The effectiveness of radio in the social transformation of people in Kampala: A case study of the Late Date Show on Capital FM

Abstract

Humans are naturally very social beings and the way we communicate is a vital aspect of our lives, therefore, during the 1800s, there was a rush among inventors to develop newer and better ways to allow long distance and mass communication and over time, a number of communication technologies have sprung up, making long distance communication very easy. This dissertation is based on the assumption that radio still remains a main and huge transformative force in Kampala even with the abundance of technological alternatives. The question that this dissertation explores is to what extent and in what ways has radio been able to effect social change? What factors are limiting radio from its ability to transform people’s lives socially? What prospects exist in improving the effectiveness of radio in social transformation? In order to explore these questions, this dissertation analyses the genesis of radio, the development of radio in Uganda, an overview of politics and the development of radio in Uganda and economic development and radio in Uganda. Further still, this dissertation provides findings that radio still has potential to effect social change, regardless, of the many bottlenecks that stand in its way. I conclude this dissertation by providing recommendations as to how best radio can be utilized for it to be able to effectively transform lives socially.