For World Radio Day 2025, Terra FM’s community turned out in force. The station sits in Kolokoto village, Ituri province, on the Uganda-DRC border. The rugged Mahagi mountains rise to the northeast, and Lake Albert lies to the west. Here, Terra FM has helped its community voice environmental grievances and seek redress.
Broadcasting on 95.0 and 97.0 FM, Terra FM has built its reputation as a key part of Environmental Defenders, whose work focuses on climate justice, conservation, and the human rights of Indigenous communities in the Albertine region and the Congo Basin.
Thanks to Terra FM experts, farmers now get weather forecasts and advice on adapting to climate change. As a result, crop yields have risen. Listener Desire Onencan says this is why so many people turned out to celebrate World Radio Day with the community radio’s staff.
World Radio Day 2025 at Terra FM
Terra FM marked World Radio Day from February 10 to 13, 2025. UNESCO proclaimed the day on November 3, 2011, at its 36th General Conference. It celebrates radio broadcasting, strengthens international cooperation among broadcasters, and encourages decision-makers to create and provide access to information through radio, including community radio.
Founded in 2019, Terra FM is part of Environmental Defenders (ED), a nonprofit conservation and human rights organization dedicated to protecting biodiversity and Indigenous peoples’ rights. ED works in the Albertine Rift, specifically the Murchison-Semliki, Greater Virunga, and Ituri landscapes, spanning the DRC and Uganda within the wider Congo Basin.
The community praised Terra FM’s staff for unpacking the complexities of the Albertine region and informing people on health, food security, and conflict management, with a special focus on solutions to climate change challenges. The celebrations promoted environmental conservation, basic rights, and Indigenous culture in Kolokoto, Mahagi Port, and Ramogi in Mukambu chiefdom, eastern DRC, and highlighted radio’s crucial role in sharing information and engaging communities on climate change.
World Radio Day 2025, day one: plastic cleanup and a 15 km marathon
Samuel Jaryekonga Warom, Communications Director of Environmental Defenders in the Congo Basin, told Watetezi.org that the first day, Monday, February 10, opened with three activities. The morning (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) was dedicated to practical environmental action, as participants collected plastic waste and raised community awareness on environmental protection, emphasizing each person’s responsibility for a healthy environment.
In the afternoon (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), runners took on a 15 km marathon. The route ran from Terra FM’s headquarters in Kolokoto to the Urii River in Wagungu chiefdom. The race drew 90 runners, in separate men’s and women’s categories. Along the way, the Terra FM team talked with thousands of people about personal responsibility for the climate.
Okello Yona, presenter of Kazi Ni Kazi on Terra FM, who organized and judged the races, told Watetezi.org that the marathon encouraged people to exercise, since excess body fat is unhealthy. He said the race targeted overweight people, noting that being fit and agile helps people protect the environment.
“People must be healthy to protect the environment. That is why they cleaned the river and collected polythene.” — Okello Yona, presenter, Terra FM
In each race, the winner received UGX 120,000, the runner-up UGX 80,000, and third place UGX 30,000, while the next seven finishers received UGX 20,000 each.
Day two: cleaning Mahagi Port market
On Tuesday, February 11, the focus was again on action, this time in a different place. In the morning (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.), participants cleaned Mahagi Port market and educated vendors and shoppers about the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
In the afternoon (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.), a running competition at the Kolokoto playground featured categories for women weighing over 70 kg and men over 85 kg, combining sport with community engagement. The winner took home UGX 70,000, second place UGX 50,000, and third place UGX 30,000, while the next seven finishers received UGX 15,000 each, so the top ten in each race all received a cash prize.
Day three: Ramogi cleanup and the Radio and Climate Change conference
On the final day, ED was joined by the association VCCI to collect waste at Ramogi trading center from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., while a public address system was used to educate the community about environmental conservation and the health impacts of plastic pollution. From 11 a.m., the celebrations moved to a conference on the day’s theme, “Radio and Climate Change.” Read the full report on the World Radio Day 2025 climate conference.
What leaders said about World Radio Day 2025
“Terra is able to celebrate World Radio Day because it has done great work. In 2023, some people wanted to burn Terra FM, with special attention on three journalists whose voices had tried to hold polluters and wrongdoers accountable. If your voice is powerful, they will fight to silence it. Some wanted to corrupt journalists so that they would stop exposing environmental destruction.” — Uguti Upar Justin, Station Director, Terra FM
“The celebrations helped me interact with the community. They helped us collect polythene bags and raise awareness on the importance of conserving the environment to control climate change.” — Sarah Lonyo, journalist at Terra FM and Senior Program Officer, Environmental Defenders
“Terra FM has involved local leaders who were reluctant to take part in environmental programs, and they are now actively involved in stopping some of these harmful practices. After the celebrations, we are sure everything will continue, because people have learned what to do.” — Gloria Ayiorwoth, Director, Environmental Defenders
A lifeline for communities
Terra FM’s 2025 World Radio Day celebrations were a resounding success, showing the power of community radio to mobilize people for climate action, environmental conservation, and social change. Through waste collection, community awareness, and sporting events, the station reinforced the message that everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment.
Terra FM is more than a radio station. It is a lifeline for communities, providing crucial information on climate adaptation, conservation, and human rights. As an integral part of Environmental Defenders, it embodies ED’s mission of promoting environmental justice, biodiversity conservation, and the protection of Indigenous peoples’ rights in the Albertine and Congo Basin regions.
The event also highlighted the challenges environmental journalists face, including threats and attempts to silence them. Yet Terra FM remains steadfast, giving a platform to those advocating for environmental and social justice, and the strong community turnout was a testament to the trust it has built over the years. Environmental Defenders and Terra FM will continue to champion climate awareness, empower communities, and hold polluters accountable, building a more informed, resilient, and proactive society in the fight against climate change.