A sign outside the studio of Radio King 90.2FM in Gulu, northern Uganda. Photograph: Sally Hayden
In a studio in Gulu city, Jans sits between red and white soundproofed walls, a thickly carpeted floor beneath his feet. He plays music from Ugandan girl group The Obsessions, Caribbean band Kassav’, andIn one of his segments connecting people who were split, a man called Alvin phones up, asking to be put through to his “colleague” Sefa, “the future wife of mine”.“He’s my boyfriend,” Sefa responds, shyly.On air, their lines crackling, Alvin thanks Sefa for everything she’s done for him.
Jans, in his booming radio voice, thanks them. “You’ve been a very wonderful couple. We’re going for a wedding very soon after corona, right?” he asks.“I believe you’re going to love and stay loyal to each other during this lockdown and hopefully the time comes when you can meet again,” says Jans, before signing off. “Remember, we can do this.”