State Censorship, Commercialization Crush Uganda’s Radio Dramas
By Richard Kizza Lugobwa LONDON. Radio drama, a potent blend of entertainment, education, and cultural preservation, has historically shaped societies worldwide. In Uganda, its roots trace to the colonial era, when British authorities introduced radio broadcasts in the early 20th century. These early audio plays were not merely entertainment but tools of colonial control, designed to suppress local traditions, propagate foreign values, and mobilize communities for state-driven projects like commercial farming and bulungi bwansi (communal labor). Post-independence in 1962, radio dramas retained their significance, evolving into a medium for nation-building under Uganda’s fledgling government. Despite the advent of television, radio’s affordability and reach ensured its dominance, particularly through the state-owned Radio Uganda (now the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation- UBC Radio), which monopolized airwaves until the 1990s. For over three decades, Radio Uganda’s dramas, broadcast in languages like Luganda, Runyakitara, and Luo, […]