By Nasser Kasozi Akandwanaho
Rajiv Ruparelia the managing Director of Ruparelia Group of companies, has expressed interest and declared plans to starting a television station any time to expand presence in the broadcasting spectrum that will give audio-visual presentations to the viewers.
Rajiv made the pronouncement on Friday evening as he announced Ethan Kavuma aka Eth Lawinsky as the winner of the Sanyu FM’s Hot Mic Search competition.
Rajiv Ruparelia further announced plans of SANYU FM giving cars and motorcycles to its listeners next month in a hot drive to pull the audience to be hooked to the station.
“Next month they are going to launch “Mayhem month” where they will give a car and motorcycles to winners” Rajiv said.
He further said that, “We are going to change the (media) scene; we are going to be innovative and we are going to make sure we get the biggest following,” Rajiv said, adding: “And eventually if things go well, Ruparelia Group might enter the TV space and other media spaces.”
Rajiv Ruparelia added that Uganda is full of talented youth. And noted that the new presenters who are talented will come in hot and relevant to the youth of today and their challenges.
Rajiv also thanked the participants in the competition, describing them as the real heroes of the industry. And also thanked advertisers for embracing Sanyu FM, Uganda’s best music station.
Roger Mugisha the new program’s director at Sanyu FM says the radio management realized the need to mentor potential candidates for radio in an era where presenters seem to be recycled from one station to another.
Mugisha explained that young people are not mentored to take over from those that have been in the industry for so long.
Lawinsky beat other nine finalists to emerge the winner of the Shs3M grand prize and a 3-year job contract at Sanyu FM.
The search which was launched last month attracted over 1,300 entries.
The other finalists were Timothy Code, Keith Karuhuura, Philo Mena, Kyle Duncan, Sandra Cope, Mami Deb, Stella Nanye, Immy Namanya and Harris Mukiibi.
The hot mic search was announced last month in a bid to scoop some of the raw, undiscovered talent in the country.
Sanyu FM was founded in 1993, becoming the first private FM radio station in Uganda.