radio documentary « Uganda Radio Network

The 2011 election campaign season was the most musical in Uganda’s history.

Whether it was for ideological or personal gain, singers, rappers and reggeaton artists rallied behind the eight presidential candidates, backing them in a way they had not done before. They sang songs in praise of Mao, revived old UPC party songs and chanted to Museveni’s ‘You Want Another Rap?’

The danced and played the hits and the music drew in multitudes.

Was it an unholy mix or destiny fulfilled?

The Uganda Radio Network team explores this in National Perspective - Music and Politics.

Breast cancer in the third commonest cancer in women in Uganda.

According to the Ministry of Health, the incidence of breast cancer in Uganda doubled from 11:100,000 in 1961 to 22:100,000 in 1995.

Unfortunately the cases are often seen in late stages thus the outcome of treatment is inevitably unsatisfactory.

Uganda Radio Network’s Ruth Mubiri investigated the scourge of breast cancer in Uganda. She speaks to the Ministry of Health for the facts of the extent of the disease, to the Uganda Women’s Cancer Support Organization on treatment and care options and to former patients on surviving the onslaught of the terrible disease.

Breast Cancer: The Silent Plague

The Parliament of Uganda is one of the most widely known, but also most commonly misunderstood institutions in the government of Uganda.

Every five years, millions of Ugandans go to the polls to elect parliamentary representatives with the understanding that their deepest hopes and dreams for change will be fulfilled by their MPs. The reality is quite different because the claims made by MPs during their campaigns and the fact of their legislative responsibilities are often in conflict.

Uganda Radio Network’s Ruth Mubiri spent much of this year reporting from the corridors of the House and now, she takes National Perspective to its hallowed halls and puts Parliament Under the Magnifying Glass.

(To playback or save this program, click the link above.)

Happy Birthday King Oyo!

As Uganda’s youngest traditional monarch turns 18 this year, Uganda Radio Network’s Emmanuel Kajubu investigates his youthful legacy, expectations on his reign and what lies ahead for the Omukama of Tororo.

Join the celebration by clicking the link below to listen to or download this program.

National Perspective – Boy King, Man Child

(Listen to this program by clicking the link above.)

Before March 17^th 2000, few people outside southwestern Uganda had heard of Kanungu town. However even for those who had, it was only known as the sleepy corner of Rukungiri with a bad road, a high HIV/AIDS infection rate and the home of the world famous Bwindi gorilla.

Kanungu was thrown into the glaring spectacle of the international news media when more than 500 members of a cult were burned to death in a church on the outskirts of the town.

The cult: The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
The leaders: A charismatic Catholic priest and a prostitute
The final death toll: More than 1,000

What happened? How could this take place before our very eyes? Ten years down the line, what has been done to investigate this?

Michael Wambi investigates for National Perspective: National Perspective – Revisiting Ugandas Murderous Cult

On March 1, 2011 hundreds of residents of Nametsi village in Bududa district were fast asleep when they heard a loud rumbling from above.

“What was that? Where is it coming from? Why is going on?” they asked each other in a panic.

And then all hell broke loose. The ground beneath them gave way as tons of mud and rocks rolled down the hill, killing people and livestock and destroying homes that had existed for generations.

There was wailing. There was mourning. It was devastation. It was despair.

Uganda Radio Network’s Michael Wambi and Joseph Elunya visited Bududa on behalf of National Perspective to assess the terrible remains of the day.

Tears of Bududa

Adoption of Ugandan children by foreign nationals is all the rage these days. Thanks to the international attention – good or bad – that the country has received over the past 25 years, many people from the United States and Europe are flocking to the country in the hope of taking home with them a beautiful Ugandan baby.

National Perspective finds that on arrival in the country, foreigners are surprised by how strict Uganda’s adoption laws are, but also how with money, connections and imagination you can get around the law.

This week Uganda Radio Network’s Michael Wambi, Patience Atuhaire, George Matovu, Joe Wacha, Aldon Walukamba and Emmanuel Kajubu investigate: Challenges of Adoption in Uganda

The name Alice Lakwena is still powerful enough in Uganda to instill fear into the hearts of many. Lakwena, born Alice Auma, was a young Acholi woman when she raised up a group of disenfranchised former soldiers and tribesmen to rebel against the Ugandan government.

Her rebel group, the Holy Spirit Mobile Forces, waged a successful war with her troops traveling Gulu district as far south as Magamaga in Jinja. Her fighting tactics were mysterious and shrouded with claims of supernatural support and witchcraft. Her legacy is equally bizarre.

Alice Lakwena is seen as the grandmother of the Acholi rebellion that gave birth to the murderous Lord’s Resistance Army. The ghost of this little-known woman has survived the ages and National Perspective investigates Alice Lakwena’s Ghost.

There is a war going on at the slopes of Mount Elgon.

It is not a war of guns and armies, but one in which many lives are put at risk permanently.

National Perspective this week investigates the growing tension between residents, Uganda Wildlife Authority and European companies over a carbon-trading project on Mount Elgon. Uganda Radio Network’s David Rupiny and Michael Wambi spoke to the parties involved, assessed the impact and found that the seemingly straightforward carbon-trading deal has far reaching economic and cultural impacts that are sending local the communities reeling.

The Carbon Trading War

Karamoja is a place of mystery and adventure for many Ugandans. Tucked away in a remote part of northeastern Uganda, it is a place few have ventured to travel to and many are ignorant about.

Stories of a warlike people, primitive nomads and underdevelopment shroud any news of Karamoja. Old stereotypes are attributed to the Karamojong and despite the best efforts of people from the region, these biases thrive.

Uganda Radio Network sent two journalists – Tom Malaba, who had never been to the area before and Joseph Elunya, who regularly reports on the region – to reinvestigate the wonder that is Karamoja.

National Perspective – Inside Karamoja

Tag Archives: radio documentary

National Perspective – Music and Politics

National Perspective – Breast Cancer: The Silent Plague

National Perspective – Parliament under the Magnifying Glass

National Perspective – Boy King, Man Child

National Perspective – Revisiting Uganda’s Murderous Cult

National Perspective – Tears of Bududa

National Perspective – Challenges of Adoption

National Perspective – Alice Lakwena’s Ghost

National Perspective – Carbon Trading War

National Perspective – Inside Karamoja