SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

HUNDREDS TURN UP FOR THE ANNUAL RADIO RETREAT 

Hundreds of Radio Coordinators, Fans and Communication Directors from several Adventist churches have called for a more comprehensive network geared at promoting the activities of the church's radio station within the region. 

Their call was made during the annual Prime Radio Retreat held at Kireka SDA Primary School in Kira Sub County, Wakiso district on Sunday 22^nd May. The school is located adjacent to the radio station building.    

The annual retreat organized by the Central Uganda Conference [CUC] together with Prime Radio is geared at streamlining the activities of the radio station with those of the Conference and the church at large. 

Several members turned up including Pastors, Church Elders, Communication Directors, Radio Coordinators and fans club members. 

These came from all the five zones of the Central Uganda Conference including Kampala, Mukono, Katikamu, Masaka and Mityana. They basically represented their church boards and fans club committees at the grass root. 

Deliberating during the half-day retreat, the participants urged that there was need to undertake further promotional measures in order to entice many others to listen to this radio station. 

Speaking on their behalf, Salongo Kaana, the chairperson of Mukono zone Funs Club, said that the meeting was extremely useful in bringing together various radio listeners to discuss and decide on issues that will promote Christ's Ministry in the country. 

He said that he was overwhelmed by the return of several radio listeners who had earlier abandoned the radio because of some past challenges. 

"I have the pleasure to welcome many of you who have turned up today. This event is likely to help us brainstorm and decide on several issues affecting our radio," said Salongo Kaana.

 

The Managing Director of Prime Radio Engineer Fred Nkayivu said that the presence of such members is a clear indication that the work of this radio station is gaining momentum.

   

"The work of Prime Radio is sometimes very challenging. At times one may wish to quit… But when we see many of you gathering right here, we feel greatly honored  and gain hope….," said Nkayivu 

He revealed that since July last year, a number of successes have been registered including acquisition of a brand new transmitter, improvement of the on-air studio, and winning more souls to Christ. 

During the same retreat, the widow to the late Rtd. Ministerial Pastor Nsereko Yakuze commended the role played by Prime Radio during and after the death of her husband. Pr. Nsereko died last month Mulago National Referral Hospital after succumbing to a brain hemorrhage.   

However, the widow says that Prime Radio has remained her comforter in the absence of her husband. Many other people have also described Prime radio as their favorite as a result of the nature of Programming and the soothing music played on air.  

Mrs. Nsereko appealed to Christians allover to always be prepared to face any challenge and not lose hope. 

The annual retreat also saw the re-launch of various promotional radio activities including the famous "Entebbe ya Prime Radio" for the year 2011. The annual competition targets participation of respective SDA districts. 

Elder Paul Mawejje, the Promotions Manager, Prime Radio said that this year's event will see the winner of "Entebbe ya Prime Radio" also driving away in a brand new car and several other gifts. 

He asked the representatives to mobilize and get prepared to take part in the event and many other activities that will precede the event. 

At the same retreat, Elder George Mpagi Ssewanyana was shown in as the new President of the national Funs Club. He is set to be sworn in at a function to be organized later.

 

Prime Radio 91.9 &94.6fm

Report to the Delegates attending the 2011 CUC Radio Cordinators' & Fans Session held at Prime Radio Kireka

 

Preamble

I salute you all in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ. I want to take this opportunity to commend you all for the efforts rendered towards the sustenance of this radio station by giving in your physical, moral, financial and spiritual support.  May the almighty God bless you abundantly.

 

This report is a representative of the big picture of Prime radio, its operations, achievements, challenges, and future expectations.

 

Our previous session was held on the 18^th. July 2010 at Kireka, and a lot has been realized from that session under the theme: “2010, the Year of Success”

 

As Radio Management we still

• Aim at reaching the station vision of “Becoming the leading Christian Radio Station, Fostering Social and Economic Development Through Speaking Messages of Hope in Jesus Christ”
• Bringing to light, and promoting various church activities eg fundraisings, camp meetings, music launch, not forgetting spiritual growth amongst members.
• Informing, entertaining and educating the listener, which is the ultimate role of the media in the country
• Encouraging SDA listeners understand their role towards this radio station and contributing towards its sustenance
• Uplifting the image of the church right from grassroot to the supreme General Conference
• Helping respective staff and church members understand and uphold the various beliefs and doctrines of the SDA church.

