RADIO MARIA MEETS ITS AGENTS IN GREATER KABALE

Management of Radio Maria Uganda Kabale met with agents from greater Kabale (Kabale, Rubanda and Rukiga) with the intention of equipping them with tools for better service. On Saturday, March 22, 2025, a total of 104 agents converged at Rushoroza from parishes of Rubanda district (Muchahi, Kakore, Rubanda, Muko, Kabirizi, Kishanje), Kabale district (Rushoroza, Christ the King, Buhara, Rwanyena, Maziba) and Rukiga district (Bukinda, Kitanga, Muhanga).

The Director of Radio Maria, Fr. Godius Musinguzi thanked God for the opportunity he granted for meeting the various agents of Radio Maria. He said this arrangement had been pending for a long time, but finally materialized and that one of the main reasons of meeting together was to know each other. He thanked the agents for their dedication and selflessness and being a link between Radio Maria and its listeners in greater Kabale.

He urged them to treasure the responsibility that was entrusted to them by the listeners who elected them so that they serve them better. “Since you did not choose yourselves but the people you lead, kindly respect them and serve them as expected,” said Fr. Godius.

Where the voice of Christ is, the voice of the evil one should not surface, therefore teach people the importance of listening to Radio Maria – Fr. Godius Musinguzi, director Radio Maria.

He also noted that Radio Maria is a community Radio which is non commercial and so serving as agents of Radio Maria does not come with payment, but the Mother Mary whom you serve in her Radio will together with her son Jesus reward you at an appropriate time.

Radio Maria is a non commercial Radio station, but needs funds in order to run its operational costs. Therefore, it depends on the generosity and the volunteer spirit of the good willed people. So one of the duties of agents is to teach people to support radio Maria in terms of finance.

Radio Maria started as a parish radio by Fr. Livio in small town of Erba in Milan, Italy to serve those people who were unable to reach Parish for Mass and other services but presently, it ha already to over 90 countries worldwide. In Uganda, it started in 1996 by Fr. John Baptist Bashobora in Mbarara archdiocese and in 2001, it acquired a national character with main studios at Mutungo in Biina Parish, Kampala Archdiocese. In Kabale, Radio Maria was established in 2017 as one of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal Fund (BAAF) projects and currently, there are 11 sub-stations of Radio Maria in Uganda.

79 stations currently form a formidable network of Catholic radio throughout the world, with 25 stations in Europe + 4 linguistic minorities, 20 in America + 3 linguistic minorities, 25 in Africa + 22 substations, and 9 in Asia and Oceania. With nearly 2,000 repeaters around the world, Radio Maria is an outstretched hand that speaks to a population of approximately 500 million listeners worldwide.

Each Radio Maria has an independent management in each country, but is united in religious inspiration, editorial line, the fundamental importance of voluntary work, financing by donations from listeners, exclusion of advertising and non-interference in partisan political debates.

Ms. Agnes Kyomukama head of the promotions department thanked the agents for their turn up and explained different methods on how people can support Radio Maria: monthly donation, permanent donation, cost sharing (for coverage of functions), membership, donation tins, donation boxes, family promotions (a family hosting radio Maria), institutional promotion (a school or institution hosts Radio Maria), Parish promotion (based on small Christian community to another) Mariathon specifically in the months of May and October.

She explained different roles that agents play in Radio maria. She said agents are the ones to explain to the people different methods of supporting Radio Maria. They are to receive contributions and donations from people and see that they are delivered to the Radio station.

In case you send the donation on mobile money or on mechant code, kindly notify us so that it is captured because the donor wants a receipt – Ms. Agnes Kyomukama.

Support to Radio Maria in terms of donations can be delivered on the station’s reception or be sent through mobile money (0780253902) or by MTN merchant code (M600208) and Airtel Mobile wallet (600208) or directly on the bank account (3100058763).

Mr. Agaba John Bosco, the chairman Local Executive Committee (LEXCOM) of Radio Maria thanked the agents of Radio Maria for their dedication and hard work in the service of listeners. He said the existence of Radio Maria is a gift in the Catholic Church and to the people of God.

He also said that a bigger part of Kabale Diocese particularly Kanungu Kisoro and Rukungiri do not receive signals of Radio Maria, but efforts are underway to boost it. However, in the meantime, there is a link for live streaming and YouTube option so that those who cannot access Radio Maria on audio using frequency modulation (FM) can be served by YouTube broadcast and live streaming.

Listen to Radio Maria, offer pieces of advice because you are our ears and our eyes. Don’t hesitate to give us feedback – Agaba John Bosco.

Mr. John Bosco said there are plans to meet agents from other districts across the Diocese and that Diocese is working hard to see that the coverage of Radio Maria reaches the whole of Kabale Diocese. He appealed for more support to Radio Maria so that the “Christian voice continues to reach all.”