Radio Uganda installs satellite
Oct 21, 2002
TECHNICIANS have started installing a satellite up-link station transmitter at Radio Uganda Kampala on Nile Avenue that will relay audio and video signals to 22 down-link stations upcountry
By Edris Kisambira
TECHNICIANS have started installing a satellite up-link station transmitter at Radio Uganda Kampala on Nile Avenue that will relay audio and video signals to 22 down-link stations upcountry.
The development is part of the health ministry’s World Bank-funded $3m (about sh5.4b) FM/VHF radio transmitter project, which started in 1999.
The project is aimed at widening awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) especially HIV/AIDS.
The project was delayed by a wrangle between the ministries of health and information over who should execute the programme.
The contract had been initially given to an Indian firm, Gujarat Communications & Electronics Limited to execute at a cost of $2.6m (about sh4.3b).
However, it was later awarded to a British firm, Ashford International, which is executing it at sh5.4b.
The project is now in its final stages and will be half-finished once the up-link is complete.
The long overdue project was initially aimed at benefiting the Information, Education and Communication initiatives of the first health project, which has now been broken down to target the Ministry of Health’s STI project.
Five of the 10 upcountry stations have been installed by a U.S. based firm RSI Vertex, who were sub contracted by Ashford. Those so far installed include Arua, Lira, Masindi, Hoima and Fort Portal.
The others pending installation are Moyo, Kitgum, Gulu, Kotido and Moroto. There has been difficulty in moving equipment in northern Uganda because of the rebel insurgency.
Radio Uganda and Uganda Television (UTV) will now move away from the old analogue technology to digital technology to improve the service.
While the old analogue equipment that is being phased out could up-link three channels, the new facility can up-link up to seven audio channels and one Video (TV) channel.
TECHNICIANS have started installing a satellite up-link station transmitter at Radio Uganda Kampala on Nile Avenue that will relay audio and video signals to 22 down-link stations upcountry.
The development is part of the health ministry’s World Bank-funded $3m (about sh5.4b) FM/VHF radio transmitter project, which started in 1999.
The project is aimed at widening awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) especially HIV/AIDS.
The project was delayed by a wrangle between the ministries of health and information over who should execute the programme.
The contract had been initially given to an Indian firm, Gujarat Communications & Electronics Limited to execute at a cost of $2.6m (about sh4.3b).
However, it was later awarded to a British firm, Ashford International, which is executing it at sh5.4b.
The project is now in its final stages and will be half-finished once the up-link is complete.
The long overdue project was initially aimed at benefiting the Information, Education and Communication initiatives of the first health project, which has now been broken down to target the Ministry of Health’s STI project.
Five of the 10 upcountry stations have been installed by a U.S. based firm RSI Vertex, who were sub contracted by Ashford. Those so far installed include Arua, Lira, Masindi, Hoima and Fort Portal.
The others pending installation are Moyo, Kitgum, Gulu, Kotido and Moroto. There has been difficulty in moving equipment in northern Uganda because of the rebel insurgency.
Radio Uganda and Uganda Television (UTV) will now move away from the old analogue technology to digital technology to improve the service.
While the old analogue equipment that is being phased out could up-link three channels, the new facility can up-link up to seven audio channels and one Video (TV) channel.