New kid on the screen

JOY DOREEN BIIRA, 26, was Uganda’s most popular news anchor, says Wikipedia. She’s got the looks, brains and personality. But what is most striking about this Ugandan beauty, now anchoring KTN prime, is her humility and quiet demure, writes MAUREEN AKINYI
Many Kenyans might not know this but you are a big name in the Uganda media industry. According to Wikipedia, you are one of Uganda’s most popular TV anchors. That aside, who is Joy Doreen Biira?
Good you said “that aside” ... I like to think Joy is a graceful, focused go-getter who’s down-to-earth and God-fearing. When at work I mean business and off work I keep it on the down low.
I love to have a good time with friends and family.
Tell us a little about your childhood.
I was born in September 1986 in Kasese, Uganda. I grew up just like any next-door kid; naughty, curious with way too many questions to ask, partly because I was exposed to vast material.
What did you study in college and where?
I did a Bachelor of Science Information Technology degree at Makerere University.
However, I applied for Mass Communication too, but was offered IT, which is just a ‘cousin’ to Mass Communication in a way.

You’ve had an illustrious career in the media industry in Uganda. Which are some of the stations you have worked for?
I worked have for NBS Television in Uganda as news anchor and current affairs show host for three and half years. I have also worked with 91.3 Capital FM the lead radio station in the country as a radio show host and producer for three and a half years.
However, at 16 — during my form four vacation — I thought I needed a pass-time occupation so a radio station in my countryside home town, Kasese, took me up as news caster where I read news twice a day.
I thought it was so much fun! Weird as it sounds, I was paid a dollar a day and mine was to pass time. My interests as a journalist are biased to current affairs, changing technologies and human interest features.
What is the experience so far at KTN?
Oh, it’s awesome... great opportunity to grow my career, fantastic work colleagues all the way and very professional too. I look forward to each day on the job.
Moving from NBS Uganda to KTN was a major career jump. What made you take the risk?
While at NBS, I turned down some offers not because I wasn’t interested but because I was juggling between TV on weekdays, radio on weekends and school. Considering I got both jobs while at university, I had to complete my degree course and put it out of the way. It was quite hard to move station. So the KTN offer came at a time when I wanted to grow my career for the better. Long story short I’m here now.

How do you compare Kenyan media to Uganda’s?
That’s a hard one but from my experience so far, I think Kenyan media is a notch higher via journalistic professionalism compared to Uganda. Media freedom though continues to be debatable for both countries.
You are also an environmentalist and the brains behind the NBS Television Ltd “31 million Ugandans, 31 million trees”. Tell us more about this.
Oh yes, I love the environment — nature and its attributes. The “31 million Ugandans, 31 million trees” idea was brainstormed by my then three male colleagues and I at NBS Television in Uganda in late 2009. The sole goal was to encourage every Ugandan to conserve the environment, restore destroyed forest cover and skirmish the effects of global warming that have affected the globe. The mud slides that led to death of over 75 people, including children in Bududa, Eastern Uganda on March 1, 2010 made the need even direr. Uganda National Forestry Authority was willing to supply available seedlings to citizens willing to be part of the campaign. More corporate companies got interested as part of their corporate social responsibility.
To launch the campaign, we thought President Museveni as Head of State would be a good start.
We made contact and he was delighted that young people were up to the task. The launch of the campaign depended on his availability — May 8, 2010.
He planted the first of the 31 million trees. The campaign has so far seen three million trees planted and counting. Schools, prisons, churches, private sector have all taken part and continue to do so till the 31 million trees are planted.

You grew up with a strange liking for Art, cars and media arts. Tell us more...
Growing up, my parents exposed us to a lot of material— from newspapers, magazines and books to watching different personalities. So, I did a lot of stuff  – painting competitions, singing, acting, and dancing. I watched Michael Schumacher that’s where I draw my love for cars... I looked forward to each update on his F1 progress. I read about Nelson Mandela and Idi Amin. I was adventurous, read quite a bit and generally just loved to get my hands on knowledge; my folks thought I’d best suit a doctor or lawyer and look where it all got me — the media.
Who is Doreen off the screen?
Off the screen, I’m also a young entrepreneur, social media trainer/speaker, a youth activist, motivational speaker, voice over artist, casual writer and part-time editorial print model. I love to inspire young people to go forth and reach for their dreams. And since I write, I post a quote on my social network page each day. I’m compiling my quotes, when the book is complete, I will share it with youth in schools to inspire them.
So, is this lovely lady dating?
Yes, I am. If he’s Kenyan...?  I’d like to keep that on the down low. But so you know I’ve heard a lot about the goodness of Kenyans.
And who knows, the East African integration can work in this case too...

Tell us something about your family and origin?
I’m born to Beatrice and John Manimba Baluku, the greatest parents ever. I’m from Kasese District, Rwenzururu Kingdom in the western region of Uganda bordering Democratic Republic of Congo.