At least 30 employees at Kin Kariisa’s Next Media have lost their jobs in a broader digital realignment of the company aimed at creating efficiency.Next Media,the holding company for a string of media brands NBS TV,Next Radio,Sanyuka TV,Salaam TV and Nile Post among others employees slightly above 500 workers across its platforms.
A source at the Naguru – based station said the company’s Human Resource Manager Paul Lwanga late on Tuesday summoned selected staff to announce the heartbreaking news of their exit from the station.
Lwanga reportedly asked the laid off staff to stop reporting for duty effective Thursday, December 1,2022 but would receive the mandatory 3 months’ notice salary in lieu of termination.
His announcement ordering staff to wind up and handover all equipment in their possession by November 30th made the day a dark end of their long careers.
Next Media Services is among the best paying media houses in the country and Kin Kariisa has been hiring top talent from competing and struggling stations over the years as his empire expanded.
The news department that currently employs more than 100 people is most affected in the lay off followed by production and programing divisions. Among those laid off are senior Editors Tyaba Abubakar and Kyeyune Noah. Reporters Fatia Nassali, John Kibalizi,Aminah Nabukenya, Jordan Mubangizi, Esther Namutamba and Elijah Turyagumanawe. Popular Health Reporter Zahara Namuli had earlier resigned.
Popular sports analyst Micheal Kigozi among other on – air faces was equally shown the exit.
Kariisa in October unveiled a multi-purpose Media complex estimated to have cost more than USD 1.5 Million to house the conglomerate.
Next Media’s action has sent shock waves across the industry and will have lasting effects on the media landscape in the country since the media house has been considered one of the most resilient through the times.
A statement issued by the company’s Head of Corporate Affairs Desire Mugumisa explained that the Board and Chief Executive Officer Kin Kariisa were grateful for the contribution of the departing staff on the brand development of the company.
It was a bee – hive of activity at the magnificent Next Media Park seated on Naguru Hill top as staff picked letters ending their services, a difficult moment of bidding farewell to colleagues they have shared work space for a period way above 5 years.