We judged UBC by its cover
Feb 02, 2006
SIR – I am disappointed and frustrated over the quality of services provided by Radio Uganda (recently baptised UBC-Radio). The pioneer Radio Uganda survived periods of inadequacy in terms of funding, equipment overhaul/replacement and loss of respectable anchors, yet it provided reliable quality
SIR – I am disappointed and frustrated over the quality of services provided by Radio Uganda (recently baptised UBC-Radio). The pioneer Radio Uganda survived periods of inadequacy in terms of funding, equipment overhaul/replacement and loss of respectable anchors, yet it provided reliable quality services.
Its successor is but a pale shadow of its glory in service and reliability.
At this time of politicking, we the neighbours and friends of Uganda desire to follow what is going on. The only way we can do this is through the national channel (red). This, unfortunately, is permanently dead. When it coughs to life, one has to put his/her ears on the receiver to hear anything at Busia, Kenya.
A bill for its (Radio Uganda’s) privatisation was quickly put in place, rushed into Parliament, received cosmetic debate and passed, transforming this agency into a parastatal, UBC-Radio. It was launched in great fanfare, boasts one of the best teams of board members and sometimes claims to rival BBC! What a self-inflicted mediocrity! This broadcaster ranks low regionally. From Arua, you can pick Radio Rwanda, KBC, Radio Zanzibar and Sauti ya Tanzania signals clearly.
Ninety percent of the time, Radio Uganda is dead and when it is on (usually blue channel), it broadcasts in a local dialect that is neither official nor national! I expected quality service for all but alas, I judged the book by its cover, not the content.
Mikairi Ekwadu,
Busia, Kenya
SIR – Allow me to comment on the performance of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, especially UBC TV. They delayed to relay the African Cup of Nations, making us fear we would miss it.
That was going to be the first time a national television has failed to relay an event like that due to financial, other than technical reasons. This brings into question all the hype and motive for the change to UBC. Was the flop of the estimated sh40b from TV viewing licenses the source of the poor shape the corporation is in? UBC TV should shape up before World Cup comes.
Jim Obotho
Jinja
Its successor is but a pale shadow of its glory in service and reliability.
At this time of politicking, we the neighbours and friends of Uganda desire to follow what is going on. The only way we can do this is through the national channel (red). This, unfortunately, is permanently dead. When it coughs to life, one has to put his/her ears on the receiver to hear anything at Busia, Kenya.
A bill for its (Radio Uganda’s) privatisation was quickly put in place, rushed into Parliament, received cosmetic debate and passed, transforming this agency into a parastatal, UBC-Radio. It was launched in great fanfare, boasts one of the best teams of board members and sometimes claims to rival BBC! What a self-inflicted mediocrity! This broadcaster ranks low regionally. From Arua, you can pick Radio Rwanda, KBC, Radio Zanzibar and Sauti ya Tanzania signals clearly.
Ninety percent of the time, Radio Uganda is dead and when it is on (usually blue channel), it broadcasts in a local dialect that is neither official nor national! I expected quality service for all but alas, I judged the book by its cover, not the content.
Mikairi Ekwadu,
Busia, Kenya
SIR – Allow me to comment on the performance of Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, especially UBC TV. They delayed to relay the African Cup of Nations, making us fear we would miss it.
That was going to be the first time a national television has failed to relay an event like that due to financial, other than technical reasons. This brings into question all the hype and motive for the change to UBC. Was the flop of the estimated sh40b from TV viewing licenses the source of the poor shape the corporation is in? UBC TV should shape up before World Cup comes.
Jim Obotho
Jinja