If I had not been a radio dj

BESIDES conventional journalism schools which partly train people in broadcasting, are there schools where people specifically train to be radio presenters?

With the exception of a few presenters who switched from drama to radio and others with a media background, Miles Rwamiti and Sebidde Kiryowa discovered that many respected radio presenters turned their back on highly regarded vocations to talk behind the microphone.

Peter Sematimba, Super FM (Computer technician)
Pastor Peter Sematimba admits he wandered into radio purely by accident. “I walked into Capital FM and told William Pike (joint managing director) that he needed to do something about Capital FM because it sounded terrible!

He was concerned. I told him what needs to be done and he told me to come in as a consultant,” says Sematimba.
While there, Sematimba discovered he was a creative person, had great communication skills, could present and was a great media manager.

“I basically applied my prior experience in showbiz from the USA and next thing I knew, I had made a name for myself. Then it was off to CBS FM before I set up my own radio station.”

That is a stretch for a guy who fell out of medical school in his third year and went ahead to pursue a diploma in computer technology. Today, Sematimba holds an associate degree in Theology. Yet, the love for radio has grown on the good pastor.

Still, he would like to clarify a few things: “I don’t actually refer to my self as a radio DJ. In fact, there are very few radio DJs in Uganda. I’m a broadcaster. I prefer to think of myself as a radio business person.

James Onen aka Fat Boy, Sanyu FM (Accountant)
He is a presenter on the Sanyu FM Breakfast Show alongside Mr. President and Melanie. But Fat Boy holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya University in Bhopal town Madhy Pradesh state, India. He has no regrets that he abandoned his profession for a career behind the microphone.

Infact, it was never his wish to study accounting in the first place. “I didn’t study commerce because I wanted to be an accountant. My parents asked me to study sciences such that when I get to university, I could pursue a course that would help me get a better job,” he says.

“But in my mind, I always wanted to do things like History that came easy to me. But, I ended up doing sciences and wound up majoring in accountancy.” To his dismay, he looked for a job for a couple of months on his return to Uganda, but found none. That is how he ended up in radio, which he says he loves a lot nonetheless.

Robinah Mbabazi Mulera aka Bina Baby, Dembe FM (Marketeer)
She presents Mwasuze Mutya (Good Morning), a morning show on Dembe FM. As a young girl, Bina Baby wanted to be a presenter on TV or radio, but her parents had other plans.

“I used to call Sanyu FM everyday to send greetings,” she says. She wound up pursuing a diploma in marketing. After her course, she tried to look for work but failed. Her friend introduced her to UTV (now UBC) to read news.

She is currently doing a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business at Nkumba University.

Denis Katongole aka Omotongole, Beat FM (Police Officer)
He hosts a talk show on Record TV and leads the Sisimuka morning show on Beat FM on week days.

Funny, talkative and friendly, Katongole did not imagine he would ever work in a radio station, more so a Luganda station. He presumed he was predestined to become a policeman.

His father, John Kakoza, who was an assistant senior superintendent of police, persuaded him to join the force. “I gave it a try after my Senior Six, but I was a lost sheep. I left and began acting because I felt it was in my blood.”

He joined radio through a friend who had a lot of expectation in him. Katongole has been presenting on radio for seven years. He says he does not plan to do any job outside radio.

He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication at Makerere University. He intends to join politics as a Member of Parliament when he retires.

Omumbejja Sheila Nvannunji, CBS FM (Development Worker)
Song bird Nvannungi feels being on radio is the best thing that ever happened to her. It is a job she has desired since she was a young girl.

It is just as well that Nvannungi studied Broadcasting. However, she recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies from Kampala International University.

Unlike most of her counterparts, Nvannungi will quit full-time radio to concentrate on development work with a local NGO.

“The nature of education in our country doesn’t prepare us to be job creators like in the developed world. This is why many young people are jobless,” she says.

Ronnie Sempangi aka The Hit Man, Capital Radio (Accountant)
Since he liked music and dancing, everyone thought he would study something related to this.

But, Ronnie Sempangi, whose baritone makes ladies go weak in the knees on his Late Date programme on capital FM, did Accounting at Makerere University.
He developed an interest in radio early in his course at university: “I wanted to work on radio, but I was too scared to ask for a job,” he says.

Well, things changed when Sempangi landed a deal to voice a radio advert at Capital FM. Impressed, the bosses asked him to sign a contract. The young Sempangi was dazed. He could not believe his dream had come true.

