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What once seemed like an ambitious dream has today become a proud national reality. When the University of Botswana (UB) Department of Media Studies first applied for a broadcasting licence, few imagined that the institution’s training radio would one day blaze a trail in Botswana’s community broadcasting landscape.

That vision came to life with the debut of UB Radio on FM airwaves, transforming what once felt unattainable into a dream realised. UB Radio, an online and campus station for UB, officially launched on FM on the 11th of February 2025, making it accessible to a wider audience in Gaborone (99.5FM), Francistown (107.2FM) and Maun (101.0FM).

That pioneering spirit was underscored today (27th August 2025) when Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) awarded five (5) additional community radio licences, a milestone that reaffirms UB Radio’s role in breaking new ground.

Speaking at the award ceremony, BOCRA Director of Licensing, Ms Tebogo Mmoshe, lauded UB Radio’s trailblazing contribution. “UB Radio has proved that it can be done and has done it,” she said, noting that the station demonstrated not only the possibility but also the feasibility of community broadcasting in Botswana.

For too long, government resisted calls to introduce community radio stations, citing the Rwanda experience as proof that such a move could encourage tribalism and impact the national unity Batswana worked so hard to achieve.

“Honestly, the fact that we started up as the first community radio station, and we are doing so well and received so well by the community and everyone in the industry, makes us so proud,” said UB Radio Station Manager, Ms Kelly Ramputswa-Tlale. She added, “It makes us work even harder to ensure we continue to build on the legacy that community radio can work.”

Ms Ramputswa-Tlale further emphasised their vision to champion local talent that “Local is amazing, local is what we can package and take to the world.”

UB Radio is anchored within the Department of Media Studies, primarily serving as a hands-on training ground for students in journalism, broadcasting and communication. Beyond its academic mission, the station has emerged as a community voice - bridging education, entertainment and development issues.

At the launch of UB Radio FM on the 11th of February 2025, the Minister of Higher Education, Hon Prince Maele, hailed the initiative as a breakthrough in higher education. He described UB Radio as a practical platform for nurturing talent and sharpening skills in an industry undergoing rapid transformation.

The Minister emphasised that by equipping students with real-world broadcasting experience, the University contributes not just to academic excellence but also to the broader national media ecosystem.

Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, also highlighted the station’s significance. He said UB Radio embodied the University’s vision of being a leading centre of academic excellence with direct societal impact. “This is not just a station for UB students,” he remarked. “It is a voice for the community, a space for dialogue and an opportunity to foster knowledge exchange that resonates beyond the classroom.”

From its humble beginnings as a campus-based and online training outlet, UB Radio has risen to become a beacon of what is possible in Botswana’s broadcasting landscape. Today, as more community radios are licensed, the station’s legacy as a pioneer is firmly cemented.