Hannah Arinaitwe | From Watoto to Power FM and UBC

Today, we’re taking you to Power FM, home to one of the most articulate radio presenters in Uganda, Hannah Arinaitwe. In this article, Hannah explains everything about her, right her background, to journalism onto her hobbies. Enjoy the narration! You can follow Arinaitwe on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Who is Hannah Arinaitwe?

Hannah Arinaitwe describes herself as a “cheerful, proactive young lady.” She works with UBC TV, where she hosts a show in collaboration with the Office of the IGG. The program, named “Yo Space,” provides a platform for young people to voice their opinions on combating corruption in Uganda. It airs every 5 pm on UBC. Additionally, she hosts a radio show called “The Weekend Agenda” on Power FM every Saturday morning from 6 to 10 am. Reflecting on her upbringing, Hannah Arinaitwe said she is the eldest of three children with both parents working as teachers. The Radio empress attributes her productivity to her family background. Arinaitwe attended Aga Khan Primary School for her primary education and Biryanyanji Girls SS for all six years of high school, before enrolling at Makerere University to pursue her four-year Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communication.

How did Hannah Arinaitwe know journalism was her destiny?

She explained that she felt destined for her current path during her form six vacation. Throughout her life, Hannah Arinaitwe consistently found herself in leadership roles within the media. These included being an Information and Library prefect and emceeing school events. Her interest in storytelling further solidified her conviction. She recalled a pivotal moment during her senior six when she prayed for guidance between pursuing law or journalism. The divine answer came when she was offered the opportunity to undergo radio training at Power FM Uganda, confirming her path.

Which was the toughest moment in the life of Hannah Arinaitwe?

Hannah Arinaitwe confesses numerous tough experiences without singling out a specific one. However, she emphasized her recent struggles during the organization of her inaugural event for her venture, Art4Change. According to Hannah, Art4Change is a company merging art and content creation to raise awareness about community issues in Uganda. She recounts the stress of assuming the roles of a founder and CEO, managing finances, budgeting, and balancing responsibilities alongside work and school commitments. She shared how the pressure often led to emotional breakdowns, questioning herself and her choices. Nonetheless, she expressed gratitude for the support of her family, friends, and close circle during this trying time. Despite the challenges, she affirmed that the event’s success validated her efforts and made the tough times worthwhile. Hannah Arinaitwe remarked, “That was my toughest moment. It was my first time being in the shoes of a founder. Handling CEO duties, handling money issues, budgeting, and juggling that with work and school and the pressures of delivering a first-class event.”

What does she go through seated in front of a microphone for hours?

Hannah Arinaitwe mentioned the perception that laughing alone might make one appear eccentric. However, she sees it as simply enjoying oneself to the fullest. She expressed familiarity with the situation, noting her years of experience in radio, stating, “After years of practicing radio for a good time, I think I’m now entering my third year. I began in 2020, 2021, 2022. So this is like my third year entering my fourth year.” She conveyed that with repetition, one becomes accustomed to having fun. Furthermore, she described herself as outgoing, stating, “Again, me, I’m a loud person, these things do not scare me. I’m a very entertaining person that I even entertain myself. So I’m used to that.”

How did she join radio and TV?

Hannah Arinaitwe reminisced her initial involvement with radio, “So for radio, I was in the Young Vacist Fellowship committee at Watoto church in 2020.” Despite her productivity in the committee, she and her friend Joshua Caleb were selected to host a live show called the Block Party on Saturday evenings. Arinaitwe says it was so thrilling, especially with the show streaming live on Facebook. Her family and friends, both local and abroad, tuned in. Hannah noted, “So after that stream live, I think I did a great job. So I was called in to start training for radio.” She remembers this blessing coinciding with a time of prayer and reflection on her future path. She told us about her her conversation then with God. Hannah spoke to God during her dilemma, “I was like, ‘God, I’m getting you. You want me to take this line? I hear you and I’m doing it.'”

How about TV?