There has been no looking back for him since then. As the ‘Love Doctor’, he knows more about consoling broken hearts and arbitrating conflicts between lovers, than he does about ledgers. It is no surprise, therefore, that Ronnie says: “My degree was put on the shelf. I don’t think I can ever practice accounting.”

Ronnie Egwang aka Uncle Mitch, radio consultant (Veterinary doctor)
He studied Veterinary Medicine at Makerere University, but rose to become one of the best radio presenters.

He worked with Power FM, Sanyu FM and KFM, before he quit to study. He is into radio consultancy.

He recently got an opportunity to present the reality show Deal or No Deal, on M-Net.

Mitch’s drive to join radio was a little more calculated than his peers: “I joined radio in my Third Year at university as something to fall back on if Veterinary Medicine did not seem forthcoming.” Well, it worked.

But unlike his colleagues, Mitch who is now pursuing a diploma in marketing with the Chattered Institute of Marketing, never really forgot about Veterinary Medicine. “I practice it, but on a small scale,” he says. “I have limited clientele — mostly close buddies within town. I also deal mainly with dogs.”

He says he will continue juggling his practice with speaking engagements.

Peter Ndawula aka Omulangira Ndausi, Radio Simba (Computer Scientist)
He studied Computer Sciences, but ever since he completed his course, Ndausi has never touched a computer. He feels at home working on radio because it is fun and interesting.

Even though Computer Sciences is a marketable trade, he does not find it as appealing and rewarding as radio. “I went to school because other people were also going, but my interest has been talking while people listen,” Ndausi explains.

He has been presenting Binsangawano, a morning show on Radio Simba, for the last eight years and intends to become a radio consultant when he retires.

Ebony Waiswa aka Kasadha, Beat FM (Lawyer)
A graduate of Law from Patrick Lumumba University in Moscow, Russia, Kasadha’s only experience with law practice is limited to clerkship.

He got a job with Katela & Co, but got fired within a week as a result of heavy drinking. He is not bothered after spending all that time doing something he knew he would never settle for, because he is into radio.

At 43, Kasadha says he is a happy man to be working in a field he has always desired although he feels threatened by young upcoming presenters.

Alex Ndawula, Capital FM (Business administrator)
He is the only presenter who insults his listeners and gets away with it. He is one of the longest serving FM radio presenters in Uganda.

He holds a diploma in Business Studies from the National College of Business Studies, Nakawa, (now Makerere University Business School). Alex worked as a DJ in different clubs before joining radio.

He says he is passionate about playing music on radio and in clubs. It is a job he could do for free. Yet, he gets millions for doing it anyway. “I have been playing music for the last 14 years as the number one DJ in this country.

I love it and I feel it inside me,” Alex says.
He expects to start up his own business or become a radio consultant when he retires.

Alan Kasujja aka Mr. President, Sanyu FM (Lawyer)
He co-presents with Fat Boy and Melanie on Sanyu FM’s Breakfast Show, but Kasujja has a degree in law from the University of London, UK.

However, he has never stepped in a court room, but says he can draw up a contract. He does other businesses on the side like event management/public relations and trade finance.

He says he was drawn to radio purely by passion. “And I mean 100% passion. If it feels like a job, it can’t be a passion.”
He confesses that he has never worked for any other radio station in Uganda but Sanyu. “It’s personal for me. I first worked for Sanyu when I was in my Senior Six vacation.”

He does not think he will ever practice law.

Irene Ochwo: Radio One (Teacher)
She is a trained teacher with a bachelor’s degree in Education from Makerere University. She taught English Literature at St Mary’s College, Kisubi immediately after her studies.

Ochwo got into radio out of curiosity.
“DJ Bangi, then a presenter on Capital FM was my sister’s friend. I asked him how it was working on radio. He told me to give it a try,” Ochwo says.

Bangi called his bosses and told them about Ochwo, whom he described as “interesting and has the right character for radio.”

Ochwo was called for a voice test and two days later, she was offered a job. She, however, continued teaching at Kisubi while presenting the mid-morning show on Capital FM until two years later, when she started doing the breakfast show.

“Radio became more demanding and interesting. I couldn’t hold two jobs anymore,” she says. Ochwo says she would teach again if she had to and admits she misses it sometimes.

Nonetheless, she is contented with radio.
“When I’m presenting, I can still employ all the techniques in Literature — satire, humour, etc, but for an even greater purpose,” she says.

Does she feel like all those years in school went to waste? “Not at all. I’m making my contribution to society by inspiring people’s lives daily.

Besides, I can never get bored on radio because of the challenges that come with the job. In teaching, I had to follow a set curriculum,” she explains.