YAMBIO, July 28 (Gurtong) - The long-awaited state FM Radio of Western Equatoria State is finally on air after its successful launch last week.
By Anikumbo Mathew Aime
The radio station that commenced transmission last Monday, July 27, has been established by the State Ministry of Information and Communication headed by Colonel Joseph Ngere Paciko.
The FM is known as Yambio FM and can be accessed at frequency 90.0, and covers the whole State from Nagero County to Mundri East (Kediba).
“Since your government doesn’t give you false promises, again we promise that before the end of this year you will have television services”, said Colonel Ngere as he addressed an enthralled crowd during celebrations last week to mark this year’s Martyrs’ Day in Yambio.
Colonel Ngere, who is also the Western Equatoria State Deputy Governor, said his Ministry is still working on modalities to equip the State radio station so that people can be able to call and also extend coverage to social events like football matches.
Currently, anyone with any information has to physically deliver the particular information to the station as it lacks external linkages like telephones and internet.
The public has welcomed the new development with great joy and has appreciated the State Government’s leadership for its efforts to bring information closer to the people.
So far, the station airs a morning program between 6:00 AM and 10 AM, an afternoon program that runs from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and an evening program thereafter, all of which are supplemented by various musical interludes.
In a bid to foster peace and identify with the communities in the state, the station has launched a call for the different ethnic groups to forward their songs for airplay.
Further reports indicate that The Catholic Church Diocese of Tambura, Yambio is also working on establishing a radio station.
Meanwhile, Colonel Ngere urged the state’s residents to develop ways that could see them benefit from the 70 percent of the CPA celebration project’s fund in readiness for the celebrations early next year.
“Eighty thousand bricks are needed for the construction of the stadium for the upcoming CPA celebration to be conducted in January next year Yambio. Area residents can therefore reap economic benefits from engaging in production and transportation of the bricks”, said Colonel Ngere in his lengthy speech during the morning occasion.
Responding to complaints and suggestions by the officials of the local branch of the Chamber of Commerce, Colonel Ngere said that owing to the fact that there was a free market economy, higher prices for agricultural produce will motivate local agricultural producers.
“Imagine what would happen to Juba residents if Uganda was forbidden to export food to Juba”, he posed.
The Chamber of Commerce officials had earlier complained that locally produced cassava floor is all being bought by unscrupulous middlemen and called for Government intervention in a bid to quell a possible famine.
The event ended in the evening with a football tournament dubbed ‘Dr John Garang Football Tournament’ that involved all the 11 teams in Yambio.
There was also a candle lighting ceremony to commemorate the last hours of the life of the late SPLM leader and hero Dr Garang.
The celebrations were attended by hundreds of the state’s residents as well as key Government officials who included State Ministers and Advisors, political parties’ representatives, State Traditional Authority Leaders among other guests.