Samson Kasumba. Photo/Courtesy
Veteran journalist Samson Kasumba has drawn attention after advising Ugandans to rethink how they position themselves socially, arguing that access to opportunities, including government appointments and career growth, is often shaped by networks built early in life.
Kasumba, in a public reflection, said many people underestimate the role of social environments in determining future success.
He encouraged parents to make deliberate choices about where they live, the schools their children attend, and the social circles they interact with
“Leave online hullabaloo here and do all you can to strategically position your kids. Rent in a neighborhood where your children will play with the children of someone from whom you need a connection,” he said.
He further pointed to religious and educational spaces as key areas where relationships that later open doors are formed.
“Be an usher of a church pew where those you need sit. Take your children to schools where ‘proper’ kids go and ask your children to make the ‘right friends’,” he added.
Kasumba said his own experience reflects the same principle, tracing it back to his father’s guidance in 1981 when he joined Nakasero Primary School.
He noted that his class included children from influential families, including the twin sons of then Prime Minister Otema Alimadi.
According to him, such early exposure played a role in shaping his worldview and future career path.
“My dad told me how you pronounce words opens doors,” he said, adding that language skills and exposure to books and different backgrounds gave him an advantage in later life as a news anchor.
He also recalled classmates who had returned from exile bringing with them English proficiency and reading materials such as Tintin and Asterix and Obelix, which were rare in many households at the time.