In a dramatic turn of events, a lightning strike has severely impacted communication infrastructure in Uganda, leaving many television and radio channels off the air. The incident occurred at the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) signal tower, which plays a crucial role in broadcasting and communication across the country.
On the evening of August 15, 2024, a powerful lightning storm struck the UCC signal tower located in Spring road, Bugolobi. The lightning surge caused significant damage to the tower’s electrical systems, resulting in widespread disruption to television and radio broadcasts. Emergency response teams were swiftly mobilized, but the extent of the damage has led to an extended outage.
The outage has affected a broad range of media outlets, with many TV and radio channels currently off-air. Viewers and listeners across Uganda are experiencing interruptions in their daily access to news, entertainment, and educational content most especially those with free to air decoders. As i am writting this, the UCC has not yet acknowledged the disruption and though working diligently to restore services as quickly as possible.
The UCC has deployed a team of engineers and technicians to address the damage caused by the lightning strike according to Sir Nic Omubedhe (journalist at 104.9 success fm). They are currently working to repair the tower’s electrical systems and restore the signal. The commission is also in contact with broadcasting companies to keep them informed about the progress of the repairs.
In the meantime, alternative communication channels such as online streaming services and mobile apps may offer temporary solutions for accessing content.
Developing story, stay on…..