When Mama FM set its ball rolling in 2001, 16 presenters and producers were trained and recruited. This laid platform to other passionate individuals in the consequent years, among which was Kalanzi who has walked it all till to-date.
As Mama FM marks 20 years of broadcasting, it celebrates and recognizes the service of Lawrence Kalanzi one of its employees.
Kalanzi is one of the longest serving employees of Mama FM and Uganda Media Women’s Association. He joined the radio station in 2002 as an internship trainee a year after the station had officially started operating.
After one month of training, he requested to stay as a volunteer because he identified a gap in the news department which was run by only one person who was a lady by then. He volunteered to read the 9:00PM news bulletin then and later in 2004 when he was officially recruited as an employee and member of staff.
Kalanzi has stood with Mama FM and the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) through thick and thin amidst all the challenges the station faced while it was starting some of which included lack of enough equipment, sketchy audience, and unskilled labor among others.
Margaret Sentamu, Executive Director UMWA and Mama FM reflects that as Mama FM marks 20 years, the station can only appreciate individuals and organisations who have supported through the journey but also implore more.
“Twenty years ago, we set out to be a platform for the voiceless women. We thank those who have supported us through the journey but also to implore the government of Uganda to give a helping hand to initiatives like Mama FM.” She says
She adds that the government can start by subsidizing the works of such organisations like waiving frequency license.
Duties and Capacity
Kalanzi performs a number of duties for both the radio station and the Association. He is a talk show producer and presenter for “Tuteese” (let us dialogue) which runs from Monday to Friday 7-9pm and “gwe ensi ogilaba otya” (what’s your view point) which runs on Saturday from 11 am – 2 pm.
Besides his duties at Mama Fm, Kalanzi is a leader in his community. He is the current councilor elect of Bukoto II B waiting to be sworn in. One of the factors that have enabled Kalanzi in realizing the vision and mission of the organization is the wide training and exposure the organization offers to its employees and volunteer.
“I have been extensively and widely trained by this organization, that is why I say I am proud of being part of UMWA because I have acquired numerous skills that drive me as I perform my duties one of which is multi-tasking. I can do a number of within a limited time” he says.
Kalanzi has been involved in several programs and projects one of which is the two years on-going project with Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) geared at promoting gender media under the slogan “Leaving no one Behind” all aimed at bringing both male and female journalist together to realize the need of working together for sustainability and equity.
He has also been at the frontline of making sure Mama FM as a major Project of UMWA is well marketed in different communities. He geared the formation of Listeners clubs in order to have well organized audience.
For the last 17 years Kalanzi has worked with UMWA and Mama Fm, he appreciates the fact that Mama FM disseminates development information.
“For the last 17 years I have been here, dissemination of development information has been excellently executed by the organization’s managers both on radio through which many programs are aired aiming at transforming people’s lives in all aspects and conducting trainings within the organization and community outreaches”
Recognition of Mama FM
What stands out for kalanzi is the organizations ability to sustain its major project “MAMA FM” which has programs aimed at transforming lives in all aspects such as politics, economics, and social structures.
He acknowledges Mama FM’s significant contribution towards raising the number of youth, Persons with disabilities (PWDs) joining politic and media which was not the case before because of the creativity of managers, good mobilization skills and fundraising skills that generate the money for facilitating various trainings to help people realize their abilities and potential.
Kalanzi notes that the radio station has tremendously grown. He says the Mama FM of today is very different from that of previous years. It is growing every day and all thanks goes back to the different stake holders. “Thank you for supporting Mama FM. Besides Kalanzi, various media practitioners have been nurtured at the community radio in addition to listeners being empowered socio-economically.
Regina Nassanga, a news editor and anchor with the station attests to exposure through the radio station. Equally, she observes that the programs aired have positively impacted the listeners.
Listeners to Mama FM attest to socio-economic empowerment through the different programmes aired on the radio station and trainings that have come along.
Mrs. Christine Nambi, a teacher has been a fun of Mama FM for over 10 years and has been directly involved in activities organized by the station such as Trainings and workshops. As a beneficiary of Mama FM’s programs, Christine is grateful to the station for motivating women to become leaders.
“As an aspiring politician, I have gained confidence through workshops organized by the station and I thank Mama FM for the capacity building and skills training they organize for the community.” Says Christine.
Christine’s Favourite Programs include PapaMama hosted by Senga Nantume, “Tuteese”, and “Obuyimba Obutaffa”.
Among other programs aired are: Mamaboda Boda, Manya obulamu bwo, news bulletins, sports.
The women broadcast platform is a product and project run by Uganda Media Women’s Association, an umbrella body that caters for the professional interests of women and information needs of the marginalized.
Mama FM idealized in 1994, following a situational analysis in view of the coverage of women’s issues in the media, their portrayal therein, and space committed to women related activities and the listening habits. This sequentially amounted to live broadcasts in 2001 and further recruitment on volunteerism.
Appreciation is extended to all the supporting development partners of the station. These are but not limited to: Norwegian Council for Africa, Norwegian Government, Norwegian Women and Family Association, Forum for Women in Development, WACC, UNESCO, Fokus Norway, UN Women, Stem Van. Afrika, Catholic Media Council-Germany, Missio Austria, Prisma, Oxfam GB, Austrian Development Agency, Radio Robin Hood, International Soliday Foundation, Frisct Ebert Foundation, Conrad Adeneur Foundation, Ford Foundation, UN Human Rights, Radio Netherlands Training Centre.
