Prime
I have had over 50 online dating profiles
I always wanted to be a sniper and a radio presenter but after getting the latter, I discovered it does not really pay the bills. I love working in the background, looking out for people, being responsible for a successful project. Personally, I do not like being in the spotlight, especially the camera.
What you need to know:
- THE KNIGHT: Andrew Kitamirike is the multimedia content executive, data analyst and a digital rights manager at D-Mark Co. Ltd. He spoke to Godfrey Lugaaju about work, life and love.
Tell us about yourself?
My given name is Andrew Kitamirike although I am commonly known as Don Andrea which is my online identity. I am a father and a husband with a big obsession for music, TV series and video games.
I am a Journalist by profession with a four year experience in Radio Broadcast. My work at D-Mark is all about ensuring music is copyrighted online so that artistes get paid for their music. (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, Shazam, YouTube etc.)
What do you like the most about your job?
I love working with data because of its predictability. I also enjoy being among the first people to listen to Ugandan music before it is released.
Your work requires creativity, how do you keep yourself creative?
I follow YouTube channels, websites, Twitter handles, forums among others that deal directly in what I do. I also watch a lot of series and it gets interesting borrowing an idea from a TV show, localising it for the Ugandan audience.
What is your experience of finding love online
All I can say is you do not go out looking for love; it finds you. The truth is, the last place I expected to find a love was on Facebook. Before I settled down with my girlfriend I had over 50 online dating profiles. My profile was on every website you can think of. But I ended up with someone who knew me from a totally different platform altogether. My girlfriend was a big fan during my radio days in 2009-2013. At that time, she was completing her senior six, we did not meet until 2015 although we were friends on Facebook and exchanged silly stuff over the years. We started dating mid-2016.
What irritates you?
Listening to someone speak without facts to back up his allegations. Remember, I am a data analyst and facts always speak for me, which in most cases leads to people calling me arrogant.
Who is your ideal woman?
Educated, intelligent, social and above all, from a good family.
What is your definition of love?
Love is all about finding someone who does not judge you. Someone you are comfortable with. If you can comfortably do silly things in-front of that person and they do not get pissed, just know she or he is the one.
Any particular female celebrity you crush on?
I Love Irene Ntale. I first saw her play the guitar at Watoto, then a few months later, I hear she has quit church and next thing I know, LOVE LETTER ft Bebe Cool is dominating the airwaves. I just love her innocent childish personality.
What have you learnedabout Ugandan female musicians from relating with them?
These ladies face extremely huge challenges compared to the men. Almost all producers, managers, promoters, Radio/TV presenters, bloggers want to sleep with them before rendering any service. This has forced upcoming musicians to throw themselves on every Tom, Dick and Harry because they are desperate for a breakthrough. One time, I got an invitation from a mid-level female artist to go meet her at JOKAS Hotel. Apparently, she wanted to strike a working partnership deal with me that did not involve money. A few have managed to handle themselves well, but the biggest percentage is prey for music managers, presenter and rich guys.
What is your normal day like?
I always wake up at 6:45am, say a quick silent prayer, do 20 sit-ups, take a shower, dress up and leave for work. All this happens in 30min. I can never leave the house without kissing goodbye to the two important people in my life; my daughter and girlfriend. Even if they are still asleep, I do it. On my way to work, I check my mails to see what is new in the industry and also see the music to be submitted for caller tunes. By 8:00am, I am on my desk with my breakfast, command downloads for the music.
What is your education background?
I paid for my university education on a salary of Shs250,000. But the hustle paid off. Right now, I study mainly online because the Ugandan curriculum is just a bunch of non-practical courses. Despite the conditions, I now hold an Advanced Diploma in Big Data Analytics from Queensland University of Technology in Australia.
