Renowned lawyer Isaac Ssemakadde was set to appear on NBS TV’s flagship talk show, Morning Breeze, yesterday to expound on his plan as the president of Uganda Law Society. However, a few minutes to the start of the show, the host, Simon Njala Kaggwa informed viewers that Ssemakadde would not be able to make it. Instead, the maverick lawyer sent one of his underlings to present his side, a big blow in the face. Ssemakadde’s decision not to appear on NBS TV’s flagship show sparked debate on social media.
Bbeg Media has spoken to some people close to Ssemakadde and here are the five main reasons they say led the new ULS president not to step foot at the Naguru based media house.
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Hostility at NBS TV
One of the primary reasons Ssemakadde did not attend the talk show, we have been told, is the hostile atmosphere he believed existed among some of the NBS TV employees. According to insiders, some employees within the station were not in favor of Ssemakadde becoming the president of the Uganda Law Society (ULS). Some even made their feeling known in this respect. Therefore the lawyer was not going to give time to people who in the first place doubted his credentials.
Biased coverage
Ssemakadde has been critical of certain media houses in the past, accusing them of biased reporting and leaning toward specific agendas. He might have been concerned that appearing on Morning Breeze could result in skewed coverage, potentially focusing on his critics within the legal profession or misrepresenting his vision for ULS. With some NBS TV employees allegedly against his candidacy, there may have been concerns about the nature of the questions and the framing of the discussion.
NBS TV’s editorial independence
NBS TV is one of Uganda’s most-watched television stations, but Ssemakadde may have questioned its editorial independence, especially when dealing with controversial or politically charged topics. Insiders say the decision to skip the show could have stemmed from this realisation.
Public perception
As a candidate for the ULS presidency, Ssemakadde’s radical stance was frowned upon by some people. He attacked senior officials in government like the attorney general and sent missiles at the chief justice Alphonse Owiny-Dollo. Whether right or wrong, many viewers believe that NBS TV is an NRM leaning station. One of Ssemakadde’s cofidants said given this perception, the new ULS president could have chickened out of the scheduled show.
Ssemakadde wanted formal invitation
We have also been told that Ssemakadde’ was casually invited for the show by one of its hosts, Simon Njala Kaggwa. After he won, Njala approached him at Munyonyo and invited him to appear for the show. Of course Ssemakadde could not tell him no, but deep down, he wanted something more formal. He wanted to be told the areas for discussion, he did not want to be ambushed. That is why yesterday, he did not show up.
