VOICES WORTH A FORTUNE
Feb 22, 2007
From behind their microphones, radio presenters set the pace of our lives, soothe our souls and crack us up. But do you know what it costs to keep them there? <b>Miles Rwamiti</b> brings you the highest paid presenters on top radio stations...
From behind their microphones, radio presenters set the pace of our lives, soothe our souls and crack us up. But do you know what it costs to keep them there? Miles Rwamiti brings you the highest paid presenters on top radio stations...
Peter Sematimba
Sematimba is the proprietor of Super FM, where he also presents in the morning. He earns over sh5m in three weeks. No radio presenter beats Sematimba.
Sematimba came onto the scene as a young man and used his kyeyo earnings to form Dungeon Studios through whose doors many great musicians passed. He also tried his hand at singing.
He started out presenting on Capital FM before moving on to start CBS radio. He scandalised many and simultaneously delighted others with his senga programmes, which offered tips on improving one’s sex-life. Such programmes are now commonplace on many radio stations.
Alex Ndawula
Right from the day he walked into Capital Radio when it was still housed at Bauman House, Ndawula’s salary has always been high compared to other presenters.
Definitely one of the lightening rods on radio, Ndawula was among the first DJs to freely insult his listeners. This was when he started the now legendary Dance Force on Capital FM.
Wickedly funny and ferociously principled when it comes to work ethics, Ndawula is one of the best live mixing DJs. He earns over sh4.2m as net salary per month.
Irene Ochwo Byaruhanga
Before joining radio as one of the pioneer presenters on Capital FM, Ochwo was a literature teacher at St. Mary’s College, Kisubi. She joined the profession with impeccable credentials that have stood her in good steed ever since.
On average, Ochwo earns about sh1.2m per a month.
She has survived the turbulent waters that have seen most of the original Radio One team leave.
Ochwo remains a firm favourite at the radio station.
Wilfred Bangi
The lawyer-turned DJ has curved a niche for himself as the oldies’ specialist on radio.
The departure of Seanice from Sanyu FM has left Bangi as the highest paid presenter at the station, pocketing over sh2m monthly.
A fanatical record collector who is notoriously picky, Bangi strikes one as a person who somehow would have still collected his music even if he was not on radio.
He is a lover of good music who belongs to the elite group of presenters who personify the stations they work on. In his case, Sanyu FM: cool, stylish and hip. It is difficult to be bored during a DJ Bangi programme, which he does with Crystal.
He has also moved from simply presenting on radio and in clubs to having an oldies show on WBS TV.
Roger Mugisha
Before he left radio, Mugisha was a favourite of most people because of the unique way he used to present on Capital FM where he earned about sh1.5m a month.
The former Shadow bounced back last year, this time on Kfm where he replaced Mitch and is paid between sh1.5m and sh2m.
In many ways, Mugisha has epitomised the evolution of the job of a presenter and the whole profession. When one sees him, one gets an idea of how much radio presenters have evolved from being bad boys to respectable citizens.
Presenting D’ Mighty Break Show on Kfm with Aisha, it is still hard to compare him with the old Mugisha.
Charles James Senkubuge
The highest paid presenter on a Luganda FM radio station, Senkubuge presents the morning show with Omulangira Ndausi on Simba FM. He gets about sh3.5m every month.
Senkubuge has been around almost as long as private radio has been in Uganda.
Christine Mawadri
She deserves to be included here if only because she has been on radio for so long. She has only recently fallen off the airwaves after her Kfm radio gig. Mawadri is currently on Dembe FM as the station manager where she earns about sh2m every month.
Mawadri, who was among the pioneers on Sanyu FM, is one of the female presenters who convinced the public that a woman could be just as engaging and informed as a man.
She was also part of the group that struck a blow for better pay for radio presenters when she moved to Capital FM over a pay dispute.
Abby Mukiibi
He is both a presenter and a programme director on CBS FM. As a comedian, Mukiibi had never dreamt of becoming a radio presenter.
However, all this changed when Peter Sematimba sported him together with his colleague Kato Lubwama at Pride Theatre. He gets about sh2m for his daily morning slot ‘Kalisoliso’.
Katongole Omutongole
He started presenting at Simba FM, before moving to Beat FM. Since joining Beat FM, he has perfected the art of radio presenting, turning into one of the best presenters.
He has presented everything from sports programmes to politics.
One of the funniest presenters on the Uganda airwaves, Katongole earns sh1.2m as net salary.
