Chinese-aided satellite TV project to benefit 400 villages in Uganda

File photo shows technicians install the satellite television equipment in Kakiri SOS Children's Village, in Wakiso, July 20, 2018. China and the Ugandan government have launched a satellite television (TV) project in the central Ugandan district of Wakiso. (Xinhua/Joseph Kiggundu)

China has launched the second phase of the satellite TV project which will provide TV services in over 400 villages in Uganda. The first phase of the project has benefited over 500 villages and more than 500,000 people in Uganda. The second phase started with the training of engineers who are going to fix the satellite TV in the villages.

China on Saturday launched the second phase of the satellite TV project which will be implemented and provide TV services in over 400 villages in Uganda.

Jiang Jiqing, Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese embassy here said the project is critical especially for students in rural areas that had difficulty in accessing education information.

"I know a number of schools have been closed because of this pandemic but education and schooling will not stop with the help of these StarTimes TV programs," Jiang said. StarTimes TV, a Chinese-owned pay television service provider, will air education programs among others through satellite television.

Song Wei, project director at StarTimes said connecting villages will start this month and end before December 25.

Song said homes, public places, schools and offices will be connected with satellite television sets.

"We hope the project will become the bridge of longtime friendship between Chinese and Ugandans," Song said.

Paul Odoi, principal engineer at Uganda's ministry of information and communication technology, said the project is in line with the government's Parish Development Model, which aims to take services closer to the people.

File photo shows some of the SOS Children's Village in Kakiri perform a dance during the launch ceremony of a satellite TV project in Wakiso District, Uganda, July 20, 2018. (Xinhua/Joseph Kiggundu)

The first phase of the project has benefited over 500 villages and more than 500,000 people in Uganda. The second phase started with the training of engineers who are going to fix the satellite TV in the villages.

The project is one of the fruits of the resolutions of the 2015 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in which the Chinese government pledged to provide satellite TV in 10,000 African villages.