INSIDE THE NEWS WORLD OF FRANK WALUSIMBI

An eloquent speaker who is always smartly dressed, Frank Walusimbi must be a name you’ve definitely heard before. The new trends of anchors in this age boldly make their introductions with flair, but there is always one voice the memory can’t seem to forget: “Frank Walusimbi, NTV” or “Frank Walusimbi, NTV Tonight.”  Depending on where you first heard him do his introduction or sign-outs, Walusimbi remains “dear” to the Ugandan news audience. But before all the fame and stature, he was just a young man with a burning passion for a career in journalism.

“I wanted to be a journalist so much,” Walusimbi recalls. “It was among my top three ambitions. My focus was on subjects that could make me a better journalist.”

He credits lecturers like Ben Bella, Epaja Ejuru who had reported for the BBC, the late Kooku Booba, and Jane Gitawo in public relations for shaping his perspective. “They always told us that studying to be this kind of professional comes with fame, but when you go to the field, you must focus on quality work. You must focus on impacting the industry,” he says. Walusimbi grew the passion for journalism and was inspired by the two stations that were in place in the early 2000’s.  “We only had two stations, WBS and UBC. There was a big gap in the media landscape.” he says. He started as a radio host on Radio Uganda’s Green Channel but then left the job to focus on his studies at Uganda Christian University.

Breaking into Television

In his final year, Walusimbi began contributing as a freelancer to the Sunday Vision magazine and the Daily Monitor. Around the same time, NTV started operations in Uganda. “I applied and got two jobs as a writer and a news anchor. That marked a turning point for me.”

When he joined the NTV newsroom he realised  there was a big gap in the news consumption then. Many young people had a dislike for news and fewer people were interested in news. On joining, he thought of introducing a fresh style of presentation when NTV launched in December 2006.

“Our style was very different from what was available then. We made news more conversational and so relatable to the young people. We connected with young people, the older generation, and the middle-aged viewers. It was new to see a young person presenting the news.”

Walusimbi admits, “I did not realize how much fame it would bring. But over time, it became something big. Our names became bigger than ourselves.”.

Over the years, Frank Walusimbi has produced numerous stories and written many articles. He has hosted shows like the famous “Tuwaye”, a Luganda talk show that featured celebrated figures in society as a way to inspire young people. He also hosted “Morning at NTV” and “One-on-One with Frank Walusimbi”, programs through which he met and inspired many to dare to dream of a future in news reporting. As part of his effort to make news bulletins more engaging and attract a wider audience, Walusimbi created the now-popular Luganda segment “Zungululu”. The segment features humorous statements made in the course of the week’s news. It quickly became a hit and remains one of the most loved parts of the bulletin, known for giving Ugandans a good laugh while staying connected to current affairs.

His command of both English and Luganda became part of his trademark. He gives credit to his father, who casually practiced Luganda with him at home at a time when the language was dismissed as simply “vernacular” in school. That practice helped him master it, shaping the storyteller he would become. But journalism for Walusimbi wasn’t just about studio lights and suits. He has reported from the frontlines and seen what most people never do.

Reporting from Conflict Zones

In 2007, the African Union launched a peacekeeping mission in Somalia known as AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) to support the country’s transitional government, fight off extremist groups like Al-Shabaab, and stabilize a region long torn by civil war and political collapse.

Uganda was the first African country to contribute troops to the mission, deploying soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Their presence marked a bold and risky move, especially at a time when Somalia was considered one of the most dangerous places in the world. The decision sparked heated debate back home, members of parliament questioned whether Uganda should be involved in such a volatile conflict, and the public had limited understanding of what was truly happening on the ground.

At that time, very few Ugandan journalists had entered Somalia to report firsthand. Security risks were high, but the need for accurate storytelling was urgent. That’s when Frank Walusimbi stepped forward.

“I really loved the Inside Somalia series. I was one of the first reporters to go and cover it. Many Ugandans didn’t understand what was going on then. There were debates in Parliament about whether our soldiers should even be there.”

Before heading into Somalia, Frank Walusimbi had already witnessed this kind of chaos firsthand.

In December 2009, Uganda was rocked by a wave of unrest known as the Kayunga riots, sparked by deep-seated political and cultural tensions. The immediate cause was the government’s decision to block the Kabaka (King) of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, from visiting Kayunga District, a move that angered many in the Buganda Kingdom. The government feared that the Kabaka’s visit could escalate regional tensions between the Buganda kingdom and a minority group known as the Banyala, who also claimed autonomy in Kayunga. When the Kabaka was barred, protests erupted in Kampala and surrounding areas, particularly in Buganda strongholds.

