Social Communications commission
P.O.Box 75 Kasese
PREAMBLE
The Catholic Diocese of Kasese was erected in 1989, curved from the mother Diocese of Fort Portal. The first Bishop of the Diocese of Kasese was Rt. Rev. Egidio Nkaijanabwo, now emeritus and the current Ordinary is Rt. Rev. Francis Aquirinus Kibira.
After the erection of the Diocese of Kasese, there was need to have Administrative Departments/Commissions that would assist the Bishop in his administrative work. It is against this background that the Diocese established the Social communication Commission in 1989.
In the year 1989-1990, Rev. Fr. Raphael Balinandi Kambale was announced the first Social communication commission Coordinator of the Diocese of Kasese.
Later on in 1991-2006, Rev. Tata Asasio Kamalha Buhaka was announced the coordinator to succeed Rev. Fr. Raphael Balinandi Kambale.
In 2006 to date, Rev. Fr. Augustine Masereka is serving as the social communication coordinator as well as the Director Kasese Guide Radio.
The commission was established with a vision and Mission.
Vision: A Communication Commission which promotes the use of Media in evangelizing of the whole person: spiritually, economically, politically and socially.
Mission: We are a Diocesan Communications Department of the Diocese of Kasese that promotes pastoral activities to all the people through the available means of communication.
The Radio/Kasese Guide Radio-Omusondolya
Before the establishment of Kasese Guide Radio-Omusondolya, the social communication commission used to publish the quarterly news letter known as Omusondolya News letter/ the Guide. This news letter was aimed at fulfilling the vision and mission of the commission.
Then in 2008, the Diocese through the social communication commission established the Radio station and named her Kasese Guide Radio-Omusondolya. The name was derived from her initial news paper (Omusondolya/ the Guide.)
Kasese Guide Radio is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Kasese and is found in western Uganda bordering the republic of Congo in the west, Mbarara diocese in the South, Fort Portal diocese in the east. Kasese Diocese is one of the 19 Dioceses in the Country and was created in June 1989 from the mother Diocese of Fort Portal.
Kasese Guide Radio is a commercial Radio owned by the Diocese of Kasese, registered as limited company and licensed by the Government of Uganda, through its regulatory body, the Uganda communications commission, and transmits on 100.5fm frequency. Despite being a commercial Radio station, the Radio transmits according to the moral standards of the Catholic Church teachings.
Kasese Guide Radio which started on the 9th. May.2008 now employs 27 staff, and 4 volunteers. The Radio broadcasts in seven languages: Lhukonzo, Runyoro-Rutoro, Runyankole-Rukiga, English, Luganda, Lubwisi and Swahili.
It is found in western Uganda with its Mast 81 Metres high, erected on Kigabiro Hill in Rubirizi district and having its transmitting studio in Kasese Municipality at the Diocesan Headquarters.
Kasese Guide Radio is also received in other Districts, and Dioceses in Uganda like Mbarara, Mubende, Sembabule, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Bushenyi,Bunyangabo, Ntoroko, R u k u n g i r i , Kanungu, Kisoro,parts of MityanaIbanda, Kamwenge, Bundibungyo, Kiruhura and the whole of Kasese. We also cover some Parts of Eastern Congo as per the attached map showing our area of coverage. About 3.5million people listen to our radio.
We are listened to on line: www.kaseseguideradio.com.
Our website is one of the best in the region (Rwenzori Region in Uganda), compared to those of other Radio stations across the region.
Highlights or major activities/events in the institution
- Meetings: Weekly Staff meetings are maintained. We have also maintained quarterly recollections for the communication and Radio staff.
- Capacity building/ trainings: We have continued with internal trainings. We have mentored a good number of our staff and parish communicators.
- Providing a projector services to Diocesan seminars and trainings (Communication).
- Managing a diocesan and radio websites- www.kasesediocese.org (Communication), www.kaseseguideradio.com(Radio). The Radio website is a rich one. There is an upgrade of Station Social Media (website, Facebook and twitter).
- Promoting Catholic bookshop and Min supermarket for the Diocese (Communication and Radio).
- Assisting the Diocese in formulating the children’s policy. (Communication)
- We are managing a Library (Communication).
- We are managing a live band for hire (Communication).
- Disseminating the Diocesan (Omusondolya News Letter, National (Contact) and International (Revelator from Island) information to the people concerned: Parishes, Priests, and Catechists, lay faithful, institutions and individuals. We have communicated the following messages from Bishop’s office; Youth message on Diocesan youth day (Radio), Christmas Massage (Radio), Lenten Message, Easter Message, Divine Sunday Message, Cathedral Construction Message, Ordinations etc.
Future Plans (outline)
- Strengthen Evangelization through the Radio, especially against domestic violence, promotion of family rosary, sharing word of God, Church doctrine, Devine mercy promotion, etc.
- To continue training more personnel (Communication and Radio).
- Expanding the library (Communication).
- Purchase of a modern video Camera (Communication).
- To establish a mass media training school- Long term.
Media institutions with whom there is regular collaboration:
- DB Electronic in Padova-Italy (Purchase of Equipment)
- Jubilee radio (News department, engineering and Administration matters)
- Communication office Mbarara Archdiocese (messages from the Archbishop)
- Communication office Fort portal.
- Uganda Radio Network.
- AMECEA-Association of members of Episcopal Conference of Eastern Africa.
- Uganda Catholic Television (UCTV)
List of staff:
- Three people in communication office.