“Now for TV, I was recommended because of my YouTube channel,” said Hannah Arinaitwe. She emphasized that YouTube was a primary platform for her. There, she shares videos related to journalism, documentaries, news, and motivation. Hannah Arinaitwe refers to her YouTube channel as her online CV. She described how it felt receiving a call one day, where she was informed, “Hey, Hannah, we’ve watched your YouTube videos and we liked that. We like what you’re doing at such a young age. Your content aligns clearly with the values of the show we want you to do. Can you come in and let’s have a conversation about doing this show?” This unexpected opportunity marked her entry into television.

What is the biggest achievement of Hannah Arinaitwe?

In a reflective tone, Hannah Arinaitwe shared her evolving perspective on her biggest achievements in the media field. Initially, she regarded winning the 2021 Media Challenge Initiative Awards as her pinnacle moment, specifically being recognized as the best news anchor of the year. However, with the passage of time, her focus shifted towards her organization, Art4Change. Now her biggest achievement is marking its establishment and the successful launch of its inaugural art exhibition in Kakiri, Wakiso district. Hannah Arinaitwe gets so much satisfaction in realizing her vision. This involved amalgamating art and content creation to effect change within communities. Another big deal for her is her ability to balance academic pursuits, professional commitments, extracurricular activities, and personal relationships over the past three years.

Other talents she secretly has?

Speaking about her diverse talents, Hannah Arinaitwe highlighted her proficiency in music, dance, and drama, stating. “I am a very talented music, dance, and drama individual,” said Hannah. For the TV empress, these skills come naturally and she thinks they are ingrained within her DNA, “It’s literally in my blood, in my system.” Hannah’s inclination towards social media and content creation also plays a significant role in showcasing her abilities, as she mentioned, “I’m a social media person and I do content creation and I post a lot.”

In moments of overwhelming stress, Hannah Arinaitwe shared that she seeks solace in her parents’ support. Hannah Arinaitwe confesses, “Nobody understands me better than my parents.” She adds, “They do not just listen to me but they offer physical solutions to my problems and to my overwhelming schedules,”

What brands is Hannah Arinaitwe associated to?

The journalist has a primarily involvement with UBC and Power FM. However, she noted her extensive experience as a content creator, stating, “All I can say is that as a content creator, I’ve worked with a good number of companies.” She listed several entities she collaborated with, including Mind Bus Uganda, Digital Bikes, the US Embassy, Makerere University, Vine Entertainment, and numerous others.

Hannah Arinaitwe shared her favorite preferences, exclaiming, “Favorite dish? Chicken. Anything with chicken is my favorite dish.” Her dream destination is the Maldives. When asked about her favorite color, she emphatically replied, “Purple, purple, purple.” Regarding her preferred outfit, she remarked, “Anything that flatters my body.” On the topic of her favorite song and movie, she revealed, “My favorite movie is ‘Mr. And Mrs. Smith,'” and added, “Unfortunately, I can’t choose a favorite, I have too many.”

What would Hannah tell her younger self and what’s her biggest fear?

According to Hannah Arinaitwe, if she could offer advice to her younger self, she would stress the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle. She would also tell her past self to begin social media engagement at an earlier age. She expressed regret for not taking social media seriously during her senior six vacation. As successful as she is, Hannah thinks it could have propelled her further in her endeavors. Arinaitwe also urges young ladies to continue being proactive, citing its long-term benefits. Additionally, she disclosed a profound fear of failure, particularly due to her history of success and achievement. Arinaitwe expressed genuine apprehension about the possibility of not living up to her reputation as a winner and achiever.

As a lady, how do you deal with sexualization?

For me, in the industry, I have been able to face this challenge because I have extremely high principles and high values. People who know me, who I’ve associated with, know that there are certain things I do not tolerate, and also the way I carry myself and behave among people. It’s hard for people to just engage in sexual conversation or sexual innuendos or sexual abuse because I don’t even entertain that level of conversation in the career space. So that’s how I’ve been able to control it. Yeah, my values are extremely high, my principles extremely high. Those who know me know that my conversations or like I do not associate myself with that sexual side.