Voice of Life (VOL) is a Ugandan Christian broadcast station (accessible via 100.9 FM and various internet streaming sites eg streema, steprimo, etc) that first aired on Thursday 27th November 1997 in Jiako Suburb of Arua City but is currently located on Arua Hill (North face) at Plot M47 Independence or Uhuru Road, west of Hilltop Hotel. DIGUNA (a German organisation) is also found near it.
VOL is "O'duko mini ecozu Asi 'bazu drinia ra ri [Translated from Lugbara: The Voice you can Trust]". Though mainly a Lugbara-English station, it also broadcasts in Aringa (Low Lugbara), Madi, Kakwa and Alur (because of proximity) plus sometimes Luganda which is Uganda's Most Spoken Indigenous Language outside Swahili. The station's combination logo has a red dot in the centre on top of a green mast encircled by three green line arcs; the outer one bends right and forms a straight horizontal topline under which is written Voice of Life, then FM 100.9 below it (or 100.9 Voice of Life FM Arua) in white sans fonts within a green rectangular panel. The motto appears below the name.
"My feel-good station; makes me feel good... They play all the major hits... I love... We love your station; it's great! Thanks for listening..."
The word of GOD is a seed which VOL broadcasts or sows; the listeners are the harvest.
"We wake you up from bed. We take you to work, bring you back and lay you to bed. (Silina mukwano nga ono YESU [Luganda for: I do not have a friend like this one JESUS]); the Voice you can trust, all day!"
During Twenty22, Laban Econi was the Station Manager.
In Twenty24, VOL closed at 1am after midnight and reopened at 5am before sunrise; there was news at 7am plus announcements and in Lugbara at 7:30am. Preaching shows on weekdays were broadcast at 9 (Insight for Living with Chuck Swindle) and 10am (Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah, repeats at 10pm) and had Mile Ziza [Eye opening] in between before Ejonga Aringa gari at 10:30am hosted by John Ayile (Station Manager) or Saviour. News in English was at 11:30am plus announcements; Adungu Sawa at midday (playing Lugbara Church music using traditional instruments); E'yo Laza [News in Lugbara] was at 1pm; Sports at 1:15pm plus Lunchhour Devotion at 1:45 to 2pm. The afternoon Soultimes from 1pm was steered by sweet voices eg Charity (the Veteran), Claudia (Newsreader with polished accent), my favourite Grace who also does Sports, etc; Lingala music played at 3pm. On Mondays at 4pm, there was Scripture Stories, then Aiza [Prayers]/ Okuza [Gathering] or Kanisa on Fridays (instead of Ongo Anzi Akua 'Diari pi Dri) followed by Hits & Beats at 5pm with Emmanuel Feta who played upbeat, jamming songs and Reverend Captain Aleni at sunset on Tuesdays. More English news came at 7pm. Weekends had different programming including Education Hour after 9am; Mali Nyakuni at 10:30am; show for Anzi Ode after 1pm news; Sports, Youth and South Sudanese Refugee Talkshows on Saturday afternoon; Sunday Halfhour Gospel at 9:30am with Pastor Norman Acidri from Arua Full Gospel; Church Service from random churches in the West Nile Diocese at 10:30 to 11:30am; Sunday Delight at 5pm in Kakwa; Pastor Benjamin Nebechukwu (Nigerian who moved to Uganda) at 10pm; etc.
E'yo Mbe Ma Ti'bi 'Bo [Issues Have Licked My Soup] used to be a very compelling show where people discuss various problems in studio and through on-air phonecalls. It was moved to Sunday night.
The Love Clinic with Dr. Love (John Milton Anguyo, first Director of UCU Ringili Campus) on Mondays at 8pm then Sunday was also much loved because love is the greatest thing. He moved to Westnile TV and continued with his work healing relationships.
Despite being Anglican-Church-founded, VOL hosts shows by Pentecostal pastors too eg Times of Refreshing on Mondays at 8pm with Geofrey Israel Opio, David Emazu, Peter Galabuzi, etc. I do not hear Roman Catholic Church music played often on VOL, but it networks with Catholic-founded Radio Pacis in Ediofe.
Live Anglican Church events like Archbishop visit services are broadcast on air. For science enthusiasts over 343 metres away from Mvara Cathedral for example, you can notice how radio waves travel faster than the loud sound in the air. Before that distance though, there might be a lag behind the real sound. Nevertheless, radio waves are faster than TV by a few seconds; noticed that during the 2002 FA Cup Final (Double Happy-iness).
With a variety of programs including affiliate broadcasts from Trans World Radio (TWR) which started in 1954, talkshows, devotionals, lessons, church services, music bonanzas, children's programs, news, live events and so on, Voice of Life has touched so many lives across numerous imaginary borders; no VISA.
