For years, Mwasuze Mutya was one of Uganda’s most beloved talk shows, a space where people shared raw, emotional stories about life, love, and survival. But for its host, Faridah Nakazibwe, the show was much more than television. It was personal.
Speaking in a recent interview with Ruth Kalibala Bwanika, Faridah revealed that the idea behind Mwasuze Mutya was inspired by her own desire to learn from others and connect with the world beyond her childhood bubble.
“I lacked exposure,” she said candidly. “I was in a single sex school throughout secondary and later joined IUIU, which is very strict. I didn’t get to experience much of the real world. Mwasuze Mutya became my way of connecting with people and learning about different life experiences.”
She explained that while she grew up in a comfortable home, her upbringing shielded her from many of life’s harsh realities. “I was a planned kid because I had everything necessary growing up, so I didn’t know about the suffering that happens outside. Our parents provided but rarely sat down to talk to us about life.”
Interestingly, Faridah shared that the idea for the show existed long before it aired. “The concept sat on my manager’s desk for three years before it was approved,” she revealed. “When it finally got the green light, I poured my heart into it. Every episode was a lesson, every guest a new perspective.”
However, the same show that gave her purpose and growth eventually became emotionally heavy. After more than a decade of listening to painful stories from guests, Faridah said she began to feel emotionally drained.
“It became too much at some point,” she admitted. “Some of the stories broke me deeply. I couldn’t separate my emotions from the work anymore, and that’s one of the reasons I decided to leave television in 2023.”
Faridah’s time on Mwasuze Mutya may have ended, but her impact both as a host and a voice of empathy remains one of the most memorable in Uganda’s TV history.
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