{UAH} JPAM Winds Now Blowing Towards New Vision but why can't Katerega Ahmed take over?

Robert Kabushenga Serving His Evening Days at the Gov't Media Empire as he Faces the Door over 'Closeness' to Dropped JPAM

By Daniels N. Tatya

President Museveni (R) not ready to listen to Kabushenga anymore

Security are vetting a number of top media professionals to take over at Vision Group, following reports that sacked Amama Mbabazi had pocketed and severally used its top managers led by Robert Kabushenga for some good years.

Highly classified intelligence, currently accessible only to the mighty investigator, names the people likely to eat big at New Vision, as Andrew Mwenda, Joachim Buwembo, Onapito Ekolomoit and Simon Kaheru.

We have credible info that the security vetting committee is down to serious work in a bid to ensure that the changes as desired by the powers that be happens as possible can be. But, if all goes as wished for her by some circles, Barbra Kaija, the Editor in Chief, is likely to 'tentatively' take over the mantle at the New Vision Group from Robert Kabushenga, who security labels as an 'extra baggage' now.

We understand that a top Born Again in the corridors of power, is pushing for fellow born again Kaija to succeed Kabushenga, whose chances to retain the job are very minimal, telling from what is transpiring in the security vetting committee meetings.

It is understood that the President is progressively warming up to the idea of giving Kaija the job in line with his politics of promoting the women gender. Museveni appointed the first woman as his Vice President in the whole of Africa.

Kaija is also known to have no political inclinations whatsoever and so barring other factors, she might turn out the desirable candidate for the powers that be. Without clearly putting the exact date the appointing authority will disappoint Kabushenga, at least information coming through to the Investigator's desk has it that the man has an imminent sacking arrangement looming above his head and that he is counting just days to still be called CEO of the Government aided Media group.

At the same time the appointing authority wants to hand over the office to another person who will run government publicity business without taking sides.

His sacking is, according to sources very inevitable despite the fact that of late, Kabushenga has engaged a couple of top NRM guru's, First In-law Edwin Karugire and even the President, explaining himself and perhaps making sure the 'disappointing' authority reconsiders the stance.

However, as matters remain, Kabushenga has failed to convince the (dis)appointing authority where, even one of the country's top corporate entity, also a share holder in the New Vision have demanded the man be sacked for failing to make profits and alleged mismanagement of the media empire as he reportedly "runs it like his personal business."

With several issues combined, Kabushenga is certainly going to be sacked with no particular excuse to exempt him from the fate at the industrial area-based media group. Here is why!

Kabushenga's closeness with Mbabazi

Kabushenga's sacking is heavily attributed to his very close relationship with recently sacked Prime Minister, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi aka JPAM and they want him out of office like his friend in what the country is witnessing as Museveni's sweep of those opposed to his political resolve.

According to security sources, Kabushenga has been, and still under a severe 24/7 surveillance by security who have apparently discovered a lot missing links particularly questioning his management of the government media.

The same sources have also put to question, a very strong issue of Kabushenga's 'secret' dealings with JPAM. These sources say Kabushenga and Mbabazi are just close friends but also teaming up to fail President Museveni, politically.

They point out that Kabushenga's New Vision Pakasa forum is Mbabazi's brain child to empower the NRM youths who in turn are working on Mbabazi's behalf. This forum is hugely believed to be empowering the youths with knowledge to make money.

Security believes though, that the forum has several times hit at President Museveni demonstrating particularly against the NRM Chairman. The recent youth stunts in the city, demonstrating with NRM's color drenched pigs at Parliament and Watoto Church is apparently, reportedly being bankrolled by a section of NRM guru's.

These pigs are allegedly ferried in the city in posh cars. For the youths claiming they are jobless, the big question here could be "How possible is it that an unemployed youth can afford to drive a car as they are seen," charged our source

New Channels

According to sources, something fishy is being sensed not only by the appointing authority but also by the shareholders. They say all the new radio channels mostly based in upcountry are just sheer excuses to hoodwink government and the vision shareholders.

