Kin Kariisa | |
---|---|
Born | Rwengoma-Ruhaama, Ntungamo | 24 August 1976
Occupation | Businessman |
Years active | 2000–present |
Website | kinkariisa |
Kin Kariisa (born 24 August 1976) is a Ugandan businessman, media proprietor and philanthropist. He is the CEO of Next Media Services a home of 15 brands, a multimedia company in Uganda mostly known for its flagship television network NBS Television.[1][2][3]
Career
Kariisa started out as a barber in Mbarara Town before joining Makerere University, where he would later start developing web applications for a Danish company, Metrocomia Uganda Ltd. in 2000. He later quit Metrocomia to start his own company, Kin Systems, one of Uganda's first ICT companies. Courtesy of his success with Kin Systems, Kariisa was contacted by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to build a campaign system that would automatically send messages to mobile phones. Kin would go on to be appointed Assistant Presidential Advisor on Information Communications and Technology (ICT).[4]
Kariisa took over NBS Television in 2008 as CEO and grew it into Next Media Services, a multimedia company that runs three television stations (NBS Television, Sanyuka TV & Salam TV), a radio station (NXT Radio[5][6] – formerly Jazz FM) in 2018,[7][8] online news portal (Nile Post), digital communications agency and productions houses (Next Communications & Next Production). His radio station, NXT Radio, is Uganda's pioneer audiovisual radio station.[9]
Currently, Kin serves as Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and Online broadcasters in Uganda.[10]
In 2012, he was appointed Director of Ecobank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa for 7 years, and appointed chairman board of directors in 2019 for the "Pan African Bank."[11][12][13]
He is also the chairman board of directors for Nile Hotel International Ltd., the Government enterprise that owns Kampala Serena Hotel.
Kin also serves as the chairman board of directors for Soliton Telmec, the leading telecommunications technology company in East Africa, supporting both the basic and complex infrastructure required to enable electronic communications across the region, which include data centers, fiber optic lines and related routing and transmission equipment.
Personal life
Kin got married in 2004 to Julie Kariisa (Juliet Janat Tumusiime) and together, the couple has three children.Jamila Kariisa,Kin Kariisa Jr and Shaka Kariisa.[14]
Recognition
He was named among the most influential Ugandans in 2019 in a survey conducted by Public Opinions International a Pan African Organisation.[15]
References
- ^ Agness E, Nantaba. "Kin Kariisa on enjoying the journey of making money". The Independent. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Trevor, Taremwa. "Interview: NBS CEO Kin Kariisa narrates station's ascent to the top". Matooke Republic. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "One May think UBC is China TV – Kin Kariisa". Insider. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Edris, Kiggundu. "NBS TV's Kin Kariisa : How 'cool' barber became a media baron". The Observer. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Javira, Sebwami. "Next Media Services to launch Nxt radio station today". PML Daily. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ William Taddewo, Ssenyonyi. "Nxt Radio Rated Uganda's Fastest Growing English Station-Kin Kariisa". Business Focus. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Mike, Ssegawa. "NBS's Kin Kariisa goes into radio, buys Jazz FM". The Watchdog News. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ "NBS TV Boss Kin Kariisa Buys Off Isaiah Katumwa's Struggling Jazz FM, Swears To Give Bloody Nose To Competitors". The Spy Uganda. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Javira. "Next media services launches first ever audio visual Radio in Uganda". Makerere Journalism. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Najib, Mulema. "NBS Boss Kin Kariisa re-elected as National Association of Broadcasters Chairperson". The Watchdog. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Al- Mahadi Adam, Kungu. "NBS' Kin Kariisa Appointed Board Chairman Eco Bank". Soft Power News. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ William Taddewo, Senyonyi. "Ecobank Appoints Kin Kariisa New Board Chairman". Business Focus. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Simon Peter, Atwiine. "Kin Kariisa , Mbire appointed to Eco bank board". Eagle Online. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- ^ Nantaba, E Agnes. "Kin Kariisa on enjoying the journey of making money". The Independent. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ Amon, Katungulu. "Kin Kariisa , Sudhir , Muhoozi named among influential Ugandans". Nile Post. Retrieved 15 November 2019.