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TACI task committee
The TACI Jago (Prime Minister) Obbo Richard Josel early this year handed the task of raising sh600million for the TBN project to a committee of 31 eminent persons led by Okecho and Usher Owere. Most activities, including sell of memorabilia like clan labeled T-shirts and mugs, has been online, after the COVID-19 lockdown interrupted earlier plans.
“It was agreed that a radio, owned by the community would not only serve as a voice for unity and development of Padhola, but also act as springboard for other development initiatives under TACI,” said Okecho.
He stated that while Padhola faces many social economic challenges, TACI resolved to prioritize radio as a developmental tool, to inform and educate, and promote her own, and government programmes.
The committee considered that radio is still the dominant mass-medium in Uganda with the widest geographical reach and the highest audiences compared with television (TV), newspapers and other information and communication technologies (ICTs).
Technology, the committee argued, has made radio into more of two-way medium and that it can help bridge the digital divide by providing a powerful tool for information dissemination and access, especially for hard-to-reach rural audiences.
VIDEO: JAGO’S SPEECH
Bench-marking done
The TBN committee revealed last month they have concluded bench-marking with thriving community FM stations such as CBS FM, Voice of Tooro and agreed on a business plan.
The committee has opened collection bank accounts with DFCU Bank Limited, Acacia Branch to ease the fundraising drive.
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.
History of the Jopadhola
The move to go digital through TBN comes a few months after another significant development late last year — the visit by the Luo Council of Elders from Kenya.
The historic visit by the Luo elders marked the start of cordial cultural, economic and political relationships between the descendant of Owiny and Adhola.
“The return of our brother to trace where he left his brother, is not an act of apology, rather it is a remembrance and proof that when we make a decision for the good of our people, it is a decision made in good faith,” Kwar Adhola told the delegation of 12, led by Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Ker Willis Opiyo Otondi.
There was a brief cultural ceremony to mark the reunion of long lost brothers and a communique reiterating the blood relationship between the Jopadhola of eastern Uganda, and the Luo of western Kenya.
The Tororo meeting last year, comes nearly 500 years after the descendants of Adhola and Owiny separated in present day Tororo in Uganda.
According to Prof. P.G. Okoth and Dr. Yokana Ogolla, the Jopadhola were part of migrant groups of Luo people who moved from Bar-El-Ghazel in South Sudan and eventually pressed their way southwards through Teso and Kaberamaido till they reached Budama in present Tororo district around 1500.
Adhola moved with his brother Owiny who led a group through Tororo to western Kenya. They are the present day Luo. The group that remained in Tororo under Adhola later constituted the present Jopadhola ethnic group.
Before Ker Otondi left, he performed a brief ceremony recognising Kwar Adhola as descendant of Adhola and Owiny.
He gave the symbolic royal stool to the Adhola king and said, sit on it. He then said, “Owiny has come to see his brother, Adhola, whom he left in Uganda.” (click to see video)
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ACCOUNT NO (UGX): 01063658295260
ACCOUNT NAME: TIENG ADHOLA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
BANK: DFCU BANK LIMITED, ACACIA BRANCH
SWIFT CODE: DFCUUGKAXXX
ACCOUNT NO (USD): 02063658329257
ACCOUNT NAME: TIENG ADHOLA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
BANK: DFCU BANK LIMITED, ACACIA BRANCH
SWIFT CODE: DFCUUGKAXXX
Treasurer, Constant Othieno Mayende Mobile Money (MTN: 0772 590464 or Airtel: 0751 233470)
Website: Jopadhola.com (CLICK)
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