News reaching our gossip desk indicates that in the latest development kiira FM’s Luganda News anchor Rahma Najjuma alias “Omugave Mu bagave” is a new signing at the Nizam road based 89.4 NBS FM.
Najjuma is that soft female voice that has been backing veteran anchor, Ivan Lubega Musajjatagererwanzaalo in the 9:00pm Luganda bulletin at the Clive Road West based Kiira FM 88.6.
The duo had captured the attention of listeners because of the video clips they’d send as deserts moments to the bulletin – dancing. In fact, the public had nicknamed them the dancing anchors.
But as you read this, the well curved beautiful Najjuma whose eyes are filled with kindness and intelligence has taken her romantic voice to NBS where she even anchored news in English at 7:00am on Smart 89.0 FM.
Rahma joins a lengthy list of very talented personalities Kiira FM has lost mainly to NBS FM. They include Rocky Manoki, Mzee Kamada Embuzi, Kimera Richard. In the past, Kiira also lost to NBS the best anchor of news in Lusoga, Michael Kifubangabo who would later join Baba FM.
Kiira has also lost
Kirya omuwuulu (city FM), Winnie Switzo (city FM), Munyirwa Ivan Lamek (city FM) and Kisambira Diana (Baba TV), Lumama Tom Lawrence (city FM) and
Kanyere Hakim (NBS TV) among others.
But why?
Rumour has it that even the staff still present at Kiira FM are at the verge of leaving the station if things don’t change for the better. In fact, last month, the station almost lost its Editor, Mr Lubega Ivan to NBS FM.
The talk in town now is that Kiira has turned into NBS FM’s academy!
Some of the staff who left Kiira say, Jinja’s oldest FM station does not pay staff.
“Much as NBS is paying me as low as around 400,000 shillings, it is better than Kiira where I was only given transport.”
“I am still here because no other station has spotted me. If they call me anywhere, I’d immediately join them,” said one talented staff still at Kiira.
Mid last year, kiira FM developed a talent of a Luganda news anchor in Salima Nabichu who joined the station struggling to perfect the gimmicks in the rhythm of reading news. Under the stewardship of Lubega Ivan the news editor at kiira FM Nabichu’s talent gradually improved and finally evaporated to a big voice in the region.
Its then that NBS FM spotted and fetched her to their newsroom as a Luganda news anchor.
Early this year, when they got a chink in their social media handlers, NBS FM couldn’t look elsewhere apart from their usual garden Kiira FM only to harvest Johnbosco Mwesigwa Ibanda who was running the radio station’s social media platforms.
Three months ago, NBS FM was hit by a strong wave that left them staggering for a while. Two of their big voices left for Busoga one (90.6) FM that is; Mbajjwe Rodgers alias Musajja wa kabaka a Luganda News anchor and Resty Nanteza alias Nakapachu a mid morning show host.
Nakapachu was replaceable but Mbajjwe seemed not. Then the station targeted Ivan Lubega. They spent a whole month luring him until he decided not to join them.
Is NBS benefiting much?
Each time NBS snatched someone from Kiira was after losing one of their talents. In fact much as NBS has continued to fetch Kiira FM, the former is gradually losing out.
The once a big station has lost big names and talents only to replace them with the Kiira FM staff.
“Kiira has shifted from Clive road to Nizam where NBS used to be,” one social media talker joked.
NBS FM recently lost their superb news editor Winnie Watenya who resigned over what many gossip experts have terms as witchcraft.
The station has for long suffered an influx of half backed employees who hold little and or completely no credentials in the media world.
Why Rahma in particular?
Recently, the regulator UCC and the Uganda media council came up with a policy that any media outlet to renew their operational licence(s) they have to present credentials of a station manager, programmer, producer and the news editor with at least a degree in journalism and or m
Mass Communication or any other degree with an additional certificate or diploma in journalism.
Having lost a qualified news editor Winnie Watenya, the station had to look for a replacement with the same qualifications. After they looked around their own and couldn’t find any as those with credentials already occupy other offices equally with the same prerequisites, as usual kiira FM became their spotting ground and that is how Rahma Najjuma got the job.
She was signed as a news anchor for smart FM (89.0) a sister station to NBS FM but rumour has it that her academic documents shall save the two stations when it comes to their licencing.
Why staff leave kiira FM without hesitation ?
Kiira FM once a media giant in Busoga subregion is more of a dead lion. The station which has groomed talents it has failed to maintain them due to non payment of staff and poor working conditions.
Managed by the Bishop of the Lutheran church of Uganda Rt Rev Charles Bameka as the station director, the station for years has failed to remit staff salaries and allowances leaving them in a miserable state. Some struggle with rent arrears, food debts by jinja city food venders, they normally foot to work while others can’t put on two different shirts a week.
Its has now turned out that kiira FM employees are at the station for addresses and at any entity’s disposal with the financial mussel to change their livelihood in the exchange of talent.
We are bringing more gossip
