Samson Kasumba, a prominent figure at Next Media, found himself in hot water following a series of provocative tweets ahead of the #March2Parliament protests against corruption which appeared to caution protesters about the potential dangers of their actions, leading to his suspension.
In the lead-up to the protests, Kasumba tweeted a daring challenge to fellow media personality Collins Emeka, who announced his participation in the demonstrations.
“Send me a video of yourself marching to parliament tomorrow. I dare you to follow through with this potentially lethal endeavor,” he wrote. He further warned, “In Uganda, we all know what it means to march when the NRM govt says do NOT March. Those saying march many of them will not even be on the streets themselves. You will fear people tomorrow.”
While Kasumba’s comments may have resonated with some, they did not sit well with the management at Next Media, which has long advocated for its employees to maintain a neutral stance in political matters. The backlash was swift, resulting in Kasumba's suspension along with that of Victor Tayebwa, who advised the public to “stay home and stay safe” instead of participating in the protests.
Reports indicate that Kasumba, Tayebwa, and six other staff members have been placed on a ten-day suspension for their tweets. This incident follows another recent suspension of Tuff B, a host at Next Media, who was reprimanded for supporting a political tour in a tweet earlier this month.
As the protests loom, the situation highlights the delicate balance media personalities must navigate between personal opinions and professional responsibilities in a politically charged environment.
