Three months ago, the Chief Executive Officer- CEO of Next Media Park which houses NBSTV, Next Radio, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, NBS Sport and Salaam TV suddenly convened a general meeting.
In the meeting, Kin Kariisa revealed that the company had hugely been affected by the state of economic affairs in the country and could therefore be unable to pay all the workers’ full salaries.
TrumpetNews understands that the meeting was attended by all Next Media employees, administrators and the executive.
The executive therefore proposed that all salaries for workers from top to bottom would be reviewed.
Whereas Mr Kariisa attributed the financial crisis to state of economic affairs, insiders say he has been overzealous in expanding the empire at a time, the economies around the world are still grappling to recover from the Covid-19 shock.
In Uganda, government announced budget cuts in all MDAs to be able to raise money to support the economy.
The Ministry of Finance also announced that government would scrap off “unnecessary expenditure” and only focus on essentials and salaries.
The media industry around the world thrives on government business. It therefore remained unknown how Mr Kariisa would support the empire without government business.
Multiple sources at the Nagura Next Media Park said that after management announced the decision to review the salary, subject to reduction, all employees were allowed ample time to think about it.
“Those who agreed to lose some money awaiting the economy to recover maybe next year alerted the Human Resource,” said a source.
However, some were uncomfortable with the decision reasoning that already, the salaries have been delaying since Covid-19 started, and therefore, accepting to work for half pay which may also delay is sheer exploitation by the company.
They decided to hang their boots.
But Kin Kariisa was not ready to lose these workers, majority being senior reporters, news anchors, producers and IT specialists.
“I couldn’t allow to stay. Imagine he cuts your salary but adds you responsibility and roles. For example, news anchors are now told to go to the field source news, edit and write their scripts. Some are told to report for sisters stations,” a source said.
Another separate source said, Mr Kariisa sent emissaries to sweet talk to ‘defiant’ workers were didn’t concur with the decision to cut their wages.
As talks hit a dead end, he has since issued letters titled “Notice of Separation” to the ‘defiant’ workers informing them that their contract with Next Media ends Today, November 30.
Due to state of economic affairs in the country, the company has undergone rationalization and realignment of it’s workforce.
As a result of the above, we regret to inform you that your position has been restructured and is no longer available.
And as such please consider this as former and official notice of separation.
Your last day of work shall be November 30, 2022.
You shall receive your full pay for December 2022 and January 2023 in lieu of this notice.
You shall also receive your 2022 end of year bonus.
In fulfillment of the above, you shall be required to;
Submit a handover report to your supervising TMT
Fill out the company clearance exit form and employee interview exit form
Handover company items in your possession by the second day of December 2022.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your service with NBS Television as a show host and hope to work with you in future should the opportunity arise.
This website has learnt that employees leaving the company are around 40.
Some of them include Tyaba Abubakar, Kyeyune Noah, Fatia Nassali, John Kibalizi,Aminah Nabukenya, Jordan Mubangizi, Esther Namutamba,Elijah Turyagumanawe, Richard Olweny, Karitas Karisimbi and many more.
Contacted for a comment, Mr Kariisa said, “we had to let people go those who are not digital and already we moving forward.”