NBS Television presenters Canary Mugume and Simon Kaggwa Njala have been listed among Africa’s 50 most influential media personalities in a new continental recognition of leading voices in journalism and broadcasting.
The Ugandans are part of the Africa Media Power 50, released on Tuesday by Glass House PR, a Nairobi-based strategic communications company.
The ranking recognises media professionals whose journalism, investigations, broadcasting and commentary contribute to public debate and influence how stories from Africa are presented to audiences at home and abroad.
Glass House PR said the list celebrates individuals whose work helps shape the continent’s public conversations.
“The people behind the headlines, the investigations that hold power to account and the conversations that shape public understanding influence how Africa sees itself and how the rest of the world perceives the continent,” the company said.
Mugume, who works as an investigative journalist and news anchor at NBS Television, has been with Next Media Services for more than a decade. His reporting has covered political affairs, social justice and public accountability.
He attracted attention with an investigation into human trafficking networks that moved young girls from Soroti to Kampala. The report highlighted the situation of street children and was followed by a government allocation of Shs3.4 billion towards rehabilitation efforts.
Mugume also interviewed President Yoweri Museveni during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he served as NBS Television’s chief correspondent. He previously hosted The Big Talk on Nxt Radio.
Njala has been part of NBS Television since 2012 and is best known for presenting Morning Breeze, the station’s flagship morning current affairs programme.
He also hosts NBS Frontline, a weekly political discussion programme featuring politicians and other public figures. His previous broadcasting work includes hosting The Eagle.
The Africa Media Power 50 features professionals from several countries, among them Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.
Other personalities on the list include Kenyan journalists John-Allan Namu, Waihiga Mwaura and Victoria Rubadiri, Ghanaian broadcaster Berla Mundi, Nigerian journalist Maupe Ogun-Yusuf, and South African journalists Ferial Haffajee and Redi Tlhabi.
Ugandan journalist Solomon Serwanjja and broadcaster Alan Kasujja have also been recognised.
The inclusion of the four Ugandans reflects the presence of the country’s media professionals in a continental ranking spanning journalism, broadcasting and public commentary.
