Since 2019 when it opened its doors, Terra Radio FM has brought together a diverse range of communities in Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Located in Kolokoto village, Ituri Province at the Uganda-DRC border, a slow rising sun punctuates the welcoming and healthy air at Terra FM’s reception when this journalist visits on a Friday morning.
Inside the studios, Oscar Kacwinyrwoth and Boaz Mungunuti, presenters on Good Morning Africa programme that airs every day from 6am to 11am, are discussing topics critically relevant to societal development.
The duo recaps world events and centres their discourse on improving social consciousness, awareness, progress and togetherness. Also, up for discussion are issues of environmental conservation, justice and peace, human rights and governance.
According to Samuel Jaryekonga Warom, a Communications Director of Environmental Defenders in the Congo Basin, this information is hard to come by.
Waron is sitting with this journalist after the sun has risen above Pongo Mountain peak, to talk about Terra FM.
He explains how Terra radio is amplifying voices left behind by national media and its building of a reputation, as a stronghold against disinformation.
“We are reaching people who rarely watch or read news. Creating awareness on climate change, helping the population advocate and take direct action against illegal land sales and forced evictions,” he says.
He adds; “Ensuring the respect of their free, prior, and informed consent is the idea we popularize.”
Warom also explains that delivery of the news and current affairs is fashioned to help people cope with these challenges of land grabbing and environmental degradation.
Known for its clean décor and a professional staff, the radio station invests in ensuring its diverse audience gets quality information in many of the languages spoken by the communities that occupy the environmentally important Albertine region and Congo Basin.
The multilingual audience, gets to listen to broadcasts in English, Swahili, Lingala, French and Alur, which are the five different languages spoken by listeners in Jugu, Irumu, Buliisa, Hoima, Nwoya, Zombo, parts of Arua, Kikuube, Kiryandongo in Uganda, Mahagi and Aru territory in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and part of South Sudan.
Broadcasting on 95 FM and 97 FM, Radio Terra reaches over 5 million listeners, providing rural and indigenous communities with critical information, advocacy platforms, and a space for connection.
A nonprofit and Independent radio station that is listened to by communities on both sides of Lake Albert, Terra FM, is a subsidiary of Environmental Defenders (ED), a conservation and human rights organisation dedicated to protecting biodiversity and indigenous people’s rights.
ED works in the Albertine Rift regions, specifically the Murchison-Semliki, greater Virunga, and Ituri landscapes, spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, within the broader sensitive Congo Basin.
“The purpose of Radio Terra FM is to unfold the complexities of the Albertine Region and to inform people about relevant issues, from health and food security to conflict management,” reads the radio mission statement in part.
The mission statement of Terra FM also notes that the strategy is to use environmental education in the promotion of basic rights, and propagation of Indigenous culture.
The radio through its programming and reportage critiques, various individuals and people of all occupations and lifestyles, giving shape, form and essence to social life by defining and articulating virtually every social impulse and reverberation.
If say at the start of the dry season in January, there are devastating wildfires, residents get information on how to avoid such occurrence and survive. During this period, residents are regularly reminded to avoid bush burning given its adverse effects on the environment.
The station presenters also remind residents of the benefits of planting trees, overcome oil and gas effects, their land rights and fire alerts.
No Cut No Kill, show which airs every Tuesday from 8pm to 4pm the presenter tells listeners not to cut trees or kill wildlife.
KILIMO which runs every Monday from 8pm to 10pm talks about good practices such as sustainable agricultural practices, agro-forestry, agro-ecology, impacts of pesticide application in farming and soil conservation.
The radio hosts local leaders-traditional chiefs, columnists and commentators to elucidate the importance of conserving traditional trees and medicinal plants. Leaders who are far are hosted by phone.
TERRA FM’s aim is also to inform and educate people about health, food security, conflict management and environmental education.
Radio Terra FM identifies and hosts environmental and human rights defenders, as Earth Defenders, by what they do. They are not necessarily only members of big, well-known environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).
They may work as journalists, activists, or lawyers who expose and oppose environmental destruction or land grabbing. They are often ordinary people living in remote villages or forests, who may not even be aware that they are acting as environmental defenders.
