China unveils free access to television project in 1,000 Ugandan villages
Uganda was picked as one of the beneficiaries and Star Times Group being an implementer of this project in Africa.
In a bid to promote access to current affairs in Uganda through television, a total of over 18,000 households and 1,000 villages have since acquired free television sets.
According to Mr Kenneth Kazooba, the Content Manager at Star Times, the Chinese government through its programme, dubbed “Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 villages”, they are targeting community viewership like churches, mosques, hospitals among others as the beneficiaries of this programme.
“Africa wise, we are targeting 10,000 villages to benefit from this programme of getting free television sets to improve on the access to television,” Mr Kazooba said last evening.
“If individuals are selected, then the local council leaders will select who benefits but otherwise, we give them to communities like hospitals and churches. In the past completed phases, over 1000 villages in Uganda have since benefited.” he added.
The project was as the result of various promises the Chinese government made during the 2015 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Uganda was picked as one of the beneficiaries and Star Times Group being an implementer of this project in Africa.
It was to be carried out in phases and Uganda’s first phase launched by education minister Janet Kataha Museveni in 2018 at SOS Children’s Village in Kakiri.
The second phase kicked off in August last year and so far, 400 villages have since acquired 400 sets of Solar Digital TV, 800 sets of Direct Broadcast Satellite Terminal Systems.
“Over 18,000 households have so far benefited from this project. Strategic schools, churches and health facilities among other beneficiaries received solar-powered televisions and projector among others. ”read in part a statement from Star Times.
Beneficiaries in the various villages say they are now more informed about the current affairs in the country by watching news on television given to them than before.
Mr Jamil Kakeeto, a village leader in Kasande County, Mityana District said they are now more informed about national affairs and government programmes among which are Emyooga, modern agriculture and general world affairs.
“During the presidential election and during COVID-19 lock down as a village, we could get all the updates and the president's speech live on TV channels,” Mr Kakeeto said.
A teacher at St Dennis primary school in Wakiso District, Mr Emmanuel Tekwa said: “The project connects the students to world and this has encouraged massive enrollment into schools and has also created room for cross-cultural communication.”
Adding: “Majority students in the various villages now relate with Chinese content like Kungfu, Chinese history and traditional food. It has helped them (the students) view the world in a different perspective and have constructed goals they hope to achieve in the near future.”
News and current information is still a challenge in Uganda due to high cost of internet and low TV penetration.
Ugandans just like any other country prioritize local TV channels for news and entertainment. International news channels like BBC, Al Jazeera and CGTN are popular among men over 30 years. They watch these channels mainly for deep analysis and information about international politics, trade and Sports.
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