He also works on Record TV. His one of the most reserved radio presenters.
Gaetano Kaggwa
The former Big Brother Africa housemate makes about sh1.7m presenting on Capital FM’s morning show.
Peter Sematimba
Sematimba is the proprietor of Super FM, where he also presents in the morning. He earns over sh5m in three weeks. No radio presenter beats Sematimba.
Sematimba came onto the scene as a young man and used his kyeyo earnings to form Dungeon Studios through whose doors many great musicians passed. He also tried his hand at singing.
He started out presenting on Capital FM before moving on to start CBS radio. He scandalised many and simultaneously delighted others with his senga programmes, which offered tips on improving one’s sex-life. Such programmes are now commonplace on many radio stations.
Alex Ndawula
Right from the day he walked into Capital Radio when it was still housed at Bauman House, Ndawula’s salary has always been high compared to other presenters.
Definitely one of the lightening rods on radio, Ndawula was among the first DJs to freely insult his listeners. This was when he started the now legendary Dance Force on Capital FM.
Wickedly funny and ferociously principled when it comes to work ethics, Ndawula is one of the best live mixing DJs. He earns over sh4.2m as net salary per month.
Irene Ochwo Byaruhanga
Before joining radio as one of the pioneer presenters on Capital FM, Ochwo was a literature teacher at St. Mary’s College, Kisubi. She joined the profession with impeccable credentials that have stood her in good steed ever since.
On average, Ochwo earns about sh1.2m per a month.
She has survived the turbulent waters that have seen most of the original Radio One team leave.
Ochwo remains a firm favourite at the radio station.
Wilfred Bangi
The lawyer-turned DJ has curved a niche for himself as the oldies’ specialist on radio.
The departure of Seanice from Sanyu FM has left Bangi as the highest paid presenter at the station, pocketing over sh2m monthly.
A fanatical record collector who is notoriously picky, Bangi strikes one as a person who somehow would have still collected his music even if he was not on radio.
He is a lover of good music who belongs to the elite group of presenters who personify the stations they work on. In his case, Sanyu FM: cool, stylish and hip. It is difficult to be bored during a DJ Bangi programme, which he does with Crystal.
He has also moved from simply presenting on radio and in clubs to having an oldies show on WBS TV.
Roger Mugisha
Before he left radio, Mugisha was a favourite of most people because of the unique way he used to present on Capital FM where he earned about sh1.5m a month.
The former Shadow bounced back last year, this time on Kfm where he replaced Mitch and is paid between sh1.5m and sh2m.
In many ways, Mugisha has epitomised the evolution of the job of a presenter and the whole profession. When one sees him, one gets an idea of how much radio presenters have evolved from being bad boys to respectable citizens.
Presenting D’ Mighty Break Show on Kfm with Aisha, it is still hard to compare him with the old Mugisha.
Charles James Senkubuge
The highest paid presenter on a Luganda FM radio station, Senkubuge presents the morning show with Omulangira Ndausi on Simba FM. He gets about sh3.5m every month.
Senkubuge has been around almost as long as private radio has been in Uganda.
Christine Mawadri
She deserves to be included here if only because she has been on radio for so long. She has only recently fallen off the airwaves after her Kfm radio gig. Mawadri is currently on Dembe FM as the station manager where she earns about sh2m every month.
Mawadri, who was among the pioneers on Sanyu FM, is one of the female presenters who convinced the public that a woman could be just as engaging and informed as a man.
She was also part of the group that struck a blow for better pay for radio presenters when she moved to Capital FM over a pay dispute.
Abby Mukiibi
He is both a presenter and a programme director on CBS FM. As a comedian, Mukiibi had never dreamt of becoming a radio presenter.
However, all this changed when Peter Sematimba sported him together with his colleague Kato Lubwama at Pride Theatre. He gets about sh2m for his daily morning slot ‘Kalisoliso’.
Katongole Omutongole
He started presenting at Simba FM, before moving to Beat FM. Since joining Beat FM, he has perfected the art of radio presenting, turning into one of the best presenters.
He has presented everything from sports programmes to politics.
One of the funniest presenters on the Uganda airwaves, Katongole earns sh1.2m as net salary.
He also works on Record TV. His one of the most reserved radio presenters.
Gaetano Kaggwa
The former Big Brother Africa housemate makes about sh1.7m presenting on Capital FM’s morning show.