Akol Yam FM is set to get back on air soon following the successful installation of a temporary broadcast tower earlier this week.
The station's original 72-meter mast was destroyed by heavy
winds and rain in May, leaving the radio silent and the community without
access to vital local news and programs. In its place, a 40-meter mast has been
raised as a temporary solution.
According to the station manager Angelina Achol Piol, the
temporary tower will provide limited coverage, approximately 25 to 30 kilometers,
compared to the previous 100-kilometer range.
Achol explained that this is a temporary fix to address the
information gap, and full coverage will be restored once enough funding is secured
to reinstall the original mast.
Although the tower is now in place, the station is still
waiting for key equipment, including the Radio Frequency (RF) cable, feeders,
and jumpers, which are being sourced from outside the country.
Engineer Thomas Freeman, who is leading the repairs, says
the station could resume broadcasting within two days of receiving the missing
items.
“If we get these missing items by now, we can broadcast even
after two days. But since these are items are sourced from outside the country,
it will require some few days for the station to be back on air,” said Thomas.
The restoration effort is being supported by The Radio
Community through funds raised from advertisers and other program income.
Since the reinstallation began, community members have been
frequently visiting the site, eager to see progress. Many residents have
expressed how the station’s silence has left them “in total darkness,” as Akol
Yam FM was their major source of local information.
The management along with community members continue to appeal to donors and well-wishers to support the station in fully restoring its 72-meter mast and extending coverage back to its original reach.