The call for an FM radio station echoed in every diocesan synod (1989, 1994, 1999). In 2001, Bishop Frederick Drandua appointed two missionaries to diocesan posts with the mandate to initiate the radio station. Fr. Tonino Pasolini, a Comboni missionary who had served the diocese for nearly 40 years, was appointed by the overall director of the media centre as the communications coordinator for the diocese. A lay missionary, Ms. Sherry Meyer, who had worked in Arua Diocese for more than 12 years in the pastoral coordinator’s office was appointed as assistant. They began their work by seeking advice and preparing grant requests to fund the project. Though a diocesan communications office had been in place, the office was dormant and the printing press heavily in debt and facilities were in ruin. The bishop allocated a tract of land near the cathedral for the development of a diocesan media centre and named the radio “Radio Pacis” (a Latin word meaning peace).
Construction of the Arua Diocese Media Centre began slowly with a residence and a temporary office in 2002. The three major buildings—office block, studio block, and printing block—were completed in 2004. During the construction period serious consultation was done with the stakeholders of the diocese about the radio programme content and mission. Consultation was also done abroad about technical equipment, studio design and programme management. Through an Austrian development organization called Horizont3000, four development workers were provided in the areas of radio technology, radio programming and administration with the goal of training local personnel. Staff members were hired in March/April 2004 with interview teams made up of diocesan personnel. From May to September 2004, the newly hired radio staff trained with the professionals provided by Horizont3000 and professionals contracted from Uganda and beyond. In October 2004 on-air testing began. Licensed by the Uganda government, Radio Pacis was officially launched 26 November 2004 and has been on air since then.
The road to finally hearing Radio Pacis on air was a very long one. But during the years of construction and waiting for the license, the “ownership” of the radio increased. The people of West Nile, and Arua Diocese in particular, never gave up hope and frequently asked about the radio they called “our radio”.
In October 2004 on-air testing began. Licensed by the Uganda government, Radio Pacis went on air on October 25, 2004 and was officially launched on November 26 and has been on air since then.
The road to finally hearing Radio Pacis on air was a very long one. But during the years of construction and waiting for the license, the “ownership” of the radio increased. The people of West Nile, and Arua Diocese in particular, never gave up hope and frequently asked about the radio they called “our radio”.
Radio Pacis is a community based radio and so it differs from other commercial radio stations in the Arua area. As a community based radio, the programming is designed for the integral development of the listeners. The programmes seek to entertain as well as educate and to provide information in creative ways that are attractive to the listeners.
Radio Pacis signal has a radium of about 200 Km. Besides the two dioceses in West Nile (Arua and Nebbi) we reach Gulu, Kitgum, part of Lira and Hoima. We are able to cover almost the whole of the Northern Uganda where there has been war for more than 18 years. The “Radio of Peace” is committed to reach out to the suffering people in the IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps. Radio Pacis is very well heard also in Yei (Southern Sudan) and beyond (some say that reaches also Juba). In the West we go into the Congo. For sure more than 5 million people can tune to Radio Pacis.
In the region of West Nile other five other FM radio stations are operational. From an independent "Listener Survey" published in June 2005 organized by FIT-SEMA and sponsored by ILO (International Labour Organization – a UN organization) Radio Pacis came up as the radio that has the highest number of listeners in West Nile.
In June 2005 SIGNIS-Africa held its Assembly in Kampala just before the AMECEA Bishops’ plenary (AMECEA region comprises 8 countries) and organized an Exposé of the media activities in the region for the Bishops to see. SIGNIS wanted to give the AMECEA bishops a dynamic display of what Catholic media is capable of. RADIO PACIS was awarded with the first prize.
In July the President of Uganda was scheduled to visit Arua. The organizers and the personnel of the security chose Radio Pacis as the best radio for the president to address the population about the referendum. Unfortunately, due to an outbreak of cholera, the visit was cancelled at the last minute. But on 6th December, during a visit to West Nile, President Museveni came to Radio Pacis for a 2-hour talk show.
A month earlier, 7 November 2005, Dr. Kizza Besigye, a presidential candidate, was here for a 2-hour talk show. (After a week he was imprisoned …) Later, he was able to come again on 28 January 2006.
In the national newspaper THE NEW VISION on September 27, 2005 there was a result of a survey about radio listenership carried out by Target Group Index in Uganda and Radio Pacis resulted, out of 115 radio stations, at the 6th place at nationallevel!!
Radio Pacis has been broadcasting 19 hours a day, seven days a week, from 6:00 AM to 1:00 AM.Since December 2005 we are on air 24 hours a day . We broadcast normally in four languages: English, Lögbara, Madi and Kakwa. Weekly we host a programme in Alur. Occasionally other languages are used.
The majority of the programming is produced in the Radio Pacis studios. Via internet, three programmes, of 25 minutes each, are broadcast from other sources: Daybreak Africa from Voice of America (VOA), English for Africa from Radio Vatican, and Focus on Africa from BBC. The locally produced programmes include news bulletins, features and magazines. Daily, news is presented in English, Lögbara, Ma’di and Kakwa languages. A daily news journal and a press review are also part of the regular programming. In addition to news, several magazines present topics of religion, education, health and interpersonal relationships.
The Catholic identity of the radio is strong and runs throughout the programming. In addition, the Sunday Mass is broadcast on Sunday afternoons. Daily, a Scripture Moment invites the listeners to reflect on the readings of the day. The diocesan departments and parishes are an essential part of the programming. The Bishop’s Round Table is an hour-long discussion programme broadcast every Monday evening featuring Bishop Frederick Drandua. In the same hour on Tuesday, the social teaching of the church is presented in a live talk show by the financial administrator and others from the Caritas Department. Wednesday’s evening talk show features the diocesan health department. Thursday evening, the education department is live in the studios. On Friday evening the youth department addresses the listeners about issues related to youth. The weekly programme called Catechist Hour features the pastoral coordinator, Fr. Aquilino Acidri and some catechists preparing the Sunday liturgy with hints for lectors, homilists and song leaders. Local choirs have been busy in the production studios of Radio Pacis recording music that is used in the programming. More than 1,100 songs have been recorded so far!
Two particular programmes target the children: Bible for the Kids and Amazing Life. Women are targeted every morning on Monday through Friday in a programme called Life as We Know It.
Perhaps the most entertaining feature is the locally produced drama series. The programming is rounded out by the usual greetings and announcements and music. Special programming was prepared for Christmas, Easter, the death/funeral of Pope John Paul II and the election/inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI.