Alfred Ndahiro.

During the Commonwealth Business Forum that was held in Kampala recently, President Kagame was invited to give the keynote address.

I happened to be in the audience and I saw that the TVR person covering the event was one Frank Higiro. I was later to discover that he is one of Kije Mugisha’s boys (Ms Mugisha doesn’t care a hoot about such things as experience or seniority. She will send only “her people” on any outside mission, no matter how important it may be).

In the marquee at Kampala’s Sheraton hotel (where President Kagame was going to speak) Frank Higiro looked totally out of his element, fidgeting around with the camera and obviously having a hard time making it work. It turns out that he has never even taken images of a wedding.

Back in Kigali, TVR staffers told me the footage the young man sent back was totally useless.

One of my sources said: “Frank’s images had dark bluish hues in them and it was obvious he hadn’t taken obvious preliminary procedures such as white/black balancing. Also, it looks like he did not use a tripod to steady the camera since the images keep pitching up and down, like people sitting in a boat in rough waters.”

The TVR sources say they finally had to resort to borrowing images of the President’s speech from Uganda Broadcasting Corporation TV. “Birababaje kubona abana bigira kuri perezida w’igihugu gufotora!”, said one (it really is a great shame that it is on the President that children learn how to photograph).

“Why did you send such a neophyte to cover the Kampala event,” I asked Mr Kimanuka. “I was not aware who went,” he said. “But I have written to Kije Mugisha,” he added.

During our phone conversation, I recounted a whole lot of other egregious things that Ms Mugisha has done and asked him what he plans to do other than write letters. “I am still trying to find the best ways to work with her,” said Mr Kimanuka.