My grandmother taught me Luganda - Zambaali

Blasio Zambaali Mukasa is a news anchor at CBS FM. He is also a Luganda news anchor and programme host at NBS TV. Courtesy Photo

What you need to know:

  • CLOSER. Blasio Zambaali Mukasa is a news anchor at CBS FM. He is also a Luganda news anchor and programme host at NBS TV. Zambaali is a vocalist in the God-Given choir. He is married and has two children.

I deal with stress by…
Sleeping, going to a stream or by the lakeshore. Watching the water flow takes away my stress. I sometimes avoid stress by remaining funny but serious when it comes to business.

The first thing I do in the morning….
I say a prayer then take a shower. I have to be at work by 4.40am depending on my schedule to either anchor news or moderate a programme.

The first thing I do at work is...
To put everything in order because I dislike disorganised spaces.

My first job...
A site porter in my Senior Six vacation. I later joined the Diamonds Ensemble, then I went to Tiger FM as a presenter but later tried news anchoring after my boss realised that I could do it well. I was pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Tourism at Makerere University.

My media journey......
I started at Tiger FM, then metro FM for one and half years then went to Beat. After, I joined Capital FM from 2011 to 2012. I later joined CBS from August 2012 to date. While at CBS, I ventured into TV news anchoring at BBS but I have now moved to NBS TV as a programme moderator and news anchor.
How I spent my salary...
I used the salary to facilitate my education at UMCAT. After failing to complete my bachelors degree in Tourism, I decided to pursue a diploma in journalism and mass communication and I graduated in 2011.

My voice…
My voice is natural.

My childhood memory…
One was about my name Zambaali . In 1994, children had made it a routine to compose funny songs out of it that I got home and hated it as well as going to school. But when my grandmother explained the meaning of all my names, I learnt to love and pride in them.
The other was after my mother caned me and I told her that I would shoot her.
Also, when I denied that she was not my mother in 1993, she shed tears in public. However, this was because I was not used to her and I believed that my grandmother was my mother.

My first girlfriend…
A girl called Ritah in secondary school.

My first kiss….
In Senior Six at the end of the music, dance and drama competitions. After all the presentations I had that day, she came hugged and kissed me. I did not believe it because I was caught off guard.

The first book I read…
It was a Luganda bible followed by other Luganda books. My grandmother emphasised that I read, understand and master Luganda so that I pride in what everyone cannot do. I used to read scriptures and explain the gospel to her every day.

What I like about my job….
It is a base of network and connection to very important people in the country.
My job makes me an important and unique person in my country.

What I dislike about my job…
Challenges with no privacy. Many forget that people in the limelight are also prone to mistakes.

My best dish…
Matooke and dry fish mixed with ground nuts.

My biggest regret……..
I do not really have any regret because, I am optimistic.

Best advice……..
My grandmother Asinanus Nasimbwa told me that, ‘What is meant to be yours will always be, never rush but do not relax. God has His own timing’.

My memorable experience…
There are all work related like the day I decided to resign from capital to join CBS, it was really a tough decision given the triple increment of my salary at capital (Shs2.5m from Shs1m).

But I had to leave no matter what, for I had already signed a contract with CBS. I was chasing a career and I have achieved it in radio news anchoring. I made sure that I persevere not matter the kind of challenges I meant at the new job by doubling my efforts and in one year, all people that despised me believed my worth.

The other is recent when I resigned at BBS to join NBS, many people condemned me, it raised a lot of dust but I had focused at growing my career in TV which I had not yet achieved at BBS. I am looking at being the best Luganda news anchor both on radio and TV.