Mwami Lutimba Matovu
That technology was never built to work in 2016 it was built to work in 1976,
had you guys as Ugandans picked up on it and maintained it in 1979 when you
threw the dictator out of power, today phone calls to West Nile and Northern
Uganda would have been on a dial line, which was the original plan of the
dictator, yet in 2016 the entire Northern Uganda and West Nile has no single
phone on a dial tone. When the communication system of Uganda was built
originally by the British, it read Mbale Jinja Kampala Masaka Mbarara, and Amin
wanted to change that so that we get a secondary dial line connecting North
from Arua through Pakwach Gulu Lira and Masindi, to connect to either Kampala
Mbale or Fort Portal , yet to today in 2016 Uganda dial line still reads the
very same, where the British left it. It Is important to note that by the time
Amin left power in 1979 every single required equipment to automate the entire
Northern Uganda had been purchased and inside the country. You sadly did not
only fail to install it but you looted it or sold it to neighboring countries.
Communication is about growth, you start from scratch and build on that
scratch, I get very tired of Ugandans going after technology that is very basic
and fitting in our national situation, for we have heard about a different
technology. It is that reasoning that destroyed land lines in Uganda to bring
cell phones that has stranded Uganda on data transmission. Iddi Amin was smart
to automate the North for that was the only way they would ever get data
transmission, with the introduction of cell phones in Uganda good luck to apply
for internet service in your house in Mucwiini before 2100. It is interesting
that you are going after earth satellites when we are not only maintaining them
in our Canadian system, but we are even still installing them for they’re one
of the most trusted/reliable technology out there.
Again good luck for you will need it sir.
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika
machafuko"
From: Lutimba Matovu [mailto:lutimba_mat...@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 6:40 AM
To: Herrn Edward Mulindwa <mulin...@look.ca>
Subject: Re: {UAH} ARUA EARTH SATELLITE STATION ROTS AWAY
Mulindwa, earth satellites are no longer fashionable. Space based satellites
have taken over even in Uganda most communications are now using space based
digital satellites for telephones, tv, etc.
The Arua satellite is therefore of little signifance. UTL which had hanged on
to that old technology of using earth satellites, masts, etc has virtually
collapsed.
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad <https://yho.com/footer0>
On Saturday, April 23, 2016, 11:49 PM, Herrn Edward Mulindwa <mulin...@look.ca
<mailto:mulin...@look.ca> > wrote:
Arua earth satellite station rots away
Site technician Yoram Badang in front of the earth satellite station in Arua
District.
By FELIX WAROM OKELLO
Posted Tuesday, October 15 2013 at 01:00
Arua- The destruction of the only earth satellite station and medium wave
station in Arua District in 1979 has left scars on the Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) in the region.
Though Idi Amin was said to be illiterate, he realised the importance of the
facilities and ordered for their establishment. The satellite was used for
military communication and television while the medium wave was strictly for
radio.
After the war that ousted Amin, the earth satellite located in Ombaci, about
4KM north-west of Arua Town, and the 10KW medium wave transmitter in Giligili
in Ediofe, were vandalised and abandoned. The satellite station sits on 12
acres of land while the one at Giligili sits on five acres. The facilities were
constructed by Harris Company, a US firm, in 1976.
The stations are now bushy. They provide palatable grass for rearing animals
and have also been turned into farms by residents who encroach on the
government land. Security at the multi-million facilities remains lax.
According to Mr Yoram Badang, a technician at the site, the satellite was used
for military communication and also to relay television stations from the
outside world.
Live images
Ugandan Television viewers at the time watched live for the very first time the
annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Infrastructural investment as part of media
development began after independence and continued with successive
post-independence governments.
Soon after its construction, the now abandoned station was used to broadcast to
North America and Europe. After the fall of President Idi Amin, it was taken up
by Uganda Post and Telecommunications Corporation. The 150 meters-tall tower,
said to be tallest in East Africa, is now being used by BBC and UBC.
