Female journalist accuses Andrew Mwenda of sexism, Independent boss gives poorest response

By Watchdog reporter
Andrew Mwenda has got many critics, but one he least expected is Lydia Namubiru.
If you don’t know Lydia Namubiru, please google her name. However, for those following Ugandan media, she has been a reporter and columnist for New Vision for quite some good time, and her writings are rare to find – good stuff.
As we complete the Women’s Week across the world, Lydia penned a blog that raising dust and it has turned on poor Mwenda into punching bag. Lydia accuses the journalism ‘god’ of sexism and prejudice.
Mwenda has in the past been accused of many things including being gay and of bootlicking dictators, but no one has accused Mwenda of sexism before.
No wonder he didn’t have a proper reply when he was confronted with Lydia’s narrative.
In his response, Mwenda says Namubiru gate-crashed his show.

“This lady journalist believes that a host of a radio show without prior notice should just accept any guest?” Mwenda asked.
Lydia, for those that know her is one of the most brutally honest people you could meet. Her harsh criticism of men which trending on Saturday via her blog https://lydianamubiru.blogspot.ug/ read Mwenda the riot act.
To be fair to Lydia, hers was a message making a case that Ugandan media space shortchanged women as men dominate the space whether they are fit to be there or not. Her case in point was the shortage of women on prime time political talk shows. And that is when she pulled out a case she was invited to fill in someone on Andrew Mwenda’s show, who without asking her claim to fame, he quizzed her on non issues, particularly bordering to sexism.

Part of Lydia’s blog is here: “The first was when a producer on KFM Hot Seat, asked me on very short notice to go over because he didn’t have someone to take the 5th place. I showed up. Early. Andrew Mwenda, the host, was already there. He came out looking for the panelists, was pointed to me, and he asked, “Are you a Ugandan journalist? How come I don’t know you?” To be honest, I had never set eyes on Mwenda before then myself & I think the last time I tuned into his journalism was when he made the ‘M7 killed Garang’ insinuations on live radio. Even as a university student not studying journalism, it occurred to me that there had to be sources of analysis on public affairs that actually presented more facts than conjecture. But of course, I remained aware that he was practising journalism. He is Andrew Mwenda. You can’t miss him. He didn’t know me. There was no reason he should have. I knew him and thought his journalism standards have been less than stellar in the past. Yet, of the two of us, he was the one that felt entitled to being dismissive. He actually said he would not allow me into the studio because he didn’t know me. I recited my CV and meekly walked into the studio when he got out of the way. When I took a seat, he still objected. I recited my credentials again but this time added, “I don’t have to do this. I’m doing your producer a fill-in favour and I can walk out if you don’t want me here.” He left me alone, saying, “you work for Peter Mwesige. I know him.” I couldn’t be more proud to work with Peter Mwesige, but that wasn’t the point. That was just the dog whistle to remind me journalism is a boys’ club; something that actually would have annoyed Peter had he been there…”

For further reading, here is a link to Lydia Namubiru’s blog https://lydianamubiru.blogspot.ug/2017/03/the-most-insulting-thing-about-sexism.html