Terra FM brings together the peaceful voices of those living amidst armed conflict in the Ituri province of the DR Congo linking the issues and their implications to the daily lives of citizens and helping to make them actors for change.
It amplifies the voices of the communities evicted without or with unfair compensation from their native lands to make way for extractive industry projects or conservation projects.
Terra FM serves to make marginalised rural communities less vulnerable through access to information, communication, and network support.
Warom says they have been able to produce and broadcast specific programmes to reach the widest audience, including special news bulletins, civic education spots, magazines presenting programmes, and conducting debates giving voices to farmers and fisher communities on human rights, and environmental impacts of the oil and gas exploration activities in the Lake Albert region.
Terra has also provided places for female journalists to learn, lead and practice professional journalism. He said spaces are created for dialogue between humanitarian actors and representatives of affected people on the adequacy of responses and strengthening the participation of local actors.
He said they want migrant populations to have access to factual information along the way, notably security risks, fraud, and human trafficking.
With the youth population making a larger percentage in the Lake Albert region, broadcast programmes that meet the needs and interests of youth audiences, have been designed, as well as music and entertainment shows.
The radio broadcasts on children’s rights and services, maternal and early childhood health, and protection of the youth with vital information for families that can save lives and improve living standards.
According to their strategic plan of 2022 to 2025, the radio will support the next generation of journalists in the region by training, hiring and motivating young journalists that are just starting their careers.
The strategy adds that this will be through in-depth coaching and support to gain skills and knowledge to become journalists of reference in their media sectors.
“Now the organisation is launching livestreaming, multi-media approach and more of an online presence to serve the audience better,” Warom adds.
The venture into the online media will respond to a fast changing landscape that is propelled by technology, especially internet and mobile phones, which are changing the way media is consumed.
Warom says online media is an opportunity to engage with and reach the farthest audience.
Terra is going to capitalise on this development by launching a strong multimedia content and also meet the demand for the growing youth and introduce more expertise on environmental conservation and other societal issues.
“We want them to search media content that is not steeped in the usual negative stereotype but hope and solutions.”
He said the superficial approach to news coverage of the region is now unacceptable, noting that after the climate change and wanton man made environmental crisis there is need for lasting solutions.
Warom added: “Information is power. Once there is no informed citizenry, then the outcome is detrimental. The citizenry cannot make informed decisions to advance society. Terra FM is here to revitalise an informed society”.
About Terra FM in the words of the community it serves
Residents and local leaders in both Uganda and DR Congo have hailed Radio Terra FM for their work, which they say, has influenced their lives positively.
Linet Dwongparwoth, a presenter for Weekend Vibes programme that runs on Saturday from 6am to 9am: our coverage has been consistent on environmental conservation.
“When doing sports activities, the people or players now know they must not drop plastic bottles that they always use anywhere,” he says.
Pastor Isingoma Mutooro of Lifeline Church in Kolokoto village in Mahagi territory: the radio runs good programmes on food security, tree planting benefits, how to be food secure and live with each other harmoniously.
On top of preaching the word of God, I am always invited to chip in with transformative messages and this is free of charge.
Oscar Unencan Chobidongo, the King for Wagungu Chiefdom in Ituri Province, DR Congo says people had bad characters in ancient times.
“All these hills and mountains would be burnt but since Terra FM was established it has been pivotal in telling people about the dangers of such acts and now people are cautious and that is why you can see mountains are green and because of that I honour such visionary people,” says the cultural leader.
Pachuwegi Oneranda, a resident of Kabeta village says; “I now know how to plant trees and take care of them because of the KILIMO programme and I have firewood for cooking from these trees I was advised to plant.”
Harriet Uyera: I can now enjoy a cool breeze from the shade and rainfall after listening to KILIMO programme. Nothing much to say but just a thank you to them.
Stanely Ombidi Thopacu, the Chief for Ker Kwong’a Chiefdom in Panymur; the radio has benefited people in many ways; the educative programmes have helped us that we nolonger chase after people.
They now know the importance of working hard and the benefits of keeping the environment intact. They now have sheds, timber and I have requested Terra to give us seedlings at the onset of rains for people to plant.
Source: Environmental Defenders https://watetezi.org/
