10 Questions: Interview with Alan Kasujja
2. ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ Uganda just launched, and you are the host! Tell us about how easy or hard it is to host such a show? What is the most fun between being a TV host and a Radio personality?
I am still learning the ropes as far as TV is concerned and I consider it work in progress. Hopefully we will be able to compete with the best WWTBAM shows around the world soon. Uganda Telecom and Protel studios are doing a great job of consistently ensuring that we develop a world class product.Most of what you see on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is actually who I really am. I do not feel the pressure to posture or take on any sort of character. It is also an amazing opportunity to interact with people from all sorts of backgrounds.TV- and especially a show as big as WWTBAM lifts the veil of anonimity that one enjoys whilst restricted to just radio.
3. You host ‘The big Breakfast show with Jackie and Ramesh on 91.3 Capital FM, which probably requires you to be early at work, how do you balance your new role as host of ‘Who wants to be a Millionare’ and being on Radio: When do you shoot for the WWTBAM show?
It is very easy to balance the two. The shooting the TV show is usually a weekend affair so my time at Capital FM is not affected.
4. Let’s talk about technology, you tweet a lot! Why do you love twitter, and do you tweet while presenting on radio?
I tweet all the time. In church, whilst on air, at a meeting, parties, funerals and especially whilst in boring company. I like that I can blog in 140 words and be seen by the close to 1000 followers that I have. Twitter is an amazing platform to keep in touch with the world in real time. It is the reason I am in no rush to buy a TV.
I am not sure how I survived in a twitterless world.
5. In your opinion, what do you think was the biggest role of Social media in the just concluded Elections in Uganda? Do you see a wave of new Social media junkies than they were in years past? What is your take about the whole scenario?
Again, it allowed us a chance to share information as it became available to us. We were also empowered to share our thoughts without being censored. I also kept a tab on the performance of the various candidates almost entirely on social media. And I see that becoming the case as more people are enlightened and exposed to the benefits of SM.
It would be tactically dangerous for anyone -from the government to businesses in Uganda to ignore the role of social media in bringing people together. Either for or against them.
I, for example believe, that if there ever was another revolution in Uganda, Social media will play a massive part in its genesis and will determine its end result.
6. I love gadgets, what is your favourite gadget and why? You seem to tweet a lot while on the move, what do you use while tweeting on the move, and what application do you use?
We could spend the whole day talking about gadgets. I am the complete junkie. I will still say, however, that my phone, a Nokia E72 is the one gadget I find most indispensable. From mail to audio books and presentations! It is all on there.I use Snaptu to tweet on the move. I was thinking about changing to Blackberry to take advantage of ubbertwitter until I realised that Snaptu now allows me to attach photos to my tweets.Another amazing application I only discovered recently called whatsapp has negated the need for BBM which comes with Blackberry.
7. Let’s go back to ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’ The show is being received positively in Uganda. How do you sum up the technology used on set, and does that mean Uganda is moving ahead technology wise or was it acquired from somewhere?
I really must give credit to both Uganda Telecom and Protel studios for ensuring that no cost or effort is spared in the production of a truly world class product here in Uganda. I think it opens new frontiers and challenges others to step up their game. I have never worked with a team as professional and hard working and I am sure that our quest to continue improving the show will pay off. The technology on the set has to meet very high standards required for the show.
8. What is next for Alan, beyond what we see and know? What are your long term aspirations as a person?
I still have a whole life a head of me. I am plotting the next chapter that will involve me going back to school and possibly and embarking on more socially impacting roles. I am praying about my plans. There is still a whole world to conquer out there. So, lets run this Alan Kasujja guy until his wheels come off.
9. What piece of gadget would you not live without and why?
My phone. Thousands of reasons why. 4,108 of which are the number of contacts I have in it.
10. The question most of your fans wanted to know… How tall are you? And how much do you weigh?
I am 6’10 and I was insulted by the last weighing machine I asked my weight. When I stood on it, the thing said that it could only weigh one person at a time.
