***** The Community Radio
UMWA, with support from organisations working for gender balance hope to start a radio station in the year 2000. Studio one is almost complete awaiting installation of the equipment. With this done it is hoped that transmission will begin this same year. A Task force committee spearheads this project with a membership of Parliamentarians, NGO officials, Ministers and members of UMWA executive. To begin with 2 full time staff i.e. Station Manager and Technician will run this community radio and will be assisted with volunteers.
Future Plans
Video Recording Van
UMWA hopes to operate video recordings and shows right up to the
rural areas. This will not only focus on women?s initiatives
for development but also on children?s issues. The van will
serve women groups in Uganda.
Media Consultancy (Public Relations/Advertising) For sustainability, UMWA hopes to strengthen the public relations/advertising component.
ROP Expansion UMWA hopes to expand its ROP programs to other districts of the country. Radio programs on health, Environment protection among others will complement ROP.
Hicaps/Fears:
The need to respond to all the responses from the rural areas need a fully fledged Secretariat. To date only three full staff are straining themselves to respond to the need. There is need to recruit at least three full time Program Officers.
The media women boast of the communication skills but are not well versed with all developmental issues. Training in a cross section of areas is therefore a must.
Transport, going out in the field needs quick and easy transport. The organisation now relies on using public transport.
Equipment in terms of television cameras, monitors, recorders e.t.c. are hired regularly. There is need for the orgnaisation to acquire her own equipment to reduce on the charge.
The growth of the organisation requires increase human resource.
Some of the Media women lack assertive/confidence skills. More training is therefore needed.
The establishment of a radio station requires enormous funding.
Funding for the secretariat is only certain up to the year 2000.
The response UMWA has generated from all stakeholders including the public is enormous. UMWA does not have that capacity to respond accordingly.
Most media women have not specialised in the so-called male beats and yet promotion depends on the latter.
Now that the secretariat is out of town, there is need to have vehicle to help in the day to day running especially in the distribution of the other voice. UMWA as of now does not have that capacity.
Areas for support
Training in media and related fields. Developmental issues included. These can be long or short courses. Exchange or study tours.
The establishment and running of the radio station (equipment, training etc)
The newspaper pullout: It is our hope that this transforms into a more regular publication. Daily?
Administrative cost e.g. communications, rent, salaries/allowances.
The on-going ROP requires further support in terms of procurement of radio and TV sets, audio and video recorders. ROP needs to expand to other districts.