Daniel Kalinaki Bids Farewell to Newsroom After 30 Years of Journalism

Daniel K. Kalinaki, NMG-Uganda’s General Manager, Editorial, is stepping away from the mainstream newsroom after three decades in journalism. His reflections capture the thrill of seeing his name in print for the first time.

He recalls hand-delivering handwritten articles to The Crusader office in the pre-digital era, anxiously checking street vendors for publication, and celebrating his debut by sharing the paper at Nile Grill—though the UPC cadres barely noticed.

Staying competitive meant hustling for stories amid stiff internal rivalries. Kalinaki once sneaked a football match report past a senior colleague at Namboole, earning his first sports byline through sheer speed.

Camaraderie softened the edges, with memorable scenes like Andrew Mwenda lounging in the editor-in-chief’s office. Yet he warns against romanticizing the ‘good old days,’ citing poor design and shallow reporting in early papers.

Journalists covered pivotal events like the Constituent Assembly, 1996 elections, Rwanda’s genocide, and Uganda’s northern insurgencies—moments that felt historic compared to today’s lighter scandals.

The profession’s toll remains heavy: idealism fades against repression, low pay, and exhaustion. Many, especially women balancing family, exit early. The Covid-19 era accelerated departures, including colleagues like Margaret Vuchiri and Josephine Karungi.

Kalinaki urges younger journalists to reclaim relevance in a content-saturated world by sticking to core values like on-the-ground verification, as in debunking a 2009 rumor about the Kabaka’s arrest.

Trusted journalism is vital amid misinformation, and those left in newsrooms must innovate for sustainability.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)