The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Tororo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Tororo Broadcasting Network Limited (RockCity Radio) management has given contract engineers Willy Ntege and Henry Okello up to December 1, to have the radio’s mast placed on the summit of Tororo Rock ready to transmit.
The engineers will place top of the rock a Guyed Wire 45M high mast plus transmission and generator shelter rooms to power RockCity Radio.
Tororo Broadcasting Network Limited Board chairman Geresom Okecho-Ochwo confirmed engineering works started at the weekend, and will be done by December 1, 2022. He said studio works (acoustic, electrical, sound proofing) plus furnishing and equipment installation works have also started.
“Our humble appeal is to each and everyone who pledged money to fulfil their pledges. We shall in the same way appreciate any new cash pledges towards this cause,” Okecho-Ochwo said. He revealed the escalating costs of construction materials have to a great extent negatively affected TACI’s resource envelope.
The radio that is set to broadcast to most parts of eastern Uganda and western Kenya, will eventually go live at the end of this year after three years of fundraising in the country and in the diaspora.
The latest boost came from President Yoweri Museveni, who fulfilled a government sh200million pledge that was needed by the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution (TACI) to complete installations to power RockCity Radio.
Defence State Minister Jacob Oboth Oboth last month handed over the promised sh200million to the cultural leader of the Jopadhola, HRH Kwar Adhola Moses Stephen Owor, at his palace in Tororo.
Okecho-Ochwo said with the sh200m, the radio that is already on air online, will start live transmission and get onto Ugandans radios by end of year.
“We assure you that we will be on air by end of this year. The radio will be managed purely on commercial basis to generate income for development of our region,” he said.
Kwar Adhola Moses Owor thanked the President for supporting TACI’s communication effort, stressing that the radio would be a great mobilisation tool for both local and central government.
“This radio will be used to tell our people the truth, spread development plans and cultural news. I urge you all to contribute as everyone is capable of making a contribution to grow Padhola,” he said. (WATCH RELATED VIDEO)
Tororo radio on air online already
A Sh600 million funds drive to establish a radio to serve Tororo district and beyond was in first initiated in 2020 by the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution, with appeals going to potential donors in Uganda and abroad. The radio started tests online earlier this year.(click here to listen to ROCKCITY radio ) or (RockCity Radio TORORO)
Close to sh400m has been raised in cash and pledges in the past two years. Area MPs Oboth Oboth and Emmanuel Otaala have already each offered sh10million while NRM electoral chief Tanga Odoi, has offered sh6million..
UCC license costs to the tune of Sh45 million, have already been pledged by the Tororo Municipality area MP, Apollo Yeri. Already in place is a house offered by Ambassador Bernadette Olowo- Freers at Tororo central business district that will be repurposed and wired to host the radio. This will offset a budget of sh6m annually in rent.
There are currently three radio stations in Tororo licensed by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). UCC has allowed all three to operate at an average of 1,500 watts but what was initially approved for RockCity was a 500W FM transmitter, that will not go far for a community radio.
Radio board chair Okecho-Ochwo has therefore said they will be seeking to operate at a higher level and will appeal again to UCC.
First Fundraising
At the first fundraising in November 2020, Kwar Adhola challenged clans in Padhola to spearhead the drive to mobilise support for the radio, which he said will be a main vehicle for communication.
“Our people are praised for being hardworking. Now is the time for the Jopadhola, each of them, to show what they are capable of,” Kwar Adhola said.
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Banking and mobile money details
The TACI radio committee opened collection bank accounts with DFCU Bank Limited, Acacia Branch to ease the fundraising drive.
Following UCC instructions, the TACI radio committee treasurer , Constant Othieno Mayende recently opened a new account in the names of Tororo Broadcasting Network Limited – also in DFCU. It is UGX A/C 0106 00 1027 4194 and USD A/C 0206 00 1027 4200.
TACI have also included a GoFundMe initiative (GoFundMe ) online as one of the ways to raise funds. It is organised by Prof Robert Owor at Albany State University in the US.
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ACCOUNT NO (UGX): 01060010274194
ACCOUNT NAME: TORORO BROADCASTING NETWORK LIMITED
BANK: DFCU BANK LIMITED, ACACIA BRANCH
SWIFT CODE: DFCUUGKAXXX
ACCOUNT NO (USD): 02060010274200
ACCOUNT NAME: TORORO BROADCASTING NETWORK LIMITED
BANK: DFCU BANK LIMITED, ACACIA BRANCH
SWIFT CODE: DFCUUGKAXXX
📌 Treasurer, Constant Othieno Mayende Mobile Money (MTN: 0772 590464 or Airtel: 0751 233470)
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