GOD is great! I first came to Arua (Sweetest Place on Earth) on 1st February Y2K, so my enlightenment about the station began around that time. There was Radio Paidha in Nebbi, but I never listened to it. Apparently, there was also a radio operated by SPLA rebels farther north. VOL was the pioneer FM station in Arua (West Nile) after Capital (which came to Arua over two decades later) and Sanyu took over Kampala since 1992. For extra infotainment, I usually tuned in to Radio Uganda on Medium Wave plus a foggy variety on Short Wave eg BBC, Deutsche Welle, Voice of America, Adventist World Radio, Radio India (though understood almost nothing), China Radio International, etc. I even built my own antenna receivers using wires and Pure Mathematics. Some nights, I would pick Kiss FM Nairobi so clearly that I wondered if I was a genius yet Radio Production was my Worst Performed Course Unit at UCU along with English Composition (Got C which is 55 to 59 percent), heehee! You do not need very special antenna equipment to pick VOL in Arua; it's free. All you need is a good power supply to your radio whether WENRECo, dry cells or solar batteries.
I've heard VOL very clear like crystal as far as my ancestral home in Ojapi (Maracha East Constituency, about 1 hour by car northwards from Arua Hill). The signal is so strong that it covers a radius of 200 kilometres reaching Bunyoro, Acholiland, DR Congo and South Sudan.
My maternal grandmother named Oripa Airu (1922-2008), wife of Reverend Onesimus Banito Inima who died in 1983 while Parish Priest at Ajara Church of Uganda, put a preset on her grey Aztec radio; there was no other station she listened to besides VOL. One thing I marvelled at about her is that she only read her black-covered Lugbara Bible; no other book.
In 2004 while still fresh at Uganda Christian University (UCU) Mukono campus studying Mass Communication (though later specialised in Print Journalism when I reached 3rd Year), I worked at VOL for only one week during a vacation in Arua. My role was to find news and I brought three stories; the third piece was from BBC: Sharapova beats Serena Williams in Wimbledon Final. Can you imagine, I had written my application letter in red ink? The proprietor Canon Isaac Anguyo (also the Managing Director of Here Is Life) told me while sitted behind his office desk that red ink is used by teachers for marking. I probably thought I was being creative by using the colour of JESUS blood, but returned home to rewrite the letter and got placement. I loved their collection of Sunday Vision magazines. Even though I wasn't being paid, I still enjoyed the meetings with the news team leader Joseph Dradria who I rated highly. My absconding from work became a topic because a campus yearmate (named Jacqueline) who later married Jonathan Driliga (Newscaster) told me there was someone who worked at VOL briefly; that person was of course me. My excuse was actually constant headaches which I managed several years later by reducing sugar intake. I had tried wearing tinted glasses, cleaning earwax, drinking lots of water, rest, etc in vain. Then I tried food elimination method and zeroed down on sugar. The other radio station I worked at briefly for academic marks was 96.6 Spirit FM Mukono; a dream told me those who work there like Samuel Ouga do the work angels would have done. I understood that as messengers; Gabriel is like a patron angel or mentor.
In the Church of JESUS, there are guides, helpers, miracle workers, administrators, musicians, intercessors, bishops, deacons, elders, pastors, tongue-speakers, apostles, teachers, prophets, healers and evangelists. Everyone is gifted differently; play your role and let others play theirs!
Music is the only thing that was created in Heaven. The Devil was put in charge of it and defeats everyone in it hands down because he was anointed, but he didn't create ziki. GOD created music for only one purpose: Worship. We ought to use music to worship GOD. What I adore about VOL is its exclusivity; it plays strictly church-oriented music, not worldly garbage (Voice of Death) filled with vulgarity, pride, obscenity, cursing, idolatry, materialism, contempt, disrespect, ridicule, lamentation, lust, greed, separation, ngiringiri [conflict], negativity, hatred and other unwanted things. There are so many worldly songs with very decent themes, but are still not played unlike other stations in the region, which is commendable. Focussing on GOD is the highest entertainment; that is why I consider Voice of Life the best broadcast from West Nile.
Can something good come from Lugbaraland?
'Bu-a 'dale [In Heaven there], there will be praise and worship only, day and night; training begins here. If Christian music bores or annoys you, then you need to exorcise the nefarious spirits making you feel that way.
If you are looking for Lugbara Gospel eg Trust in GOD (T.I.G.), Borderline Music, J-Hope Band, Dedicated2GOD, Oneway Music, Lady Victoria, Hope 2 Reach, Winnie Kushi, Church Voice Group (CVG), Ken & Job, Hope In Christ (HIC), Emmaboy, Alice Drijaru Asedri, Lord Is My Power (L.I.P.), Mungufeni (aka Feni Wym), Vincent Embati, Gospel Armour and so on, then VOL is the place to be.
