Public-speaking coach and communication strategist Dr. Ronnie Mich Egwang has opened up about the challenges he faced while working in television and radio.
He revealed that some of his toughest experiences came during his time as a host on Tusker Project Fame in Kenya.
Speaking about the opportunity, Egwang recalled being recruited by Beka Magunda, who was then Managing Director of Uganda Breweries before taking up a similar role at Kenya Breweries.
Magunda approached him to host Tusker Project Fame as part of the show’s rebranding efforts. However, settling into the role was not without difficulties.
“When I did Tusker Project Fame, I got in, and there was a gentleman called Beka Magunda. He used to be the MD of Uganda Breweries and moved to Kenya, where he also acquired the same position at Kenya Breweries. He called me in need of my services to be the host of Tusker Project Fame because there was a rebranding that was taking shape.”
According to him, some members of the production team were initially unwelcoming, partly because he was from Uganda.
He also revealed that he experienced tension with his co-host for nearly three years before they eventually developed a good working relationship.
“One of the difficulties was that a member of the crew did not like me because I was from Uganda. Even with my co-host, we had friction for almost two or three years before we actually started hitting it off. You see it happening there, but behind the scenes, it wasn’t always rosy.”
Beyond interpersonal challenges, Egwang said television came with technical and appearance-related pressures that audiences rarely see.
He recalled struggling with camera positioning, on-screen presentation, and makeup mishaps.
“And now you have to struggle. You struggle with which right camera to focus on, and whether I look good in the camera. The third show that I did, there was somebody who did makeup for me and left me looking like a ghost. I looked white. It was bad. And I had to do the show like that, and the bosses were like, ‘Dude, never do it again.’”
Egwang added that he encountered similar challenges while working in South Africa, where a hairstyling session went wrong before a production.
“I have had so many hiccups. In South Africa, there was a lady who offered to do my hair, but she ended up messing it up.”
Reflecting on the differences between television and radio, Egwang noted that television places presenters under constant visual scrutiny, while radio offers more room for error.
“Those are some of the challenges with television. Unlike radio, where listeners can call in and engage with you, you may not immediately know whether you’re messing up or flying high. So that’s the challenge with television.”
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