 

Notable Achievements in Programming

1)      Our Counseling, Lwaki Nze and Sonyiwa programs have saved many lives of were in danger to the point of death.

 

2)      More souls are being won to Christ through our “Bwatyo Bwayogera” Mukama programs. We have had several testimonies wherever we have visited of people who have walked to respective churches and got baptized because our preaching. Of recent, we baptized 18 souls who accepted Christ.

 

Ø      Our news team has tried to cover most of the church news events, despite the challenge that sometimes we are not informed of the on-going events or news worth functions.

Nakazadde Program

This arrangement was resumed in the month of July 2010 basing on its core advantages and expectations as follows:

 

i)        Enable our dear listener get acquainted with Prime radio operations

ii)       Encourage and motivate the listener to contribute towards the enormous challenges facing the radio

iii)     Enable our presenters associate with their listeners in a more parental to child manner.

The arrangement has, well, registered several successes including raising money for the station, but again it has lots of challenges.

 

Although we have always allowed Nakazadde members to feature in almost every on-air presentation, it remains a challenge to the quality of programs, especially “Bwatyo Bwayogera Mukama” programs.

 

In some cases, the Nakazadde people have not responded, hence missing out on the listener expectations. These and many others have prompted us to halt this program for sometime.

Funs Club

We have been working with our esteemed listeners to rejuvenate the Fans’ Club Association in various Zones including Kampala Zone, Mukono zone, Mityana zone and Katikamu zone. Masaka zone. On 1^st May 2011, we elected the National Fans Club President [Elder George Mpagi Sewanyana] and part of his committee. The new president will call for another general meeting on another date to fill in the missing posts.

 

We have also maintained 15minutes every Friday to help promote mobilization and re-organization of the fans club.

 

Other Successes

 

The 3kw Transmitter

In May last year, we initiated a campaign to acquire a new transmitter after realizing that the old one was no longer able to transmit our signal to a wider range. The transmitter campaign ended in August, with a total collection of close to [62m shillings].

 

We thank the Almighty God that the brand new, digital, 3kw Italian transmitter arrived in the country on 15^th.Sept.2010 and was installed on the 19^th of October 2010. Details of the financial expenditures and processes have been attached.

 

The acquisition of a new transmitter enabled us to re-connect Masaka region, by installing the old transmitter at our Masaka booster station at Kako. We are now proud that our signal can traverse almost all districts in the western part of the country, reaching areas of Mbarara, Bushenyi, Kiruhura, Kyenjojo, Katuna boarder, Mubende, Kiboga, Busoga sub-region up to Busia boarder , Nakasongola, Kaberamaido and stray signals to Lira, and many others.

We therefore, want to commend the pastors especially those Kampala zone for spearheading this campaign and making it a success. We can not under estimate the role played by the General SDA community.

New Studio furniture

Recently we acquired some new studio furniture which gave our studio a new look.We have also repaired and replaced some of our old office furniture.

 

Entebbe ya Prime 2010

In the month of October 2010, we held celebrations to mark eight years of Prime radio’s existence in the media industry. The celebrations were preceded by a 2-month promotion code-named Entebbe ya Prime. Like we earlier said the promotion was geared at increasing our listenership, and applauding our pastors for the work well-done.

 

The following districts took part in this promotion: Kampala Buwanguzi, Makerere, Najjanankumbi, Mukono, Kayunga, Njeru, Ntenjeru, Lugazi, Seeta, Kireka, Nakaseke, Kyanja, Maganjo, Busega, Mityana, Katikamu, Entebbe, Ndese, Makindye, Luzira, Kikajjo, Kiryoka, Nswanjere, Luweero,

 

Winners

The final competition was won by Kyanja SDA District followed by Najjanankumbi, Lugazi and then Nakaseke SDA district. These were awarded with the newly and fashionably made Entebbe ya Prime to seat Pastor Joshua Sentongo as “Ssentebe wa Prime 2010.”

 

The 4 major aims for organizing this year’s event were to;

• Principally, to celebrate Prime radio’s 8^th birthday.
• Recognize the tremendous work done by our church leaders (pastors), show them support and care during their service.
• Provide an opportunity for many people to measure the levels of their knowledge of the Bible and some other necessary information
• The event also helped us to share our brotherhood relationship with our esteemed listeners who registered as Program Primers and other turned up to witness what new thing Prime radio has for them.

