Nation Media Group Uganda (NMG), the media company that houses Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, 93.3 KFM among others, has reportedly fired several of its top editors, reporters and other staff, in a restructuring exercise as the company focuses on the digital new age of broadcast and publishing.
Notable on the list of the fired staff include the Group’s Human Resource manager, Moses Ssesanga who has reportedly ‘fired’ himself, as the company searches for a new direction in the murky waters of digital business environment.
The Group’s public editor and veteran journalist, Mr. Charles Odoobo Bichachi, his cousin Richard Oundo, Patrick Matsiko wa Mucoori, all long time editors at the paper were not spared either, as the company continues to restructure and recover from the adverse effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Daily Monitor’s long time circulation manager Justus Katungi. Mr Katungi who has possibly been one of the longest serving employees in the department, if not the newspaper also appeared on the exit list snooped by our reporter.
The complete list of more than 40 people leaving Nation Media Group Uganda will be uploaded soon. However, some of the names worth noting are;
1. Charles Odoobo Bichachi – public editor
2. Oundo Richard – revise editor
3. Japheth Oboku – Opinions Editor
4. Patrick Matsiko wa Muchoori – News editor
5. Mark Kawalya – graphic designer
6. Katungi Justus – circulation manager
7. Lubega Henry – reporter
8. Reina Ojon – business reporter
In an email to staff from NMG Uganda’s managing director, last week, Tony Glencross, said the Group intends to “radically change our business model for all our media platforms from traditional advertising to content-driven revenue”.
NMG is not the only company in searching for this path. Several media companies across the world are looking for a magic wand to succeed in vain.
Whereas several companies saw to a staff reduction during Covid19 hard times, the Ugandan side of the Nation Media Group tried to put up a bold face and retained all its staff. Its competitor, New Vision, however, attempted to send home some excess staff.
Media houses such as Record TV have closed after more than 15 years in the industry. Uganda Radio Network reportedly shed off some of its staff as well as Covid-19 strikes the economy.
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