At Next Media, it is no secret that the most powerful person is the CEO, Kin Kariisa. Under Kariisa is a slew of senior managers who form what is known as the Top Management Team (TMT). These are the heads of units or departments at the Naguru-based media organization.
Yet not all TMTs have the same influence and power. Some like Joe Kigozi, who is officially the deputy CEO, wield little influence within the walls of Next Media even if to the outside world they may appear powerful. It would not be a stretch to compare Kigozi to Vice President Jessica Alupo if you get the drift.
The interesting thing is that the most powerful and influential people at Next Media, excluding Kariisa, are all women. Kariisa has made no secret of the fact that Next Media is “run by women” in several speeches at company functions.
Here are the four most powerful and influential women at Next Media in chronological order.
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Sauba Luwaga
She is arguably the second most powerful person at Next Media after Kin Kariisa, the group CEO. Yes, she is. Luwaga is the head of audit and systems compliance but what makes her extremely powerful is the fact that she has worked with Kariisa longer than anybody currently at NBS TV. She works on sensitive assignments and her word on any matter carries a lot of weight. She is unknown to outsiders but inside the walls of Next Media, employees know that she is not a person you would want to cross if you still want to be employed there. On some occasions, employees sacked by Next Media have found their way back after she has put in a word for them. She even oversaw the construction of Next Media’s gleaming office block.
Lilian Mutesi
She joined NBS TV as a receptionist before she was promoted to human resources officer. As a receptionist stationed on the floor where the CEO used to sit, she determined who had access to Kin Kariisa. One former employee at NBS used to compare her to Amelia Kyambadde, President Museveni’s powerful former Principal Private Secretary. Even senior managers used to fear her. She enjoys the trust and confidence of her boss. Mutesi is now the Chief People and Culture Officer (or head of Human Resources) at Next Media. During the period of evaluating the performance of employees, workers worship the ground on which she walks. She determines whether a particular employee gets a bonus or not at the end of each year. That’s what they call power.
Dorah Atwongyeire
Atwongyeire joined NBS from Vision Group as online editor in 2019 and on one occasion even resigned after she clashed with a female manager only for management to convince her to stay. In a short time, she had acquired so much power. Currently she is the Multi-Media Editor of Next Media but in reality, she is the defacto head of the newsroom. While Dalton Kaweesa, the chief news manager is technically her boss, in reality Atwongyeire pulls the strings in the newsroom. We have been told that she occasionally attends TMT meetings even if she does not belong to the group. Atwongyeire enjoys unlimited access to Kariisa and she is usually in the know before the company makes major decisions.
Kevin Kaija
Kaija is the General Manager of Afromobile, the live-streaming app that Next Media launched in 2021 as it tried to expand its influence in the digital sphere. She joined NBS TV in 2018 from BBS TV as head of production before she left to work at the short-lived See TV under controversial circumstances. We have been told that she was lured back by Kariisa who wanted her to lead Afromobile. Increasingly, she has become powerful and is one of the few people who are said to have Kin’s ear. She loves attention and some of her underlings tremble in her presence.
