Kiwanuka makes money while helping his community

By Denis Nsubuga

Godfrey Kiwanuka, operates Voice of Bunamwaya, a community radio service covering Bunamwaya, a Kampala city suburb.

His enterprise puts food on his family’s table and also helps the residents.

A community radio offers a third model of radio broadcasting in addition to commercial and public broadcasting.

Community stations serve geographic societies and communities of interest.

They broadcast content that is popular and relevant to a local, specific audience.

These stations are, in many cases, owned and operated by area councils, NGOs or an individual.

In Uganda, such radios are off air; they use speakers known as Bizindalo as a medium of communication.

In the past, community radio service was a tool of communication between the leaders and people of a particular society. It also helped in disseminating information to people. It was occasionally a non-profit institute.

One could assert that those were days but today like Kiwanuka, many have ventured into the same service as a money- generating enterprise.

Many have gone ahead to copy commercial radios’ programming so that they bring vibrancy into the system.

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Kiwanuka (right) hosting a guest in his studio

Early life

Born in a humble family in Masaka; Kiwanuka never got a chance to go far in formal education. He says this, as a result, prompted him to work diligently to make ends meet in a civilized society.

“I came to Kampala in the early 2000s at the age of 23years. I started by doing different jobs, including hawking second-hand shoes and working as a security guard for a night parking yard,” he recalls.

Despite his meagre income, he always saved an amount for future use.

He knew his savings would, one day, facilitate him in setting up his own business.

Initially, Kiwanuka did not think of a community radio as a business venture.

However, one day he wanted to make an announcement through one of the local radio stations but the procedure was so hectic yet he realized that the people he intended to reach out to might miss the message.

“They are many on-air radio stations. You can never tell whether the people you intend to convey the message to are listening in,” he says.

He states that this is the time he conceived the idea of setting up an effective communications platform for his community.

He says he realised this set-up would facilitate interaction amongst the people and leaders about their development in addition to creating a platform for local businesses to advertise their goods or services.

“I continued saving. However, this time around with a well-built plan of setting up a community radio. I also started listening and learning how radio presenters spoke on air,” he narrates.

Starting business

After months of saving, Kiwanuka had enough to start his business. He used it to buy equipment like an amplifier, two speakers and one microphone. He organized his machinery in a small wooden Kiosk, which he uses as a studio. He then put the two speakers, connected to the system, on a long pole.

In March 2011, his radio Voice of Bunamwaya (Blue FM) started broadcasting programmes after authorization from the Local Council.

“It was quite a difficult undertaking at that time. First, I had few and low-quality machinery. Secondly, it being a new venture, people never warmed up to it instantly. They continuously lamented about the noise that the Bizindalo (speakers) made for them,” he recounts

Nonetheless, residents slowly picked up the idea. Owing it to the growing demand for it service, Voice of Bunamwaya has since became an established set-up, which serves the community diligently. It broadcasts some programmes, from sanitation education and safety awareness to politics and religion.

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The Speakers that help Kiwanuka to communicate to the masses

Kiwanuka makes money

Kiwanuka says he makes much of money from adverts and announcements.

He airs adverts for all kinds of businesses.

He charges from sh2000 to sh4000 every time the advert airs.

“Some people give me adverts that air at least three times a day. The more it is played, the more money the owner pays,” he says.

Others like religious leaders and politicians pay to use the platform when preaching and calling on their voters respectively.

Fruits of his sweat

For the past three years, Kiwanuka says the demand for his service has increased which indicates its impact on the society.

The locals also use it to create awareness on issues concerning morals and livelihood.

“It is a reliable communication platform between the leaders and their people. It has as result contributed to the development of the area,” he says.

From his profits, he has expanded his business by buying good quality machinery.

He has also managed to provide for his family and also employed people including his presenters.

Challenges

“Like any other business, there’re challenges like the expensive electricity and breakdown of machines, among others,”. Kiwanuka says.

Future prospects

His vision is to own a serious commercial radio station.

“In ten years from now, I should own an established on-air radio station. And it is a must with God’s mercy,” he affirms.

He advises the youth to be innovative and hardworking. He asserts that anyone can become an entrepreneur provided he/she notices ventures that can yield money. Believing in it and persistence pays off tremendously.