Highly regarded as the gossip queen, Mary Luswata is the most hated TV personality. Nevertheless, the Urban TV Scoop on Scoop presenter still stands strong and says whatever criticism she gets, she expected it. Matookerepublic.com caught up with the acid tongued presenter and she tells us more about her life, present, past and TV journey.
Hi Mary. Tell us more about yourself …
I’m a simple, self driven woman who enjoys life, food and the simple things in life.
What drives you to do a gossip show?
The need to create my own legacy. I don’t ride on people’s success because my youth was well spent.
You are the most hated TV personality in Uganda. How do you handle that pressure?
Hate doesn’t reach me. I didn’t expect people to love me when I started doing this programme. This is more what I expected from them.
Who do you think hates you the most?
Surprisingly, celebrities don’t have beef with me but it’s their followers or call them fans. Gagamel fans especially and Zari’s. I wonder why anyone would be her fan.
Being a woman, aren’t you afraid to be mugged at one time by any of those fans?
I don’t fear but I get concerned. I take serious precautions and I’m always careful. I don’t usually hang out without a purpose. Fear doesn’t scare me at all. I’m not a person who fears easily because I used to escort my brother to the toilet outside the house back then when we were growing up in the wee hours of the morning.
For the time you’ve been on TV and Radio, what is that one thing that angered you the most?
Talking about my family is what I hate the most. One time some celebrity said that I shouldn’t be blamed because my mother was raped when she conceived me.
What inspired you to do the kind of show you do on TV?
This was never my idea. The whole concept changed on set. We have tabloids, blogs, gossip shows everywhere and we needed to do something different for the show. Initially, it was supposed to be the usual stuff but some celebrity did something the previous day and I was so angered, so I said it on air but surprisingly, my producer liked it and said I should keep doing that.
Which celebrity do you love the most and why?
I like Bobi Wine because his story is so similar to mine. I know about the ghetto life and there are a lot of things that drive me close to him. He has a lot of substance. I love his music and personal life as well. I loved Iryn Namubiru but not anymore because one of my friends approached her for an interview and she snubbed her yet she was the one going to benefit from it.
Would you attack Bobi Wine on air?
Yes I have and even his wife. There is this time he said he almost lost his life because traffic lights were not working properly and I said maybe you hadn’t seen the lights properly because you were high on something. I mean people have tasted death in reality but he just exaggerated over something little.
Have you ever had a one on one encounter with any of the celebrities you attack?
Not physically but I always meet them. Some greet me while other ignore or abuse me.
What is your limit when attacking someone?
Children and parents. Those are people I don’t talk about when I’m attacking someone.
But you always attack Chameleone’s son Abba?
Yes I do because he’s now into the music industry. It’s what his father wanted him to be. That is the price of fame.
Why do you always go personal when attacking people?
Gossip itself is personal. Once you start talking about someone, then the limit is crossed – that part and parcel of doing gossip.
Who is your role model?
Hmmm. I have to go back and think about that. Maybe next time we link up, I’ll have an answer for you.
How do you take security precautions?
Those groups that always abuse me are not organized. They just attack on social media. But on a brighter note, Vision Group has ensured I’m safe and work in a secure environment. I don’t usually hang and whoever invites me to hang, I just tell them I can’t risk my life for a couple of dimes because I earn enough. The rumours that circulated that I was attacked were false.
Have you ever been attacked?
Yes on social media but that’s how far it goes. I call them “Virtual threats”.
Many people out there think it’s a publicity stunt you use to publicise people like Judith Heard because at one time you are attacking her and the next you both are taking selfies!
Why would I? My show isn’t for publicity stunts. I was even surprised when Judith Heard approached and hugged me. She is either a good person, an actor or simply my fan. For my reputation, I can never do that for my show.
Now is it true you are having an affair with Vince Musisi?
(Laughs out loud) No way. Vince is just a friend of mine. And our friendship just started recently through another friend. I have been close friends with Vince’s wife Josephine from way back. We used to be school and church mates.
Are you then seeing anyone?
Yes I am but I respect him so much to disclose him in the public. This is someone who accepted me for who I am. He been there when the rest have hated.
Would you attack the president if he annoys you?
If the show crosses to politics, then why not? The kind of show I do rotates around entertainment and that is why I don’t cross that boarder unless otherwise.
Tell me about your family and school background?
I was born to Mrs Mary Luswata and the late Aloysius Luswata and I have two brothers, one older and one younger than me. I went to Kampala Primary School, St Lawrence Horizon campus, for my O.Level, Aga Khan Secondary for S.5 and Kabojja SSS for my S.6 before I joined Makerere University and graduated in Tourism in 2010.
Would you work for any other TV station besides Urban?
Not at the moment. Urban gave me an opportunity to be who I am today. They trusted me enough to get on air without any experience. They gave me a chance when everyone else rejected me, At the moment, I’m happy where I am.
How is your day like?
I wake up at 5a.m, pray before leaving bed, have a cold shower, head to radio (Galaxy FM) at 5.30am, get on air, get done at 10.00am, have breakfast at 10.30am, head to Urban and prepare which stories to work on, do make up then shoot Scoop on Scoop at 1pm, then choose what to do after either go for a cocktail, salon, head home and sleep or watch some series.