What began as demonstrations quickly turned into skirmishes. Security forces responded with tear gas and live bullets. Over the course of several days, more than 20 people were killed, hundreds were injured, and scores were arrested. The riots exposed the fragility of relations between cultural institutions and the central government and the dangers journalists face when covering politically charged unrest.

“There was so much fear. So much death in the city. I saw people being killed.” Walusimbi says. One particular moment from the Kayunga riots has stayed with him ever since.

“I remember a boy named Francis Kiboowa whose name I will never forget. He was about 14 years old. He had gone to help his mother at the shop. When the shooting began, he offered to go collect his mother’s goods that were put on outside stalls but as he returned, he was shot in the head. He died on the spot. We were just 400 metres away. I’ll never forget that image.” The riots raged for two days before security forces were able to suppress them using curfews, heavy military deployment, and arrests. Calm eventually returned to the city, but the cost was heavy.  Many Ugandans lost their lives, and dozens of others were left with injuries or trauma. 

The media was closely monitored, and many journalists who covered the riots did so under fear and uncertainty.

“The newsroom always wants a story. Even after witnessing trauma, the expectation remains, pick up your camera, go back to the field, deliver the news.” Walusimbi adds.  Most of his colleagues after the day of the riots were traumatised and not left the same because of the so many dead bodies that were left hanging around. 

“There’s a lot you see as a news reporter. Sometimes you want to erase certain memories after leaving a war zone. Dead bodies on verandas. People are forcefully displaced. Children, sometimes five of them are killed at once. People being shot by armed groups. It changes you. Mentally, you’re not the same.”

Mental Health in the Newsroom

With the growing number of riots, demonstrations, and conflict stories, some newsrooms have started to pick up on the need for mental health support. Slowly, the idea of having counseling desks is becoming part of the conversation, a way for reporters to get help before or after covering distressing events.

At NTV, Walusimbi says they eventually set up a desk that encourages journalists to speak to professionals, especially before heading into conflict zones. But he admits that wasn’t always the case.

“I remember the riots. We were one-man armies. You’d shoot, report, edit, and go back the next day. The torture, the beatings especially during elections those things were real.”

Counseling doesn’t always work immediately, he says, but it gives journalists a space to talk, reflect, and begin to understand their emotions. After covering both the war in Somalia and violent riots here in Uganda, Walusimbi was encouraged to speak with someone for his mental health. But he chose instead to keep working, to push through it. Even now, he says, certain images and scenes still come back to him. Some stories never really leave.

Ahead of the 2026 Ugandan Elections

Looking ahead to 2026, Walusimbi says every election year carries its own kind of storm. He’s covered the elections of 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021 and each one, in his experience, came with violence. “This doesn’t just happen to politicians. Journalists go through it too.”

In the recent Kawempe by- elections, journalists found themselves caught between security forces and hooligans. Even today, no comprehensive report has been released by the government about what really happened.

“Many reporters are being beaten during elections. Some don’t even have contracts or insurance. And that’s the sad part if something happens to you, life moves on. People forget you.”

Walusimbi believes newsrooms still lack coordination when it comes to reporter safety. “One newsroom will pull its reporters out. Another will continue. We are not one.”

In his view, the Uganda Journalists Association is not doing enough especially in upcountry areas like Arua. He thinks the Uganda National Broadcasters Association should take the lead in speaking to media owners and working out safety protocols across the board. “Media houses should have clear safety policies. If a reporter senses danger, they should withdraw. No story is worth a broken leg or lost life. If it feels wrong, leave.”

He also stresses that mental health support needs to be part of newsroom policy not just in theory, but in practice. Counseling services should be accessible, and protective gear should be available, especially ahead of the 2026 election. “I’m happy Ukweli Africa is stepping in to support journalists with mental health. We need safe spaces. People are working longer hours, sleeping less, and it’s affecting them.”

Advice to Young Reporters

Young reporters, he says, must focus on the impact of their work. “Clout fades. But the quality of your journalism can outlive you.” To him, clout has become a challenge for younger reporters. Handling the pressure that comes with visibility is something he believes should be taught early.

“Fame can distract you. You get lost in it. To truly arrive, your work must speak for itself. Do something worth celebrating, work that changes lives.” Today, he says he doesn’t see himself as a celebrity. “I want to be remembered as Frank. The journalist who was on your TV, and who is now in the communications space.

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Frank Walusimbi worked as both an anchor and reporter for NTV under the Nation Media Group. He practiced journalism for over 20 years. He stepped away from anchoring in April 2022 and is currently a Communications Associate with the UN Refugee Agency in Uganda. Outside of work, he enjoys farming and mostly keeps a low profile.

You can find his video interview on  Ukweli Africa’s Youtube Channel