UTV contests new location

May 21, 2006

THE relocation of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) TV, former Uganda Television (UTV), from Nakasero hill lies in balance after UBC management advised against the move.

By Felix Osike
and Charles Etukuri


THE relocation of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) TV, former Uganda Television (UTV), from Nakasero hill lies in balance after UBC management advised against the move.

A technical team has advised that the legal ownership of the land at Kololo summit view, where the satellite earth station and microwave links are to be transferred, should be established before the relocation.

On Friday, contractors brought down several premises housing UBC offices including the library and newsroom and archives that stretch back to 50 years were destroyed.

The team also advised that the TV must be moved to a site with associated facilities to work as soon as possible.
The US$10m 15-acre prime plot that used to house the UBC TV alongside several other ministries, was donated by the Government to AYA Investments, a wheat flour processing firm owned by two Sudanese brothers, to build a hotel for next year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

On March 23, UBC chairman Chris Katuramu wrote to former information minister Dr. Nsaba Buturo advising against the relocation.

The board said the relocation would affect the TV operations.

“It’s our considered opinion that the proposal to transfer UBC TV from its current location is not viable and it will severely hamper the role of UBC due to the following: strategic spot for live coverage of events of public and national importance; UBC studios at the Nakasero are strategically positioned at Nakasero hill, which is the highest position in central Kampala and has a clear omni-directional view of all parts of the country,” the letter said.

It adds, “With 75-metre mast, it commands a clear line of sight convenient for micro-wave linkage to many sister locations from where we normally carry out live coverage through line of sight.” The sister locations are Kololo, Makerere University, Parliament, Namboole stadium, Rubaga and Namirembe cathedrals and Old Kampala Mosque.

“The value of this location as far as live coverage is concerned is very great. Its loss will be felt for a very long period of time.”

The board also argued that “the structure as depicted by the artistic impression will deprive the satellite uplink station at Nakasero of its critical requirement 906,64 degrees east.”

Another reason was that most of the TV equipment would be destroyed in transit. “Some of the equipment will not work again if they are transferred,” read the letter.

The letter said the cost of the transfer could stretch into millions of dollars, which the Government might fail to meet.
Following the letter, the President directed Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya to set up a probe committee chaired by Dr. Jesudan Mwanje from the defence ministry. Prof. F. Tusubira of Makerere University, Patrick Masambu of Uganda Communications Commission, Eng. Proscovia Njuki and Eng. Jonas Banturaki are members.

Their report, dated March 29, said, “It is technically possible to relocate from Nakasero provided the Government meets the costs involved.”

The report warns, “The uplink control may experience some damage during the transfer to the new location. Similarly, the wave-guides may have to be replaced.”

It also recommended that, “the earth satellite station for receiving external TV stations currently at Nakasero should be relocated to Kololo, a two-way fixed microwave link be installed to connect Broadcasting House on Nile Avenue to Kololo.”

After studying the two reports, the former Cabinet recommended that UBC be given US$5m to relocate.

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