Our Visionary Party Strokes Xmas 2002

Dec 26, 2002

It was the ultimate test. Having spent the year telling people how to party, it was The New Vision’s turn to show that they can do it right.

By Angela Nampewo
It was the ultimate test. Having spent the year telling people how to party, it was The New Vision’s turn to show that they can do it right. On top of the other bonuses that the staff had already received, KADS band was hired to entertain at the end of year party. The band played all their hits of the year including No Parking and Segwanga. You should have seen MD William Pike, wife Cathy and the guest of honour, finance state minister Peter Kasenene going paka chini dance strokes.
It was a big party at the end of a good year. The paper must have sold well because circulation got the prize for best department of the year. Margaret Atine of the Accounts department was the best overall employee of the year while Margaret Ziribaggwa was best in Bukedde and Lydia Wamala emerged best employee in editorial department. The prize for best Sunday Vision writer was received by none other than myself (I like that part). Steven Candia was best freelancer of the year; Juma Okello, best in production, Senyonga Musisi, Administration, Moses Olinga, circulation and Hope Nuwagaba, best in Marketing department.
Allow me to give away a few of my own prizes. The award for New Vision’s dancer of the year goes to Patrick Luganda. Angela Kamugasa Nsimbi (left), gets the one for best outfit. Her short dress was quite eye-catching and it fitted well.
The New Vision encourages the participatory approach. So after a couple of songs, the members of staff took over from KADS band.
Joseph Ntumwa, the security officer, led the way with his violin and the song Jingle Bells. Besides putting us in the Christmas mood, his performance really turned the party around. Thereafter, editorial’s Cynthia Nankumba treated us to a song titled From a Distance. Cynthia’s was a good try but Lydia Wamala gets the prize for performance of the night. She sang her Dad’s song Viola accompanied by the Sunday Vision crew with Joachim Buwembo on the guitar, David Mukhooli, Barbara Bitangaro and myself as back-up vocalists and Timothy Bukumunhe pulling stunts in the background.
There were many faces I didn’t recognise at the party. I’m assuming that most of those were spouses and girlfriends of the staff members. The booze flowed. There was plenty to drink and the people drank it. After a while you had to be careful who you stood next to just in case they started telling you long tales. Someone walked up to me and introduced Kalungi Kabuye as his muko (brother-in-law) much to the man’s chagrin.
It was a bit hard to stick in your own corner. The way the party was organised, you had to get round and mingle for some reason. If there was anyone you’d missed earlier, chances were you’d meet them in the food queue. Tickles and Giggles of Kansanga made a huge effort with the food. It is not an easy task to serve so many people. Even though the queue was long, everybody got food. The cooks could have done better with their roast meat though.
It was a big party at the end of a good year. Ends


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