Soroti church radios sack journalists
Mar 07, 2011
SOROTI Catholic Diocese Development Organisation (SOCADIDO) has fired eight employees of its radio stations.
By Simon Naulele
SOROTI Catholic Diocese Development Organisation (SOCADIDO) has fired eight employees of its radio stations.
The move comes less than a month after the death of the chairperson board of governors, Vincent Ogwang, who was also the Soroti district information officer.
The rest of the radio employees are also threatening to quit.
“The radios have lost listenership. People call to find out why some of the presenters have disappeared from air,†one of the employees said.
He said the listeners were asking why the radios were playing music throughout the day.
The affected employees are mainly from Kyoga Veritas Radio and Delta FM, which form Bishop Wandera Development Information Centre.
Patrick Menya, the general manager declined to comment on the matter.
“My hands are tied. The orders came from above. Since this institution is church-founded, talk to the bishop,†he said.
Bishop Emmanuel Obbo said he did not know what was happening because he has been out of office for two weeks.
“I have been attending meetings,†he said on phone, adding: “Why don’t you go and find out from the root (radios).â€
According to sources, the sacked employees were accused of being involved in politics.
Those fired from Kyoga Veritas Radio are Florence Iyogil, who was presenting the Gospel Show, David Opio, a former acting programmes manager and presenter of the Morning Riser programme, Favia Alupo, who was co-presenting with Opio, Denis Ajaru, a production manager and presenter of Ramble, and Emmanuel Eeru, popularly known as ‘paper boy’, a presenter of the Veritas programme.
Those sacked from Delta FM, are John Paul Eritu of Relax for Delta, Francis Eninu, the Kumam news anchor and Kumam programme presenter, and Catherine Akajo of Enerata programme.
“We were told to do internal interviews on March 25. But when we came to work on Monday, we were told by the askari not to access the premises,†said one of the people who were fired.
“We were not given a reason as to why we were sacked,†he added.
SOROTI Catholic Diocese Development Organisation (SOCADIDO) has fired eight employees of its radio stations.
The move comes less than a month after the death of the chairperson board of governors, Vincent Ogwang, who was also the Soroti district information officer.
The rest of the radio employees are also threatening to quit.
“The radios have lost listenership. People call to find out why some of the presenters have disappeared from air,†one of the employees said.
He said the listeners were asking why the radios were playing music throughout the day.
The affected employees are mainly from Kyoga Veritas Radio and Delta FM, which form Bishop Wandera Development Information Centre.
Patrick Menya, the general manager declined to comment on the matter.
“My hands are tied. The orders came from above. Since this institution is church-founded, talk to the bishop,†he said.
Bishop Emmanuel Obbo said he did not know what was happening because he has been out of office for two weeks.
“I have been attending meetings,†he said on phone, adding: “Why don’t you go and find out from the root (radios).â€
According to sources, the sacked employees were accused of being involved in politics.
Those fired from Kyoga Veritas Radio are Florence Iyogil, who was presenting the Gospel Show, David Opio, a former acting programmes manager and presenter of the Morning Riser programme, Favia Alupo, who was co-presenting with Opio, Denis Ajaru, a production manager and presenter of Ramble, and Emmanuel Eeru, popularly known as ‘paper boy’, a presenter of the Veritas programme.
Those sacked from Delta FM, are John Paul Eritu of Relax for Delta, Francis Eninu, the Kumam news anchor and Kumam programme presenter, and Catherine Akajo of Enerata programme.
“We were told to do internal interviews on March 25. But when we came to work on Monday, we were told by the askari not to access the premises,†said one of the people who were fired.
“We were not given a reason as to why we were sacked,†he added.