Secular musicians can crossover to Gospel like Ma$e, Desire Luzinda, Leni Price, etc. Larry Norman asked in one of his songs: Why should the Devil have all the good music? In future, AI will use secular beats to compose praise for GOD. If human disciples keep quiet, then stones and aya [wires] will shout out loudly.
Wulira webangamba nti swag ebuze [Luganda 4: Hear how they tell me that swagger has disappeared], yet this JESUS-style is easy, ta-ta, tatata, ta!
VOL introduced Erica Mukisa (The Devil is Bad) to me before the Covid-19 hoax pandemic and since I was born in Jinja like her with plans to practise magic, I understood and believed whatever she was saying, no matter how fantastical her narrations seemed. I did not go under water, but saw weird things both physically and in spirit, even met the Devil in a white t-shirt and blood-red trousers on a deserted Buganda Road one lonely morning around 2006. Consequently, I transcribed her recordings.
"GOD has given us a freedom of choice, but what you choose determines your destiny. If you choose JESUS, yours is eternal life..."
I use VOL among other audio sources to create my small to medium Lugbara Language Model for Artificial Intelligence.
Tell me who knows a peaceful place where I can go when am feeling low? Arua Heal (read Hill). If you have a problem, then just look up to the sky! GOD solves problems because HE is big; magnify nothing above HIM!
JESUS is for everybody!
Mi oja asi [Change heart/ Repent]!
Numbers to call Voice of Life FM include 0772-453045, 0707-315714 or 0791-114009!
Support the station by giving to 0783-999598 (William Mugisha) in VOL's drive to get new equipment including solar panels...
VOL Anniversary 2025 Anthem (Lyrics):
-
O'duko ecozu asi 'bazuri,
Eri Voice of Life;
(VOL at 28)!
CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Eh, since 1997 (Nineteen ninety seven)
When the LORD blessed us,
With the first radio and a mighty one.
Asanti sana, we thank You, JESUS,
For this great radio, You've given us!
Yeh!
HOOK:
We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate)
28 years, I celebrate!
(Let's jubilate!)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, let's jubilate!
CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.
077245, 3045; call to your radio, VOL!
Voice of Life, O'duko Idri ni,
Eri lu 'ba asi omi,
Le ama iri o'du driavusi, ada!
Yeah! This is 100.9 FM, Voice of Life,
And this is the Voice we can trust.
CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.
For your news, for your sermons,
For your sports news, for your announcements and for music;
(Tune to Voice of Life!)
Ah!
For your talkshows, for your prayers, for your teachings,
Sensitizations, children's programs,
(Tune to Voice of Life!)
(Emvu anzi ru, awizi, oku akaru,
Mi ama asi ati, redio Voice of Life.) 2X
Thus far the Lord has brought us,
We trust Him for many more years.
He said: Fear not!
I am with you!
The Voice we trust.
(We celebrate, ay!)
We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate!)
28 years, let's celebrate!
(We jubilate)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, (Jubilate!) let's jubilate!
HalleluYAH!
Ada, mi oja ma edri ni,
Mi ina mani MUNGU ni, Voice of Life
(Voice of Life).
Ovu drio, anini YESU ku.
Anini MUNGU ku,
Iko ma aza ra (Ah ah, ah ah).
Ma esu saa 'disi drileba, ayiko ra.
'Yo lu mani e'yo nderi,
Ma oja asi ra.
E'yo nderi fe mani pata, ayiko,
Fe mani drileba, ayiko si,
Voice of Life si.
CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.
We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate)
28 years, I celebrate!
(We jubilate)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, (We jubilate) let's jubilate!
Eh,
Ma-i, ma esu pata 'bo,
Ma esu pata nde, VOLU dri.
O'duko 'di ica mavu pere mani onzi 'yeria.
YESU nze ma 'bo,
VOLU dri.
O'duko pata niri olupiri (VOL),
O'duko asianzu niri erepiri (VOL)
O'duko atita niri olupiri (VOL)
O'duko pata niri olupiri (VOL)
Oku yi ma redio (VOL)
Agupi ma redio (VOL)
Eh? (VOL)
Eh eh? (VOL)
We celebrate, ay! (VOL)
We celebrate, celebrate,
(Celebrate)
28 years, I celebrate!
(We jubilate)
We jubilate, jubilate,
(Jubilate!)
28 years, (Jubilate!) let's jubilate!
O'bi yi ma redio (VOL)
Eh? (VOL)
O'duko asianzu niri erepiri (VOL)
Akini ma erini emi ku yo (VOL),
VO, what? (VOL).
CHORUS:
Redio, redio amani, O'duko Idri ni, fe piri ni.
Redio, redio o'bini, O'duko Idri ni fe piri ni.
END
YESU ni Geri [JESUS is the Way]!
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