Masaka, (UG):- A section of journalists in the Masaka sub-region under their umbrella Greater Masaka Journalists Association (GREMAJA) Friday elected Farish Magembe to be their President, establishing leadership for the body after six years of waiting.
Magembe, a reporter with Next Media Group polled 23 votes in the November 01 elections held in Masaka city. His close competitor Badru Mujuzi garnered 3 votes while Denis Ntume pulled out of the race hours into the polls.
He will be deputized by Prossy Kabanda of Radio Buddu as the vice President, while Tom Bukenya (Ekisweko Fm) was elected general secretary of the association and Kabanda’s counterpart, Jude Sonko, charged with heading the Games and Sports desk.
Meanwhile, Nation Media Group’s Antonio Kalyango is the association’s publicity secretary, Matia Ssebufu (Radio Buddu) is the treasurer while Patrick Lwanyaga (Centenary Radio) is the secretary for Welfare.
“For me, this election represents an opportunity to serve each of you, embodying the true essence of leadership,” said Farish Magembe is his acceptance speech, extending heartfelt gratitude to all journalists for entrusting him with the leadership of GREMAJA.
“Let us embrace a spirit of collaboration and leave behind any past disagreements.”
Background of the Association
GREMAJA, which unites journalists from Masaka, Lwengo, Kalungu, Sembabule, Kalangala, Kyotera, Lyantonde, Rakai and Bukomansimbi, was formed in November 2023 after the previous leadership of the South Buganda Journalists Association (Sobuja) led by Ismail Ssozi Ssekimpi failed to organise elections to usher in new leadership. Mr Ssekimpi’s two-year tenure elapsed in 2018, the same year elections were to be held.
On December 15, 2022, Journalists in the sub-region attempted to organise elections to pick new office bearers, but a group claiming to be “Sobuja founders “ led by Mzee Tomusange Kayinja, the Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) Radio ’s correspondent in Masaka rose up and frustrated the whole process saying that “they had been sidelined”.
Since then, there have been several efforts to convince “Sobuja founders” to allow elections to take place, in vain.
At the time the Friday elections concluded, districts such as Bukomansimbi, Sembabule, Kalangala, Kalungu, and Lyantonde were yet to choose their representatives on the GREMAJA executive committee.
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