Former Kawempe South Member of Parliament Bashir Kazibwe Mbaziira has made a return to radio broadcasting, six years after stepping away from active media work to pursue a career in politics.

Mbaziira made his much-anticipated return to the microphone on September 6, joining Beat FM where he will host a new current affairs programme. His comeback marks a return to an industry that played a major role in building his public profile before he entered elective politics.

The former legislator announced his return with excitement, telling his followers that six years after putting down the microphone, he was back and ready for a new chapter. His return has attracted attention among media followers who remember his earlier career as a broadcaster and current affairs presenter.

Mbaziira will host a Sunday programme known as Alipoota Olutagajjo, which will run from midday to 2pm. The programme is expected to provide a platform for discussions on some of the major issues affecting Uganda and its citizens.

The show will feature panel discussions focusing on national affairs. Among the issues expected to dominate the programme are politics, the economy, governance and other matters that continue to generate public debate across the country.

His return to radio comes after several years in active politics, during which he served as the Member of Parliament for Kawempe South. His experience in both media and politics gives him a background that could shape the style and direction of the new current affairs programme.

Before entering Parliament, Mbaziira had already established himself as a familiar voice and face in Uganda’s media industry. His broadcasting career stretched across several radio and television stations, giving him experience in presenting news, current affairs programmes and political discussions.

During his media career, Mbaziira worked with several radio stations, including Voice of Africa Radio, Pearl FM, Suubi FM and Bukedde FM. He later moved into television, where he continued to build his reputation as a presenter interested in politics and issues affecting ordinary Ugandans.

At NBS Television, Mbaziira became known for his involvement in a number of current affairs programmes. His work included programmes such as One on One with Tamale Mirundi, Ensi n’Ebayo and The Eagle, where he engaged with political figures and discussed issues of national importance.

His years in the media also helped him develop a strong connection with the public. Through interviews, political discussions and current affairs programmes, he interacted with politicians, public officials and ordinary citizens, building a profile that would later become important when he entered elective politics.

Mbaziira also became involved in professional leadership within the journalism fraternity. In September 2018, journalists elected him president of the Uganda Journalists Association, defeating Daily Monitor photojournalist Abubaker Lubowa in the election.

He served as president of the Uganda Journalists Association during the 2018-2020 term. His leadership of the journalists’ body came at a time when the media industry was dealing with a number of challenges involving journalists, media freedom and professional standards.

Mbaziira’s educational background is also rooted in journalism. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Islamic University in Uganda and later pursued postgraduate studies in investigative journalism in Turkey.

After spending years behind the microphone and television cameras, Mbaziira eventually decided to enter electoral politics. His transition from journalism to politics was viewed as a natural progression by many who had followed his career and public engagements.

Mbaziira left NBS Television in July 2020 as he prepared to contest for the Kawempe South parliamentary seat. He went on to stand for the position on the National Unity Platform ticket during the 2021 general elections.

In the 2021 election, Mbaziira defeated the then-incumbent Kawempe South MP Mubarak Munyagwa of the Forum for Democratic Change. His victory marked a major transition from media personality to elected political leader.

Mbaziira later parted ways with the National Unity Platform and joined the Democratic Front associated with former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mathias Mpuuga in 2025. His political journey therefore went through significant changes during his time in public office.

He did not seek another parliamentary term in the 2026 general election, bringing his five-year stint in Parliament to an end. His decision meant that he would leave the political arena at the parliamentary level after serving one term as Kawempe South MP.

With his return to Beat FM, Mbaziira is now back in an environment where he spent more than a decade building his career. His new programme is expected to give him another opportunity to engage directly with Ugandans through discussions on current affairs and national issues.

For many listeners who followed his earlier broadcasting career, the return represents a homecoming of sorts for a former broadcaster who moved from the newsroom and studio into Parliament and is now back behind the microphone. Mbaziira’s return to radio could also bring a new perspective to current affairs discussions, drawing from his experiences in journalism and politics.