 

The event also helped us to realize the following

• That many listeners still love the radio, its programs and presenters and that they can support it financially. Indeed, our listeners pooled close to 26m shillings for the organizations of the event.
• Some probable advertisers turned up and picked interest in our activities. Housing Finance was one of them.
• We registered the biggest turn up ever since
• It was a good eye-opener for the future events
• It lifted the image of the radio and the SDA church in general
• It helped to set a precedent. Prime radio had never organized occasions where the participants won such a great prize like the one received this time.
• Several non-Adventist listeners met a big gathering of fellow listeners.
• From this event, we registered a profit of close to 5m shillings, part of which was shared amongst staff and the balance will be used to acquire shelves for presenters.

 

"Entebbe ya Prime 2011"

Registration begins in June and completions begin on 1^st September end on 23^rd October, also marking the radio birthday.

 

Culture Day

The radio is also planning another event code-named as Cultural Day as one of the promotional events for the radio

 

Buduuda Mudslide Response

In the month of March 2010, a deadly mudslide hit Buduuda residents causing death to over 200. As part of our corporate social responsibility, Prime Radio through its various programs mobilized listeners who collected items worth over 5m shillings. The items including closing, bedding, and food items were later handed over to the Uganda Union, which delivered them to the Buduuda victims in May 2010.

 

We have also continued to carryout similar donations through “Lwaki Nze” program.

Notable Challenges

 

Death / Sickness

On September 15^th 2010, we lost one of our senior staff and a news anchor, Sentongo Dickson, in what was believed to be a murderous act in Mukono district by unknown assailants while on his way to work. Nothing was stolen from him.

 

This incident has created lots of fear amongst our staff, especially those who travel too early or too late to and from work. A station car is needed to avoid such further happenings.

 

Newsroom Performance

 

We are indeed certain that this is not the best of what we should cast over to our listener. News management is the most expensive departments all, requiring well placed reporters in almost every district, perfect recorders, high caliber news anchors, and ready transport facilities.

 

Computer breakdowns

This is an occasional challenge. Computer break-down usually affects our efficiency, research and the quality of broadcast.

 

Listener tastes

Different listener tastes sometimes cannot be fulfilled; this usually results into complaints and hence making it hard to have stable programming

 

There are many challenges attached to every piece of work but still one has to learn how to overcome them so as to serve and survive.

 

Future Prospects

Ø      We are planning to widen our market base following the recent tripling of our audience.

Ø      We are planning to team up with experience media personnel to equip our staff with modern media skills and how to storm the market.

Ø      We want to ensure that every program generates some sponsorship as it is the basis of the presenters’ remuneration. We are restructuring the Marketing department to this effect.

Ø      We plan to increase coverage of CUC activities and functions and the entire church activities.

Ø      Carryout regular audit of station books of accounts and pay off the mandatory NSSF funds and PAYE to the URA.

Ø       Ensure quality broadcast at all times

Ø      Train some church members in gathering and presenting news.

Ø      Work with the CUC to ensure successful on-air crusades in 2011.

Ø      Provide a quarterly financial report to the concerned

Ø      Acquire a station car to help us in transportation of our staff and carrying out other duties.

Ø      Plan for more successful promotional events i.e Entebbe ya Prime 2011.

Ø      Maintain SDA Christian broadcasting.

Ø      Work towards achieving our Vision, Mission and desired goals.

 

 

Prime Radio

91.9fm

Kampala

&

94.6fm

Masaka

General Report

 

Presented by: Nkaivu Fred

To: At the CUC Radio Cordinators' Session

Venue: Prime Radio Kireka

Dates: 22^nd May 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prime Radio

The soft speaking Pastor, Joshua Sentongo, of Kyanja SDA district described the win as a blessing from the Almighty God. He commended the participants from his district for such a golden achievement which he likened to the awaited reward from Christ Jesus on His second return.

26 SDA districts from the CUC took part in the competition and they were all awarded with certificates in additions to respective gifts.

Prime radio’s promotions manager and also the chief organizer of the event, Mawejje Paul, said the promotion had helped to bring more listeners on board and particularly the pastors.

He said that in the past, many promotional events had failed to catch the attention of the SDA Christian compared to this one.

“The competition undoubtedly provided an opportunity for many people especially SDA Christians, to measure the levels of their knowledge of the Bible and some other necessary information”, said Mawejje.

“We also hope that this has been one of the many avenues of sharing our brotherhood in Christ and foster his mission of spreading the gospel to the masses”, He added.