TAKEAWAYS

• Kazibwe says returning to Parliament would have been a step below his level.

• He has returned to radio at Beat FM under Next Media after talks with Kin Karisa.

• Kazibwe says he is no longer an NUP member because journalists must remain politically neutral.

Former Kawempe South Member of Parliament Kazibwe Bashir has revealed why he chose not to seek another term in Parliament, saying he felt he had taken a step below his level by leaving the media industry for politics.

Kazibwe, who has returned to radio at Beat FM, said media is deeply rooted in him and that he believes this is where he truly belongs.

According to the former MP, he decided to give others an opportunity to take up the parliamentary mantle while he focused on reviving what he believes is a declining media landscape.

“Radio and media is embedded in my DNA. This is where I am and where I belong.”

Kazibwe said the reception he received when he returned to the airwaves was a clear indication that audiences had missed him. He described his first day back on radio as particularly impressive.

He explained that his earlier statement that he would never return to radio was specifically about Bukedde Radio, where he previously worked, rather than radio as a whole. He is now part of the team at Beat FM, which is under Next Media.

Kazibwe said his decision to join Beat FM followed deep reflection and discussions with Next Media boss Kin Karisa, adding that he believes he has a big job ahead of him.

The former MP also addressed his relationship with Bobi Wine and his political affiliation. He said the two are united only by their shared concern about what they see as wrong in the country.

Kazibwe clarified that he is no longer a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and did not even return to collect a party membership card.

He explained that his return to journalism requires him to remain neutral and that, as a journalist, he cannot simultaneously belong to a political party.

For Kazibwe, the move marks a return to the profession he believes is most closely connected to who he is.