Makerere University Campus FM frequency fraudulently given to a pastor
By Our Correspondent
Sad news The Drone Media has gathered is that the Makerere University Journalism and Mass Communication Department radio frequency was fraudulently given to a pastor.
It should be remembered that about 10 years ago some pastor was conned by a Busoga MP of about sh600millions in a fake radio sale, but he somehow maneuvered.
Unfortunately, the pastor transferred his loss to Makerere University Campus radio frequency. He reportedly used Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) to steal Campus FM’s frequency.
After several fake meetings to negotiate amongst other issues offering a limited frequency to the radio station, following the transfer of 107.0MHz to Salt FM in Kampala; UCC later on fraudulently gave out the radio frequency.
According to Dr. William Tayebwa, the Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication then, UCC used the excuse of the accumulated broadcasting license arrears owed to the commission, which also contributed to withdrawing the station’s frequency.
“As a department, we continue to dispute the decision by UCC to withdraw our license, because Campus FM is a training lab just like chemistry or physics labs,” Tayebwa said.
On January 14th 2005, UCC assigned a frequency of 107.0 MHz to Campus FM which was followed by radio test transmission and the first live coverage of the University’s graduation ceremony in April 2005.
On 30th May 2011, the UCC Executive Director officially wrote to the Journalism and Communication department, informing them about the withdrawal of Campus FM’s frequency due to failure to complete installations of the radio transmitter by 15th April 2011, as required by the Commission; and also due to the accumulation of the annual license fees.
The license fees cost sh3 million annually and by September 2009, the station had accumulated up to sh9 million in arrears and sh15 million by September 2011.
Tayebwa said the department received equipment from United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO), to sort the technical issues and they were to be installed.
“The department was handling the technical issues and the UCC decided to wave the license fees, then the University had no option but to pay,” Tayebwa said.
The other issue discussed with UCC was the possibility of opening up more than one station; for training and commercial purposes, which never was.
“Vision Group had expressed interest and had already submitted a proposal to work with Makerere in operating Campus FM, but UCC did not wait.”
Initially, the proposal presented by Vision Group in 2010 was to purchase Campus FM, but it was rejected. Surprisingly, when the department planning meet Vision Group to see what they could offer the frequency went to the pastor.
Makerere University Holding Company, a body established by the University to generate funds requested the department to explore the possibility of starting Campus TV.
“The department is looking at partnering with private players but in all our negotiations, students will be the top priority because they have to provide the human resource,” Tayebwa said.
According to Tayebwa, everyone who comes in will have the obligation of providing training studios and a commercial one.