anymore, President Museveni’s handlers in Entebbe are hopeful that new media brands like Baba TV can rapidly grow and threaten more established ones like NBS. “There is big concern that NBS remains big-headed giving the establishment hard time and [PPS] Molly Kamukama was recently given a brief highlighting the profiles of big names that are giving government a hell of time at NBS,” says a deeply knowledgeable source. “The bad guys on Molly’s list include news manager Joyce Bagala, Morning Breeze host Simon Kaggwa Njala, reporter Joseph Sabiiti [who reported Arua fracas], Veteran NGO/CSO worker Samson Kasumba and Barometer presenter Simon Muyanga Lutaaya. And State House is being told that with exception of Kasumba and Sabiiti, the rest of the guys are bitter with government because they stood for elections on opposition-leaning platform and lost to Musevenists. Njala lost to Peter Sematimba [in Busiro South], Bagala to Judith Nabakooba [in Mityana] and Muyanga to Kenneth Lubogo [in Bulamogi].” It’s revealed that Museveni handlers in State House are hopeful and are praying hard that Mivule succeeds in his new Baba TV project and grow it into a brand that can diminish the influence of NBS which State House considers too independent and assertive while reporting on political matters. Partly it’s against this background that Mivule is being perceived by some at the Kamwokya-based Media Plaza as a man out to do an errand for the State in its long running proxy wars with the NBS that has increasingly distinguished itself as Uganda’s most influential and most watched TV channel even when it isn’t among the oldest in the market. Mivule’s latest social media posts on his facebook wall (Basajja Mivule) have only created more apprehension from NBS lovers. Since departing about three weeks ago, Mivule’s posts (bearing Baba logos and colors) have been hostile to former colleagues at NBS including Muyanga Lutaaya (his host for many years) whom he accuses of being a mole. It appears Muyanga, renowned for being sophisticated, has opted for a contempt card towards the Mivule facebook rants as he has so far exercised maximum restraint not returning the fire. “It had to be 5pm because Mivule remains our fan and his Baba show must start at 5pm after he has watched and picked tips from The NBS Eagle which airs earlier every Sunday,” braggingly said a top NBS official who didn’t want to be named. The other factor sparking apprehension at Media Plaza is the fact that Mivule, who they initially zeroed on hoping he would be neutral and objective in his submissions, wasn’t open as to what his next move would be as he left NBS. “He spoke to Ibanda Mugabi [the Eagle producer], Ramadhan [NBS COO] and Kin [Kariisa the CEO] that he was leaving and said he was going to concentrate on revamping his farming activities. There was no mention of Baba TV being his next destination which shows bad faith on his part but we wish him well in his new endeavors,” an NBS insider said of the Mivule departure emphasizing that whereas one or two viewers might occasionally miss Mivule, the NBS brand is strong enough to carry on “and possibly become even stronger” without him.
PAINFUL EXPERIENCE;
As he featured on NBS, Mivule (who one time justified his gloomy face by telling Muyanga there is nothing to be happy about in Uganda) hasn’t been having exactly a good time. He entered into contracts with many people to use his Nangabo farm to supply them with rabbits and German Shepherds (dog breeds). As an outspoken presenter on Kaboozi Kubiri, Mivule cultivated a large following of listeners and admirers through especially his development/wealth creation programs. Using himself as an example of a successful commercial farmer, Mivule inspired many via his radio talk shows and even Buganda kingdom started using him at their annual farming expo in Wankulukuku as one of the facilitators. Frank Gashumba, with whom they aren’t on talking terms anymore, was among the many followers and admirers Mivule won over at Kaboozi. So even when he left Kaboozi, some of those admirers followed him to his Nangabo farm where they would flock for advice on how to become successful commercial farmers like him. “Many placed orders for rabbits and improved dog breeds from his farm. He supplied many but not all of them. Many had to wait for their turn but before satisfying those orders, Letshego [a Kololo-based bank] from which he had borrowed moved in and demanded recovery of their loan. Of course he wasn’t ready to pay having invested the money in the business. Letshego confiscated the farm to recover their money and that is how Mivule fell on hard times. Life became extremely hard and it hasn’t been easy for him to make ends meet,” says a longtime friend. Some creditors and customers whose orders hadn’t been supplied frequently stormed NBS hoping to pounce on Mivule and herd him to Luzira but somehow the guy proved too smart for them. Sometimes he would arrive as early as 8am for a program (Eagle) that starts at 3pm just to beat his pursuers at their own game. After the show, he would leave through the basement into fellow panelist Harold Kaija’s car and this often left his would-be arresters stranded at the NBS reception. Mivule travelled incognito between NBS and home to avoid being pounced upon by his angry creditors who would be baying for his blood. The Letshego guys (headed by lawyer Giles Atwijukyire) acted so mercilessly as they sought loan recovery, they took both the farm and Mivule’s residence-both located in Nangabo near Kasangati. As he waited for the NBS show to start, Mivule would sometimes lounge at the canteen on level 5 were his pursuers couldn’t gain access. On failing to get hold of him using the NBS connection (he was simply too smart for them), some of his pursuers fallaciously concluded that Mivule operated like a ghost. Whereas some critics say his NBS acrimonious departure was preceded by a controversial visit to Entebbe State House, Mivule dismisses all that as untrue and accuses some people in the media of being just envious of his excellent analysis as a political analyst. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
