Don Wanyama, the President’s Press Secretary will succeed Robert Kabushenga as New Vision Managing Director, TrumpetNews can authoritatively report.
Mr Wanyama was chosen by President Museveni through a vetting process in which several candidates were shortlisted, among who include the Chief Editor Barbra Kaija, Next Radio general manager Marcus Kwikiriza, Red Pepper’s Rugyendo Arinaitwe, former Deputy General of the External Security Organisation(ESO) Emmanuel Ewaku Allio and many others.
However, a source privy to the vetting process said, the President wanted a young person who is aggressive, knowledgeable, articulate and conversant with the era of new media.
“Don Wanyama emerged a potential candidate to take the job,” said a source.
Robert Kabushenga announced his retirement from the State owned entity on January 29, after serving 14 years.
He however, said the board had asked him to oversee the company for 90 days while hunting for a perfect replacement.
Kabushenga will be leaving next weekend.
An official at Industrial area based media house told this website that the Ministry of Finance which is the majority shareholder of the New Vision has already drafted a contract for Mr Wanyama awaiting the Board’s endorsement and announcement.
The official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Board is supposed to sit before this week ends to unveil Don Wanyama as the new boss of the company.
“Of course the board will subject him to an interview for formality,” he said.
When contacted for a comment, Mr Wanyama said, “the duty and prerogative of announcing CEO is that of the board. Until they do so, everything else is simply speculation.”
He is a trained teacher and journalist who first ventured out as a teacher of English Language and Literature in English before joining the media (The New Vision) as a sub-editor.
He then moved to the Daily Monitor newspaper in 2008 where he was promoted from a deputy chief sub-editor to chief sub-editor before being appointed managing editor in May 2013.
He left Daily Monitor after accusations of sanctioning an opinion poll which was deemed as pro- Museveni.
In 2016, after serving in the office of the NRM Chairman who is also the President, Wanyama was appointed the President’s spokesperson until to date.