SHOWBIZ: Alfa Tymz is a TV presenter on BABA TV in Jinja and he has created himself quite a name.
When did you get on TV?
The first time I appeared on TV as a presenter was on December 4, 2017, on BABA TV in Jinja. I was on air from 4.30 pm to 6 pm.
What made you a big TV personality in Jinja?
At the time I joined TV, there was only one TV station in Jinja called KoTV. So when BABA TV opened up, we had an idea of how to beat the competition. I focused on what lacked in the TV business in Busoga and made it my routine.
What was that thing that lacked in the TV business when you joined?
The music policy, the presentation style, the picture quality and experience passed on from industry veterans. So by the time I got on air, the audience got what it had yearned for.
I made watching me a memorable experience. I also benefitted a lot from my radio experience at 87.7 BABA FM. Radio gave me an idea of how the media works so by the time I joined TV, I was good to go.
Was getting on TV your dream?
I honestly never dreamt of being on TV until word went around that my boss was venturing into the TV business. It was my fourth year on the radio but we did not think we, on the radio, would be given priority but other presenters and I applied anyway. I was the first to be confirmed.
Most TV presenters brag about being celebs. Are you like that?
I do not like being called a celebrity; I hate it. I know some TV guys are arrogant because they have made a name but I am not like that. Before I joined TV, I looked up to some people and Allah was merciful and granted me the platform to be like or better than them. So, I am sure someone out there is looking up to me.
What is it like being on TV in Jinja?
Do you ever wish for a TV job in Kampala?
I would want to work with a big media house in future. I know that even the guys I still look up to want to move to something bigger, say in Kenya or the US, so I would also want a big change. Working in Kampala comes with many opportunities.
What are some of the challenges you face being on TV?
Having to be creative all the time is challenging and the other is you do not have to make mistakes while on air. The other challenge is you get to become two in one, the Alfa on TV is not the one walking on the streets of Jinja
Do you follow presenters in Kampala?
I follow them a lot to keep trendy. There is a lot of content that airs on Kampala stations but not here. So there is always an opportunity to bring something new to my audience.
What is the difference?
They get things first. For example, Bobi Wine might release a video and I will get it in 30 minutes or an hour but the Kampala presenter will get it immediately.
Who is your best TV host in Kampala?
I have much respect for everyone. I respect MC Kats, Douglas Lwanga and Flavia Tumusiime. Flavia tops my list though. She might not be in the entertainment and lifestyle shows anymore but for the time I watched her, I loved the way she carried herself.
Besides TV, what do you do?
I am still a radio presenter on BABA FM, I am the main supervisor of PAACO Events Plus, and I also work with Skizar Media Group, a digital publishing and PR company.
Where did you attend school?
I went to King Fahad Primary School, Bugembe Islamic, East High Ntinda and Kampala University where I did my Bachelor in Mass Communication.
logwal@ug.nationmedia.com