Junior Dave Kazoora and his production company-Buddies were a few years back one of the most sought after production companies in Uganda.
Brands like Airtel Uganda, Airtel Rwanda, Pepsi, Mountain Dew looked to the former TV presenter for all their campaigns. Indeed, he helped prop promotions like Yoola Omudidi for Airtel, Saala puleesa for Pepsi.
Grace to grass
Kazoora is one lucky man. Rumour was rife that he was being head hunted by Zimbabwean Kwese Tv who bought off WBS to manage the Uganda operations. That has since passed.
But, Kazoora scooped the deal to manage, uplift and get Magic TV, a subsidiary of UBC to top rating and turn in profits.
He also produces the popular About Town lifestyle segment on NTV Uganda. But Kazoora’s woes started from Rwanda and have since come to haunt him.
JK as he is known in the media circles fell into trouble with his Rwandese partner over Buddies Rwanda that had landed a similar countrywide production deal from Airtel Rwanda.
This saw him imprisoned for financial impropriety and fraud. Court later decided that Kazoora should compensate his former partner. He has since appealed the ruling pending new judgement.
“JK couldnt survive that Rwanda debacle. It tainted his image and had sponsors doubting his credibility. It was a huge blow for Buddies and i doubt he is yet to get out of that ditch” said a close friend who preferred to remain anonymous.
That, according to sources close to Kazoora were the start of the man’s troubles. Airtel shunned him. Pepsi went quiet.
Left with no choice, Kazoora has now turned all his energy onto Magic TV where he has the ears to top UBC management.
Buddies collapses
With no production jobs coming through, Buddies is on the verge of closure.
Workers have gone months with no salary, others fired and the offices in Kiwatule look sullen save for activity on the Matooke Republic side with who they share offices.
“We have not been paid for months. Even the boss himself stopped coming here. He sent us messages saying we should look for business so that the company can make money to pay us. The situation is dire. We are frustrated and find that unfair for Buddies to leave us hanging” said a former female staffer at Buddies who intimated to TrumpetNews but asked not to be named for fear of being harassed.
Former workers at Buddies say JK has lined the company for sale seeing that it needs a makeover for the deals to start rolling again.
