The discussions to have Robert Kyagulanyi, the National Unity Platform (NUP) president, appear on NBS TV’s flagship talk show, Barometer, had several twists and turns.
Multiple sources knowledgeable about the discussions told Bbeg Media on condition of anonymity that the negotiations were tense, and neither side wanted to cede any of its positions.
At one point, our sources said, it seemed Kyagulanyi’s appearance on NBS TV would not take place.
There were disagreements over the venue, on the choice of the moderator, and about the kind of questions that should be asked, we have been told.
Would the two parties reach common ground? That was the question.
Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, last appeared on the Naguru-based television on the eve of the 2021 elections.
However, a few days after the elections, he wrote a terse letter to Kin Kariisa, the chief executive officer of Next Media, accusing the media organisation of ‘aiding’ his defeat to President Museveni.
How? Kyagulanyi did not elaborate, but his letter set off a series of events that sowed seeds of distrust between NUP and Next Media.
First, NUP’s foot soldiers and some leaders started attacking Next Media, saying it is a mouthpiece of the ruling NRM. Some supporters said the acronym ‘NBS’ stood for “Natasha Broadcasting Station,” trying to link it to President Museveni’s daughter, Natasha Karugire.
Some NBS staff, like Mildred Tuhaise, who anchored the election coverage, were attacked on social media, and the company had to take measures to protect her and other employees.
On the NBS TV side, management decreed that some NUP leaders should not be allowed on its platform and that stories related to the party’s activities or functions should be relegated down on the pecking order.
Kariisa, the Next Media CEO, was in a bullish mood, and during one internal meeting wondered aloud whether NUP thought the media organisation would not survive without it.
When Peter Kafuko, the producer of the entertainment show Uncut, secured an interview with Kyagulanyi around this time, management vetoed the move.
Several leaders from NUP, led by Mathias Mpuuga, the former leader of the opposition, tried to mediate the conflict, and a few months later, the tensions eased.
Some of the ‘backlisted’ NUP leaders were allowed back on air, and the TV started prioritizing some party activities.
Yet Kyagulanyi still declined requests to appear on the platform. He frequently appeared on other TV stations like NTV, BBS TV, but not NBS TV.
Things change
The question was: What would it take for NBS TV to host Kyagulanyi again?
It turned out the answer was simple: both sides needed each other as we head to the 2026 elections.
Hate or like it, NBS TV has carved out its niche as the leading current affairs television station in Uganda. Its political talk-shows, Frontline, Barometer, and Eagle are some of the most watched during the days and times they appear.
Therefore, Kyagulanyi needed NBS TV the same way the station needed him, at least that’s the conclusion some NUP leaders came to.
Having fallen out with CBS Radio last year, the Buganda-founded station which is hugely popular in the central region, NUP realized that its president needed to appear on big platforms like NBS TV.
Secondly, NBS TV had given so much airtime to Mpuuga, who fell out with NUP and Kyagulanyi following the Shs 500 million service award saga.
Some leaders in NUP felt Kyagulanyi, despite his reservations about NBS TV, had to make an appearance on the station at least to dent Mpuuga’s progress.
NBS TV also needed Kyagulanyi to boost its viewership, even for a day, but also to deflect criticism from NUP supporters.
Therefore, the discussions to have Kyagulanyi appear on NBS TV were initiated by NUP, according to multiple sources.
Lewis Rubongoya, the party secretary general, and Joel Ssenyonyi, the leader of the opposition, impressed it upon Kyagulanyi that “he loses nothing” by appearing on NBS TV.
Rubongoya and Ssenyonyi were later joined by Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa, a former NBS employee who left to pursue his political ambitions. Zambaali, the former host of Barometer, also convinced Kyagulanyi to appear on the show, sources told us.
Sources said the two leaders were already in touch with NBS TV’s top management, which had made it clear that it was ready and willing to host Kyagulanyi.
Sticking issues
However, there were several sticking issues.
For starters, Kyagulanyi told the NUP leaders that he wanted the interview to take place at his home in Magere, but NBS TV insisted it take place at its studio in Naguru.
For days, this became a sticking issue because Kyagulanyi did not want to appear like he had ‘capitulated’ to a TV station some of his supporters had spent years calling names. In the end, he accepted NBS TV’s demand.
The reason NBS TV was able to hold firm on the issue of the venue was that the interview request had been initiated by NUP, so the TV station felt it had the upper hand.
Secondly, Kyagulanyi’s team wanted Zambaali to moderate the show, but Next Media management declined, arguing that Zambaali had already publicly identified himself as a NUP supporter. For purposes of objectivity, it was decided that Adam Kungu moderates the show.
Third, Kyagulanyi wanted to be given specific questions in advance to prepare adequately for the show. He was told he could only be told broad areas/subjects that would be discussed on the show. His team conceded.
Lastly, it was agreed that Kyagulanyi would appear on the show alone without other panelists. There was no contestation over this.
On its part, NBS pledged to give the interview wide publicity on all its platforms as well as give a warm reception to Kyagulanyi.
Over the weekend, both sides reached an agreement, and NBS TV went to work. The graphic designers quickly produced the artwork, which was reviewed and approved on Sunday evening, sources said.
Once the artwork was approved, the social media team led by Dorah Atwongyeire kicked into gear.
Starting Monday, they posted the artworks on several social media platforms and even engaged some influencers.
All company staff, it was decided, had to repost the artwork on their platforms to hype up Kyagulanyi’s interview.
Yesterday evening, Kyagulanyi was treated to a grand reception at Naguru. The big screen at the reception prominently displayed his image with the word: Karibu (Swahili for welcome).
He then met Kariisa for a brief private meeting before he was ushered into the studio for the show.
During and after the show, the Next Media social media team and some NUP supporters constantly shared video clips on TikTok and X.
In the end, there were smiles from both sides. At least that is what it appeared.
Note: The main picture accompanying this story was taken by Next Media.
