By Walubo Jude Tadeo, Mbale, Uganda (January 2014)- The Uganda team has been reaching the hundreds of schools in Mbale district since the beginning of 2013. To encourage the youth, cement the message of chastity, and due to the generous contribution of a UCE donor, the UCE Uganda team held a one hour interactive chastity radio program on Top Radio, Mbale. Rev. Eshemeyo Wandoo and UCE National Coordinator, Walubo Jude Tadeo shared information with listeners that would empower them to choose chastity. An estimated 1.5-2 million people tuned in for the show.
The moderator of the program, Bukenya Denis, opened the show by playing a local gospel song called Njakulinda Ebya Mukama “ I will wait upon the Lord.” Rev. Eshemeyo then prayed thanking God for the opportunity to share the life saving message of Christ and chastity. Walubo Jude gave listeners the background of UCE, shared information on HIV/AIDS statistics, and discussed the challenges people face when they engage in sex outside of marriage. Rev. Eshemeyo and the moderator chipped in to emphasize various concerns, especially among the Bagisu, who are the largest ethnic group in Mbale. According to the traditional culture of the Bagisu, males are initiated into adulthood at the age of 18 through a circumcision ritual. A month after circumcision, these youths are then expected to sleep with a woman to prove they are now adults. Rev. Eshemeyo, an Anglican priest, shared his testimony of how he went through the initiation but defied ‘the bad traditional practices’ and instead abstained from sex, asking God to give him a good wife for marriage. “That is why I am alive today and having a good, healthy family.” Rev. Eshemeyo added.
Many listeners called in and asked questions and thanked UCE for the program. By the time the program ended, the studio lines were still busy with many callers asking questions. So, the team gave out the telephone numbers of UCE-Uganda so that people could contact them directly.
After the radio program on Top Radio, the management of Top Radio, who are born again Christians, met with the team and asked us how soon they could conduct another program. The team had paid three hundred thousand shillings($121) for one hour. They told the management that they were ready to host another show, but were only limited by finances. The owners then offered UCE a special discount to pay only one hundred thousand shillings ($41) only each time they wanted to hold a program. This amount is basically to cover the recording costs. We thank God for this great opportunity to speak to hundreds of thousands of youths and adults about Christ and chastity. If you would like to sponsor a radio program in Uganda, please click here.
