Next Media has suspended Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa and Victoria Bagaaya for going public with their political ambitions.
Senior management, sources told us, asked them to step back before pulling them off air.
The length of their suspensions is not clear but we have been told it could be indefinite. However, we have been told that they remain employees of Next Media for now, in unspecified roles.
We have been told that they were reminded that the public display of their political ambitions contradicts the company’s editorial policy which requires staff to remain non-partisan in behavior and conduct.
Zambaali joined NBS in 2019 from CBS as a news anchor for the Luganda news bulletin Amasengejje. He later became the host of Barometer, a current affairs talk show that airs on Tuesdays on NBS TV.
Bagaaya, on the other hand, joined NBS in 2014 as a presenter on a youth-centred show. She later became a reporter and a news anchor.
Zambaali has expressed interest in running for MP in Nansana Municipality on a NUP ticket, while Bagaaya wants to run for the Woman MP seat in Fort Portal City. Bagaaya’s political affiliation is unclear, although we have been told that she is an NRM member.
Last week Zambaali appeared at a NUP political rally in Kawempe where he said “In times like these, I cannot remain neutral.”
Desire Derekford Mugumisa, Next Media’s Corporate Affairs Manager, confirmed the suspension of the duo in a statement on X.
“For Next Media as an independent media house, non-partisanship is essential for us to effectively inform to Transform. These same policies have led to various levels of reprimands for those of us engaging in partisan politics,” he wrote.
Zambali u deserve it coz yo was extremely challenging nrmian during barometer.