I couldn't refuse the offer - How Mbarara tycoon poached Irish from Sanyu FM

DJ Bangi, born Wilfred Bangirana -- died in 2007 at the age of 44, and he was one of the most revered radio hosts of his generation.

Before Bangi's death, Irish Kyebandula had been hosted by James Onen, alias Fatboy, on his popular Saturday morning show called Live and Kicking.

Fatboy, then a programs director at Sanyu, had liked Kyebandula's voice and promised to listen to his show. Kyebandula, who also goes by Daniel Kanyerezi, worked with Bob FM at the time.

After Bangi's death, Kyebandula wasn't really surprised when the call for a job came in. He was to co-host a drive with Crystal Newman.

Shortly after joining Sanyu, Fred Kafoko, the owner of Vision Radio and Vision Empire, made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

"He gave me money I'd never heard of," he said.

He left for Mbarara and worked at Vision Radio as head of programming and presenter "for about nine months", then returned as a news anchor at NBS TV.

Who is Irish Kyebandula?

Irish cut his teeth through the media and entertainment industry, starting with mimicking the legendary news anchor Bbale Francis. His first gig came when he was in S.5.

After his first gig, which he did under Amarula Family, they were invited at WBS TV's Egabudde, which was held at Nakivubo Stadium.

Kenneth Kazooba, the general manager of WBS at the time, realised they could do a show centered around news, and a show called Side Mirror was born.

The show was a smash hit. Opportunities to work on radio started flowing in.

Irish Kyebandula, who studied Journalism and Mass Communication at Umcat School of Journalism and Mass Communication, started with Spirit FM when he was in high school, then joined Bob FM in S.6 vacation.

Bob gave him his first salary, which was 250k per month.

He worked there from 2007 to mid-2008. He left Bob to join Sanyu, which left to work at Vision Radio and then NBS.

While at NBS, he started moonlighting with Magic FM. Then he left NBS to join UBC, which owned Magic.

After Magic, he took a break from media, then did two years at Radio City, after which he joined Capital FM, which he quit in 2021. His most recent job was with Next Media where he also recently resigned.