However, the unprotected satellite lays run-down with most of its valuable
components looted and vandalised.
“If power is off, then BBC goes off since there is no standby generator. We
only receive power from Wenreco and the place has not been used for television
broadcasting. Communication can be made easier if these sites are revived since
the world is globalised with improvement in ICT,” Mr Badang said.
Between 2004 and 2009, Bonfree Television Network (BTN) and Nile FM hired the
satellite antenna at Shs2 million per month, but where forced to relocate since
it had become expensive for them.
The former President’s son, Mr Jaffar Amin, said: “Idi Amin should be
remembered for linking Uganda directly to the rest of the world by putting up
earth satellite stations at Mpoma in Mukono District and Ombaci in Arua
District.”
“Sadly, the 1979 liberation forces from Tanzania decided to bomb the Arua earth
satellite station, apparently because they saw it as an extension of Idi Amin
Dada who had eluded them. Today, 2013, no signals reach or leave Ombaci
Satellite Station but the huge dish is still there for all to see and remember
as another momentous legacy to the positive side of Idi Amin Dada.”
In a 2008 visit to the defunct sites, the chairman Parliamentary Committee on
ICT then, Mr Edward Baliddawa, said the government must refurbish the satellite
and MW transmitters to improve communication that is crucial in boosting trade
across the district and neighbouring countries.
“It is disheartening to see these valuable assets wasted yet we have a
government in place. People can use this for internet services and start radio
and television stations to improve on their income,” he said. Mr Baliddawa said
vibrant ICT must propel all stakeholders to rejuvenate the existing crumbling
structures. He also added that revitalisation of ICT related tools can make
institutions and markets productive, enhance skills and learning, improve
governance and make it easier for the poor to access services and make their
voices heard.
“This is wastage of government wealth which could see Ugandans reap benefit
from it,” the MP added.
Billions lost
Mr Baliddawa said there was need to revitalise the ICT industry in the district
through the existing structures. He said the government loses billions of
income from such abandoned structures, which the trend has to be reversed.
The chairperson Parliamentary Committee on ICT, Ms Paula Turyahikayo, said the
status of the satellite should be studied to in-depth so that the government
could be asked to revive it. “Satellite is a very expensive venture to set up,
but if the equipment could be replaced with modern ones to fit into the digital
world, it would be good because satellite offers broad communication
opportunities,” she said.
Former Arua District chairman Richard Andama Ferua said the local community
suffers with high rate of internet services, which could be made cheaper if the
dishes and masts are refurbished. For instance, internet rates are now at Shs50
per minute in places in the town.
In 2002, the government announced plans to install new transmitters at a cost
of $3.4 million (about Shs8.4 billion) through a World Bank-funded project. The
project kicked off simultaneously at Arua and Lira stations and it was supposed
to be carried out at 10 stations across the country.
So far transmitters at Kabale and Mawaga have been installed, but the residents
are asking when the one in Arua, that would serve the north and eastern
regions, will be installed.
Importance of satellites
Satellite communications links add capacity to existing communications
capabilities and provide additional alternate routings for communications
traffic. Satellite links, as one of several kinds of long-distance links,
interconnect switching centres located strategically around the world.
They are part of the defence communication systems (DCS) network. One important
aspect of the satellite communications network is that it continues in
operation under conditions that sometimes render other methods of
communications inoperable.
Because of this, satellites make a significant contribution to improved
reliability of Navy communications. The reliability of satellite communications
systems is limited only by the equipment reliability and the skill of operating
and maintenance personnel.
There are also nine types of satellites that perform different functions. This
include, astronomy, atmospheric studies satellite, navigation, communications,
reconnaissance, remote sensing satellite, search and rescue, space exploration
and weather satellite.
<mailto:editor...@ug.nationmedia.com> editor...@ug.nationmedia.com
EM
On the 49th Parallel
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika
machafuko"
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