Although World Press Freedom Day is tomorrow, socialite Sheila Gashumba has gone bare knuckles against her former employers NTV Uganda. Through a long thread on her official Twitter handle, the pencil-like socialite ranted how she invested in NTV more than it paid her.
Gashumba blasted the Serena Hotel-based station and other media houses for rewarding journalists peanuts despite the efforts they put in. She described NTV managers as ‘jokers’ who “should be ashamed of themselves.”
Gashumba said while she was working on NTV The Beat show she was being paid Shs50000 per appearance and a month it could total up to Shs1 million. She opted to leave the show and joined Style Project at the same station and was being paid Shs100,000 per show. This totaled to Shs400,000 per month since it airs only once a week.
Gashumba said on Style Project, the Shs100k could only cater for her makeup but she had to buy a dress for every show and also transport herself.
“Some stations should be ashamed of themselves! Come on! Why pay too little for the talent you front. I’m so proud of the TV Presenters in the industry but y’all know you deserve more! You know it deep down! I have so much respect for y’all and you know that because I know what it means to chase a dream but you need to be paid your worth.
“If only TV could pay more than the energy presenters put in! Lol! We would be so rich! Lol! Do research, do maths! Add up! I respect y’all but the money has to add up to the fame! Period. Fame doesn’t pay your bills but money does!” Gashumba wrote.
She described working for NTV Uganda as being worse than vending samosas or being hired as an Uber driver.
“In general, my point is other jobs are way better than being a TV presenter in Uganda. I would rather drive Uber than be known by the whole world for being a TV presenter with peanuts; famous but broke! Nah, I would rather sale samasos a whole month than be a TV presenter,” she said.