Vision Group launches Jubilee book

By John Masaba

Vision Group has unveiled the Golden Jubilee book. The book, Uganda: Building Of A Nation, features over 148 personalities who have made significant contribution in building Uganda.

With beautiful pictures and a simple magnetic style, the book tells stories of both Uganda’s heroes and villains. The launch is a culmination of the long campaign which started in January to enlighten Ugandans and help them appreciate the country’s political, social and economic environment since it achieved independence on October 9, 1962.

It tells a story of a country torn apart by conflict, which threatened to obliterate Uganda from the face of Africa but which has, thanks to the resilience of its people, bounced back to pick up the pieces.

The book will be available in major bookshops in the country.  Barbara Kaija, the Editor- In-Chief Vision Group, said the book which is a result of rigorous research is for every Ugandan irrespective of education level.

“You do not need lots of time to study this book. Uganda: Building Of A nation is a simple story book that can be read and discussed among families. It is also a coffee book that offers spates of five minute reads as you wait at a reception for your appointment,” she added.

David Mukholi, Vision Group’s managing editor and the coordinator of the Uganda at 50 projects, said: “The book is a gift to Ugandans. Vision Group has invested a lot in research in an attempt to collect Uganda’s scattered history and present it through profiles of outstanding actors.”

The launch is the climax of a series of offers for Vision Group audiences spread over different platforms which include radios, TV, four magazines and online.

On the Golden Jubilee on Tuesday, New Vision will give her readers the largest paper ever. The readers will enjoy a package of over 200 pages.

TV documentary
James Serunkuma, the head of Urban TV, says the TV will start telecasting the documentary, Uganda, Building of a Nation, on Saturday 7th. The documentary sums up the main events that happened right from 1600 to 2012.  It is a four-series programme which will be aired on four different days.

According to Serunkuma, Part I will look at the genesis of Uganda while part II features Uganda’s politics in the run up to independence. Part III will focus on the most eventful period, the political and economic turmoil of the 1970s to 1986 when the NRM took power. Part IV will focus on President Yoweri Museveni and what he has done to salvage Uganda’s economy.

Urban and Bukedde TV viewers will also have the chance of viewing Uganda through the lenses of personalities like Maj. Kanuti Akorimo, the officer who hoisted Uganda’s national flag on independence; Nasser Sebaggala, former Kampala Mayor who lived a colourful life in the 1970s and Abudallah Nasur, a former governor of central province in the 1970’s who forced people to eat slippers and former president Idi Amin.

Music lovers as well as fashion diehards will sit back and relax as Urban TV unwraps special music and fashion programmes to take them back in time.

The backtrack show which will air Urban TV starting on Sunday at 2:00pm will explore the hits of the last 50 years.

This will be followed by a special edition of ‘Fashionista’ that will showcase how fashion has changed since 1962.

Bukedde to air Ekimeza
Other packages to be unveiled include a special Jubilee debate on both Bukedde radio and TV. Codenamed Ekimeza, it will feature some of the personalities that have an ample grasp of the history of the country.

The participants include Ntege Sebagala, prominent lawyer Peter Mulira and Kasoole Lwanga, the former proprietor of Kampala Parents Primary School.

According to Abbey Kibirango, the head of Bukedde radio, the participants will be afforded a rare chance to predict Uganda in the next 50 years.

The climax of this will be the airing of live proceedings on all electronic platforms which will include Urban and Bukedde and online.

Vision Group was the first media house to celebrate Uganda’s Golden Jubilee with the launch of a series of historical articles in January. Focus was placed on one theme every month, to tell the story of Uganda since independence.

Through its newspapers, New Vision, Saturday Vision and Sunday Vision and regional newspapers Bukedde, Orumuri and Etop, Vision Group have been running stories daily about Uganda at 50.

The newspapers also ran a series of stories about the shakers and shapers of Uganda’s history.

In January, the Group produced a 200-page high quality magazine, 50th Uganda: Past, Present, Future which reviewed and assessed Uganda’s past and cast a picture of what the country will be in 50 years.

The Group’s regional newspapers have been giving readers free paper flags and will continue to run the Uganda at 50 thematic stories whilst counting down the days to the climax celebrations on October 9th 2012.

Susan Nsibirwa, the Head of Marketing, said the campaign has gone well as scheduled.

“We are glad to be at the forefront of Uganda’s 50 years celebration. We encourage all Ugandans embrace this special moment because for many of us, it may never come again,” she said.

Programme for the documentary
Urban: Saturday 6th, Sunday 7th, Sunday 8th at 7:00pm
Bukedde TV: Oct. 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th at 9.30pm
TV West: Sat 6th 3pm, Sun 7th 11:00am.