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To one-liner or not to one-liner? Curious case Alan Kasujja
All the hem and haw about Kasujja’s one-liner press statements is simply in line with this reality: He is communicating in a day and age when a tweet is more powerful than a whole essay in getting the message across.
Max Sherurah.
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Max Sherurah
Years ago, I met Alan Kasujja. We were part of an event where he was the MC, and I was the committee vice chairperson. The event owner was introduced to him by a mutual friend, Arnold Ewadu, who is more into his appearance than appearance is into itself.
He’s always smartly dressed. Immediately, the event owner was impressed by Kasujja’s knowledge of the issues at hand. He didn’t ask the usual questions you find some journalists asking; he didn’t say wow, or any of that shallow stuff. He could educate you on your own cause.
I found his knowledge very impressive. During the event, President Yoweri Museveni was the chief guest and in his company was the then President of Burundi. Alan was the MC and impressed Museveni and other dignitaries. Among the dignitaries was Mary Karooro Okurut (RIP), my late maternal aunt. It wasn’t long before she asked about him and soon started inviting him to manage her functions.
Around that time, he was selected to deejay in the Big Brother House. The “I love Ug” was trending at the time, and some buddies asked me whether Kasujja could wear their brand in the house. Kasujja was the MC at my wedding to Michelle in 2011. So, I asked him, and he said: “No problem, just get my size”. What followed was a master class in Ugandans messing up.
My buddies asked me to tell him to pay for the shirt, sh30,000 (not three sh300,000, not sh3m, but sh30,000 only). I told them slowly that if Kasujja wore their brand, it would sell thousands of their merchandise. They refused, Kasujja went to the house, and millions across Africa watched him spin the discs. American R&B star Kerry Hilson also made a guest appearance.
I am not surprised at the trajectory of his life, whether at the BBC or even here at UMC. Nothing comes easy in life. When you have the stage, use it to your advantage. You never know who will notice you. He is interviewed by heads of state and business titans. And now he is being asked why he issues press statements using 1 liners.
I have observed that there will always be opposition to anything you do that’s new that shakes tradition. An A4-sized paper has gone largely to waste.
Finally, make friends that matter. They will come in handy in life. All the hem and haw about Kasujja’s one-liner press statements is simply in line with this reality: He is communicating in a day and age when a tweet is more powerful than a whole essay in getting the message across. Unless it’s this article, no one has time to read lengthy pieces about anything worth communicating in one short sentence. Anything longer belongs in a gazette!
Around that time, he was selected to deejay in the Big Brother House. The “I love Ug” was trending at the time, and some buddies asked me whether Kasujja could wear their brand in the house. Kasujja was the MC at my wedding to Michelle in 2011. So, I asked him, and he said: “No problem, just get my size”. What followed was a master class in Ugandans messing up.
My buddies asked me to tell him to pay for the shirt, sh30,000 (not three sh300,000, not sh3m, but sh30,000 only). I told them slowly that if Kasujja wore their brand, it would sell thousands of their merchandise. They refused, Kasujja went to the house, and millions across Africa watched him spin the discs. American R&B star Kerry Hilson also made a guest appearance.
I am not surprised at the trajectory of his life, whether at the BBC or even here at UMC. Nothing comes easy in life. When you have the stage, use it to your advantage. You never know who will notice you. He is interviewed by heads of state and business titans. And now he is being asked why he issues press statements using 1 liners.
I have observed that there will always be opposition to anything you do that’s new that shakes tradition. An A4-sized paper has gone largely to waste.
Finally, make friends that matter. They will come in handy in life. All the hem and haw about Kasujja’s one-liner press statements is simply in line with this reality: He is communicating in a day and age when a tweet is more powerful than a whole essay in getting the message across. Unless it’s this article, no one has time to read lengthy pieces about anything worth communicating in one short sentence. Anything longer belongs in a gazette!
The writer is a business development consultant