Kin and Joe Kigozi: How a solid partnership eventually cracked

“We thank God for giving us a leader like Kin. He is the visionary and our guiding light. Please God give him more life.”

These were some of the words of Joseph Kigozi, in his opening prayer at a staff retreat for senior managers at a hotel in Kololo in early 2019.

Some managers at the retreat exchanged glances wondering why Kigozi had gone overboard in his praise of his boss.

The prayer has since entered into Next Media’s lore and to this day, some of the people present at the retreat crack jokes about it.

Yet these words appeared to be coming from the bottom of Kigozi’s heart. He truly believed in Kariisa and his vision for Next Media.

At the time he recited this prayer, Kigozi had been back at Next Media for roughly over a year after a stint at BBS TV where he did not have many happy days. He was the deputy CEO and Chief of Strategy.

His relationship with Kariisa was very solid and appeared to be growing strong.

When Kariisa needed someone to represent him at a high-level meeting, Kigozi was always at hand.

When Kariisa needed to sack a senior employee without meeting him/her face to face, Kigozi happily executed this function without hesitation.

After Kariisa stepped down as chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), he pushed Kigozi to become vice president of the association so that he could be his eyes and ears there.

Yet within the internal workings of Next Media, Kariisa never handed Kigozi real power. He couldn’t take the final decision on a matter. He was Next Media’s equivalent of Edward Ssekandi, who as vice president never wielded any power. Some staff, especially those considered On-Air Talent, openly undermined his authority.

Kigozi always kept his cool and spotted a cheerful face.

Until cracks started to appear in his relationship with Kariisa.

A memorable journey

Joe Kigozi joined Next Media after the 2010 World Cup as a sports analyst. He worked alongside Bashir Khan Lugudo on the Morning Sport programme.

Kigozi was also the host of 4-4-2 Sunday sports show which featured Aldrine Nsubuga and Mike Mutebi

His success landed him a position in the marketing department where he later became manager.

He was the brains behind the Owakaabi marketing campaign which was an overwhelming success. It increased NBS TV’s visibility and grew its audience.

Kariisa, known for his keen eye for talent, was deeply impressed with Kigozi’s work ethic and their synergy in steering the company towards success was undeniable. He made him Corporate Affairs Manager to grow the brand further.

So when Kigozi decided to leave Next Media in 2016 to take up a new challenge at BBS Terefayina, Kariisa was in a fix but he did not stand in his way.

Instead, he assured Kigozi that the doors at Next Media would always remain open if he ever wished to return.

True to his word, Kariisa welcomed Kigozi back in late 2017 after Kigozi had a torrid time at BBS TV.

This time, Kigozi’s return came with a major promotion—he was appointed Deputy CEO and Chief of Strategy, a move that signified his growing influence within the organization. Many of the people who had worked with Kigozi were excited about his return.

Kigozi worked in Kin’s shadow and some say he complemented the boss’ vision.

How long would this camaraderie last?

Cracks Appear

The answer to that question started taking shape last year when Next Media decided to embark on a major restructuring exercise aimed at optimizing operations and streamlining leadership roles.

To facilitate this, the company hired a consultant who was tasked with recommending necessary changes. One of the consultant’s key proposals was the scrapping of the Deputy CEO position.

This recommendation placed Kigozi in an awkward position. Without the Deputy CEO role, his future at Next Media became uncertain. It is said that he was offered a chance to return to the marketing department, the very space he had occupied in 2015.

Joe Kigozi in a fix after Next Media scraps deputy CEO post

However, he declined the offer.

Those familiar with the internal workings of Next Media say Kigozi felt that moving back to the marketing team was a demotion and a signal that he was no longer valued as a top executive.

This led to a standoff between him and the company’s leadership, and ultimately, it was a matter of time before he exited Next Media.

The final exit 

By 2023, there were whispers that Kigozi was considering leaving Next Media again. Sources close to the company suggest that his relationship with Kariisa had cooled considerably.

While the exact cause remains unclear, it is believed that tensions had been building beneath the surface for some time.

Matters came to a head when Kigozi took an extended leave of three months in the US, where his wife resides.

It is said that during this time, he had received an attractive job offer and was contemplating relocating permanently.

Kariisa, upon learning of this, was reportedly unhappy. He persuaded Kigozi to return, but those close to them noted that their relationship was never the same again.

Kariisa, who had once entrusted Kigozi with significant responsibilities, began to see him differently.

Some insiders suggest that trust had been broken while others believe that Kariisa felt betrayed by Kigozi’s attempt to leave at a critical time for the company, They claim the restructuring exercise was engineered to justify the decision to let Kigozi go.

Others suggest that Kigozi may have outgrown his role at Next Media with no pathway for further growth.

Kigozi therefore had two options: The first was to stay put, enjoy the trappings of his role and continue playing second fiddle to Kariisa. The second was to leave Next Media and look for a new challenge.

Kigozi had started the Joe Kigozi Academy as a side hustle to feed his passion for football. He could try to grow this.

Yet with his departure, an era at Next Media has come to an end. He joins Rama Mbago, a long-serving senior executive who left last year to pursue private business.

Kigozi’s contributions to the company’s growth cannot be understated, and his exit will leave a sour after-taste for some who worked with him.

Kariisa has told some Next Media staff that Kigozi will become an external consultant to the company.

Next Media sacks Joe Kigozi

In fact, he has organized a farewell party for him at the Mestil Hotel on February 7 to soften the blow and to show the business world that his parting of ways with Kigozi was amicable.

Yet in their heart of hearts both Kariisa and Kigozi know the party will just be the final ritual in their rites of separation.

 

[email protected]

 

One thought on “Kin and Joe Kigozi: How a solid partnership eventually cracked

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *