All salaried workers of Wavah Broadcasting Services (WBS) TV have been told to re-apply for their jobs as the embattled television contemplates a new round of staff cuts.
Staff in news, production, marketing and accounts at the television are believed to have been told they will have to apply for their previous positions on the same team.
“These guys are going to bring foreign programming and very minimal local production so most of us are not even going to bother reapplying,” one disgruntled camera man confided in TheUgandan.
It is understood the staff, some of whom have been at the Nagaru-based television station for over ten years will have to apply, and then be interviewed for the positions as if they were new employees.
Uganda Journalists Association’s members at the television are thought to have met to discuss the proposals this week but the interviews are apparently set to go ahead.
The move is seen to a be blow to morale within the newsroom at the television, which came through a receivership to recover sh7.2 billion in accumulated tax arrears. Ian Rumanyika, the URA Public and Corporate Affairs Manager has been the pseudo managing director.
A UJA leader who preferred anonymity until the firing is made public said the move was unacceptable.
“We regard this as an unacceptable practise and anyone made redundant in these circumstances will be supported in challenging this process by UJA. Those applying are being forced to do so and will be interviewed under duress. We regret the company has not introduced a voluntary process in the first instance,” he claimed.
Sold
WBS TV has been reportedly been bought by Strive Masiyiwa a Zimbabwean businessman who also owns Econet Wireless.
Wavah Holdings has leased his Naguru building (WBS headquarters) to the new owners for a period of 25yrs for a patly sh25 billion.
Tycoon Gordon Wavamunno was unavailable by press time.
The station may be renamed Kwese TV. Kwese TV is a Zimbabwean Sports TV which telecasts free live sports activities both on TV sets and mobile gadgets. It has branches in other countries in Africa.
Acquiring WBS means Ugandans should get ready to watch free Premier League matches in their sitting rooms. This revelation leaves DSTV’s super sport which solely had the premier league rights in panic.
