The Department of Journalism and Communication (DJC) of Makerere University has revealed a plan to activate the University radio station, Campus FM.

While addressing students of Journalism and Communication during the Makerere University Journalism and Communication Association General (MUJCA) general assembly, on Friday, Ivan Lukanda, the acting Head of DJC, said that the radio would go on air as soon as the Department obtains its frequency.

“The University is negotiating with Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), to allocate the radio a broadcasting frequency,” Lukanda said.

He said that the station is in good working condition, save for the lack of frequency.

When did campus FM lose its frequency

Makerere University’s Campus FM, a training radio station, lost its frequency in April, 2011, when UCC withdrew its operation license.

The license for the Radio station operating on 107fm, was withdrawn on grounds that the station was not operational, one year after the license was acquired.

The then UCC boss, Godfrey Mutabazi, advised the university to reapply to the commission for the radio frequency, but also noted that the university had repeatedly failed to pay their annual license, in defiance of the law.

The station’s main focus was on serving as a training radio station, for broadcast journalism students, practicing professionals, and especially broadcasters working for community radios and other stations that target rural audiences.

The U.S. government, through the American Centre in Uganda, funded the setting up of the radio station.

Students speak out

Students in the department of journalism and communication, at Makerere University, have asked the university administration to ensure that the station gains its frequency.

Julius Nabulere, a fourth year student, urges the university to try as much as possible to attain the station’s frequency, since it is a laboratory for journalism students.

“We want to realize our potential in broadcast media, and it is through the radio that we shall find out,” Nabulere says.

Godfrey Ssali a third year student says the university is being unfair to the journalism students, for they pay for a service they have never received.

“We pay technology fee every academic year, which I believe is supposed to fund such projects. Campus FM, is just like any other laboratory around the university, and the university to should support students on this,” Ssali says.