- Source: Simon Kaggwa Njala
Simon Kaggwa Njala is a Ugandan journalist and media personality.
Early life
Simon Kaggwa Njala was born on January 4, 1972, in Kampala, Uganda.
Morning Breeze interview
During a December 18, 2012 episode of the TV show Morning Breeze on NBS Television, Njala interviewed Ugandan LGBTQ rights activist Pepe Julian Onziema about LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda. After introducing Onziema, Njala immediately asked, "Why are you gay?"
Njala then introduced a second guest, pastor and anti-gay activist Martin Ssempa. Seated across from Onziema, Ssempa began characterizing and criticizing various alleged sexual practices of LGBT people using fruits and vegetables as props, while shouting in both English and Luganda. The interview became the subject of various internet memes, commonly titled "Why Are You Gay?"
Suspension from NBS Television
On June 21, 2024, Njala held a thanksgiving event for a member of Uganda's parliamentary opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, in Masaka. Njala also sent a series of pro-Mpuuga and anti-National Unity Platform messages on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Days later, Njala's employer, Next Media, suspended him for two weeks from NBS TV and circulated a statement emphasizing that the company's ethics policies concerning journalistic objectivity forbid journalists from "public association with political parties, alliances, coalitions, or related matters that could undermine our principles."
