Kleith Kyatuhaire
Success. Former TV personality Kleith Kyatuhaire is living what she describes as the good life as a marketing executive in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Although she confesses to missing working on TV, it is a sacrifice she is willing to make for the sake of her financial future, writes Lawrence Ogwal.
Kleith Kyatuhaire vibrant and articulate was the ideal teen TV host. After co-hosting T Nation on NTV Uganda for a while, Kyatuhaire joined the more adult the Style Project with Solomon Tazibone. Unfortunately, she did not stay long on the programme after a media scandal.
In 2016, she went to the United Arab Emirates’ city of Dubai where she was planning to unwind and recoup before coming back to her life in Uganda.
“One day, out of the blue, my phone rang and it was someone from Uganda saying they had been told I was in Dubai and they wanted me to take them around. Since I did not mind, I said I would and I did. The person was so impressed that they kept referring me to others,” Kyatuaire recounts.
As she started getting more people, she decided to start charging $400 (Shs1.5m) per person, which included their accommodation, meals and touring Dubai.
Learning the trade
Kyatuhaire admits that at this point she was very new to the business and did not know how to proceed.
“But I had realised there were many people willing to pay good money for this service. I decided to fast-track my training by contracting an already established company; Get Quick International from whom I could learn,” she shares.
Get Quick International is a Dubai based company that deals in shipping, booking hotels, Visas and taking clients to tourist sites on their visit Dubai.
“I would pay some little money from my fee for a guide and a van from Get Quick International to take the clients around,” Kyatuhaire says.
After working closely with Get Quick International for a month, the company recognised her resourcefulness and offered her a job as the executive marketing manager and the rest as they say is history.
The transition
In the beginning, Kyatuhaire says she missed her family and even considered coming back to Uganda but her hardworking nature would not let her make that decision so she chose to stay. With time, she got used to being away from home and now considers Dubai as her second home.
“Working and living in Dubai is amazing because this is almost where everyone dreams to come for holidays. Each day I wake up I find something new and because of my love for adventure I can never get bored. I think I am in the right place,” Kyatuhaire gushes about her new home.
The former TV host says she has established a routine that allows her to visit her family often without interfering with her work.
“I have too much work in Dubai but always make time to come to Uganda at least twice or thrice every month, stay for days and leave again,” Kyatuhaire says.
Challenges
The only challenge she finds working in Dubai is language barrier given the nature of business that she is in. “The company works with different African countries and most of them are not English-speaking countries so it becomes hard transacting business with them,” Kyatuhaire says.
Harassment in Arab countries
“I have read and watched horrific stories of women being sexually abused by their Arab employers. To be honest, I was so scared in the beginning that it would happen to me too. But so far I have been lucky probably because I work with people who are professional and respect each other,” she shares.
Kyatuhaire admits she misses TV but she does not see herself working for any TV station in Uganda.
“TV is my passion and when I get opportunities on international networks such BBC or CNN that can actually afford to pay me decently then people might see me on their TVs again,” Kyatuhaire says.
She faults local TV companies for taking advantage of their employees yet they can afford to pay them well.
“Ugandan TV companies are just ripping people off because they make so much money from advertisers yet they pay workers peanuts. Most people on TV stay because they are passionate about what they do, not because of the money. But at one moment you have to think about what matters more; your passion or living a better life. I asked myself that same question and here I am and I have never been happier,” Kyatuhaire shares.
Getting back on TV
“Ugandan TV companies are just ripping people off because they make so much money from advertisers yet they pay workers peanuts. Most people on TV stay because they are passionate about what they do, not because of the money. But at one moment you have to think about what matters more; your passion or living a better life. I asked myself that same question and here I am and I have never been happier,” Kyatuhaire shares.
Who is Kleith Kyatuhaire
Kyatuhaire describes herself as a very hardworking person and someone who loves travelling and adventure. She was born in a family of eight. She attended school at Kampala Parents School, St Mary’s Kitende for O-Level and Lugazi Mixed for her A-Level before joining Makerere University for a Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Science.