"These are just Kabushenga's false accountabilities and excuses but he has proved he is a poor manager. He uses these channels simply to enrich him through commissions and deals as he procures the equipment," alleged the arguably knowledgeable source.

New Vision group originally had new Vision Newspaper - Published in English, Bukedde newspaper - Published in Luganda, Orumuri newspaper - Published in Runyankole/Rukiga, Etop newspaper - Published in Ateso, Rupiny newspaper - Published in Luo, Premiership magazine - Soccer magazine covering English, African and Ugandan soccer news - Published monthly in English.

Today under Kabushenga, there is Kampala Sun, a tabloid publishing in English. City Beat magazine, Bride & Groom magazine and Secondary Schools Directory by Vision Printing Limited.

Still under Kabushenga, the empire has seen the advent of Vision Voice FM 94.8 - Based in Kampala and broadcasting in English with coverage of 100 kilometers' radius, Radio Bukedde FM 100.5 - Based in Kampala (Luganda), Radio West FM 100.2 - Based in Mbarara as the dominant radio station in western Uganda and broadcasting in Runyankole/Rukiga, Runyoro/Rutoro and English, Radio Rupiny FM 95.7 - Based in Gulu (Luo), and Radio Etop FM 99.4 - Based in Soroti (Ateso).

And that is not enough. The company launched into TV West in May 2010 which  transmits in the four R's (Runyankore, Rukiga, Runyoro, Rutoro), Bukedde Television (BTV) - Launched in October 2009 and another Bukedde Television at the industrial area station.

Sources particularly question "Where the moral right and authority of having two independent Televisions is stations (Bukedde one and two) transmitting differently but the same stuff and language!" Then there is also Urban TV. "He is acting like he is running his own business not on behalf of the public," they say.

To show whose ownership is New Vision Group, the vetting security sources say, "The New Vision Group is owned by the Ugandan government and individual investors as shareholders not Kabushenga."

New Vision Group is owned by the Ugandan government (53%) and by institutional and individual investors (47%). The shares of the Group are traded on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE).

On October12th 2006, William Pike, then CEO of the newspaper, resigned after his 19 years at the industrial based New Vision Group, starting as a sports journalist. Unlike Kabushenga, Pike was largely credited with maintaining a degree of editorial independence for the newspaper.

Namanve Land

As if the above is not enough, Kabushenga is alleged to have controversially bought land in Namanve industrial park on behalf of the company at Shillings 700m.  The Shs700m cost of land is viewed by many as an exaggerated price. The Namanve land can only be acquired by investors upon application with investment proposals to the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).

Sources from the New Vision reveal Kabushenga is claiming that currently the former owner of the plot did not surrender the land title for the plot and has since gone absent. Sources also reveal Kabushenga has taken the matter to courts of law.

NSSF demands

As the leading shareholders at New Vision Group, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) have also jumped on the case demanding State House to have Kabushenga sacked from the Job, saying he has mismanaged the company. On the other front according to our sources, Kabushenga is not making the desired profits a company of New Vision Group stature would be making.

"NSSF are a leading share holder corporate company in the Media Empire and they want him sacked as soon as yesterday. He is not doing enough to have the company make enough profits or he is just misusing the money because new Vision seems making a lot of money," Said a source who preferred not to be mentioned.

In a separate investigation's result, Kabushenga is filth rich and has a line of multi-billion property in South Africa. "But he has persistently pretended to be not doing well financially," said the source.

Desperate meetings

With a looming sacking orders from state house, Kabushenga has scheduled several meetings with state agents and the appointing authority (Museveni). In one of his desperate engagements to save his job, he met the President.

However, the President just reminded him to do his work when he simply responded to the panting Kabushenga; "You go and do your work." In a related development, the same desperate CEO sought appointment with first Family in-Law Edwin Karugire, but we have gathered it is all in vain. Watch this space for profiles of his possible replacements

Edited by James Scott

 

 

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