Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga is bitter with his top editors for publishing Public Relations (PR) stories belonging to National Water and Sewerage Corporation and Kampala Lord mayor aspirant Henry Tumukunde on Wednesday this week.
In an internal mail exchange between Kabushenga and senior editor John Kakande, Kabushenga expressed his concern about editors publishing potential money generating stories as just news making companies and individuals sidestep advertising in the newspaper because they are able to present their publicity needs as news.
“We have raised this issue numerous times and most recently we made it clear it is going to be a very ruthless regime. Companies are sidestepping advertising in the newspaper because they are able to present their publicity needs as news. It is something we are now taking very seriously,” Kabushenga wrote in an email to Kakande.
Matooke Republic has learnt that the Vision Group boss has since instructed the company’s Chief Finance officer Augustine Tamale to deduct up to Shs9m from the editors who published the stories.
Some of the victims of these deductions include John Kakande who will lose Shs9m and Geoffrey Kulubya who will lose over Shs36m for the four PR stories that have since been published as news.
In the meeting called by Kabushenga to discuss the matter, senior Vision Group editor Hellen Mukiibi wondered why one editor is subjected to the fine when a single story passes through the hands of at least seven editors before being published.
Matooke Republic understands that Tamale is determined to carry on with his boss’ instructions saying that the stories benefited NWSC, and Tumukunde got a free promotion for his political ambitions but the media giant didnot receive a single penny from them.