Radio Simba
Radio Simba is a privately held Ugandan FM radio station broadcasting Luganda-language news, talk, music, and sports programming on 97.3 FM in Kampala and 92.1 FM in Mubende, supported by advertising revenue and online streaming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersKampala, Uganda
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Radio Simba does
Radio Simba is a privately held Ugandan FM radio station headquartered in Bukoto, Kampala, broadcasting Luganda-language programming on 97.3 FM in Kampala and 92.1 FM in Mubende. Founded in 1998, the station serves the Northern Buganda region with a 24-hour schedule spanning news, political talk, music, sports, gospel, and community storytelling across more than ten named daily shows including Binsangawano (morning drive), Simba Taxi (mid-morning), Olutindo (political talk), Simba Sports, and overnight music blocks. The station operates an ISO 9001:2015 certified newsroom and is led by Executive Chairman Aga Sekalala Jr. with a small leadership team spanning programming, finance, and technical management; total headcount is 16.
The business model is advertising and sponsorship-driven: Radio Simba sells airtime, sponsored segments, and branded content to local Ugandan advertisers, with pricing not publicly disclosed and structured by time slot, program, and duration. Beyond its terrestrial FM footprint, the station distributes via a global online live stream at radiosimba.ug/stream and maintains a multi-platform social media presence across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X. The station also integrates third-party music chart data via a partnership with Howwe Music to feature trending Ugandan songs on-air and on its website.
Underlying technology is conventional FM radio broadcasting with a basic web streaming layer; there is no disclosed proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, mobile app, or API infrastructure. The competitive positioning rests on Luganda-language programming depth, dual-frequency regional coverage, a 25-year brand presence, and presenter-driven content, with expansion effort concentrated on digital/social channels rather than audience or geographic scaling.
Radio Simba firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Radio Simba
- Legal name
- Radio Simba
- Website
- https://radiosimba.ug
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Radio Simba is a privately held Ugandan FM radio station broadcasting Luganda-language news, talk, music, and sports programming on 97.3 FM in Kampala and 92.1 FM in Mubende, supported by advertising revenue and online streaming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Radio Simba industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Services-Advertising (7310)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG), News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)
Keywords
Where Radio Simba is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kampala
- HQ country
- Uganda
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Radio Simba business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising & Sponsorships: Radio Simba generates revenue through advertising and sponsorships, featuring sponsored segments and branded content within programming. The station broadcasts to listeners across multiple frequencies in Uganda.
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Radio Simba product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Radio Simba is a Ugandan FM radio station that broadcasts Luganda-language news, talk shows, music, sports, and community programming on 97.3 FM in Kampala and 92.1 FM in Mubende, with live streaming online. Its content is organized as a daily schedule of named shows (morning news, mid-morning, afternoon talk, evening sports, late-night music). Revenue is generated primarily through on-air advertising and sponsorships sold to local businesses.
Product overview
Radio Simba is a traditional radio broadcasting service operating as a single unified product under the Simba FM brand. The station broadcasts on 97.3 FM in Kampala and 92.1 FM in Mubende, serving Northern Buganda since 1998. Its programming portfolio consists of scheduled radio shows including morning drive (Binsangawano), mid-morning (Simba Taxi), talk shows (Olutindo, Tokammalirawo, Ebyemizannyo), sports coverage (Simba Sports), evening entertainment (Neyimbira Byange 2026), and overnight music programming (Ennyimba Ezaaffe, Emambya ESaze). The station delivers news reporting, political discussions, community storytelling, and music content primarily in Luganda.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Simba FM Radio Broadcasting Service FM radio broadcasting service operating on 97.3 FM in Kampala and 92.1 FM in Mubende, delivering Luganda-language news, talk shows, music, sports, and community programming, with live online streaming for audiences outside the FM footprint. Listeners are Luganda-speaking Ugandans; the service is also sold to advertisers via on-air ad spots and sponsorships.
- Simba FM Live Online Stream Live online audio stream of the Simba FM broadcast, accessible globally via the station's website for listeners outside the FM coverage area.
Companies that use Radio Simba
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Radio Simba technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Radio Simba partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Howwe MusicminorRadio Simba integrates Howwe Hot 100 chart data into their programming, featuring trending Ugandan music tracks on their website and on-air content. This partnership provides music chart data for the station's trending songs section.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Radio Simba competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Nation Media Group: East Africa's largest independent media group, controlling KFM, Sanyu, Radio One, NTV, and the Daily Monitor in Uganda. A broad incumbent in the same Ugandan media market, with overlapping radio offerings and significantly larger financial and editorial resources than Radio Simba.
- Royal Media Services: Kenya's largest privately-owned media house operating multiple FM stations and a TV network. Comparable to Radio Simba as a regional commercial broadcaster with diversified local-language radio assets, but operating at significantly greater scale and across Kenya rather than Uganda.
Direct peers
- Capital FM Uganda: One of Uganda's largest commercial radio networks, broadcasting in English and Luganda from Kampala. Directly comparable to Radio Simba as a Kampala-based commercial FM operator competing for overlapping advertising budgets and audiences in the capital.
- Sanyu FM: Kampala-based FM radio station focused on music and entertainment, historically owned by Nation Media Group. Comparable to Radio Simba as a commercial FM operator in the same city targeting overlapping youth and adult demographics.
- Radio One 90.7 FM Uganda: Kampala-based urban FM station under the Aga Khan-owned Nation Media ecosystem. Competes with Radio Simba for urban listeners, advertising budgets, and English/Luganda crossover audiences.
- Power FM Uganda: Kampala-based FM station broadcasting Luganda and English content. Directly comparable in format, geography, and target audience to Radio Simba, competing for the same pool of local advertisers.
- Galaxy FM Uganda: Kampala FM station under the Ruperalia/Planet Media stable. Comparable to Radio Simba as a Ugandan commercial FM operator competing for regional audiences and Luganda-speaking advertisers.
- KFM Uganda: Long-running Kampala-based news/talk station operated by the Nation Media Group. Competes with Radio Simba for the same Luganda- and English-speaking news audience and for news-format advertising spend in Uganda.
Regional players
- Spice FM Kenya: Nairobi-based English-language FM station under Standard Group. Comparable in format and commercial-advertising model to Radio Simba, but operating in Kenya rather than Uganda and therefore not directly competing for the same audience or advertisers.
Others
- Howwe Music: Ugandan music chart and entertainment platform that supplies the Hot 100 chart data integrated into Radio Simba's programming. Included as an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, given their existing mutual relationship.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Radio Simba social profiles
Digital presenceRadio Simba compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Radio Simba financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Radio Simba leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Radio Simba funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Radio Simba M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Radio Simba
What does Radio Simba do?
Radio Simba is a Ugandan FM radio station that broadcasts Luganda-language news, talk shows, music, sports, and community programming on 97.3 FM in Kampala and 92.1 FM in Mubende, with live streaming online. Its content is organized as a daily schedule of named shows (morning news, mid-morning, afternoon talk, evening sports, late-night music). Revenue is generated primarily through on-air advertising and sponsorships sold to local businesses.
Is Radio Simba a public or private company?
Radio Simba is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Radio Simba founded?
Radio Simba was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Radio Simba based?
Radio Simba is headquartered in Kampala, Uganda, in the Africa region.
How does Radio Simba make money?
One revenue line is on record: advertising & Sponsorships.
Who are Radio Simba's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Nation Media Group and Royal Media Services. Direct peers are Capital FM Uganda, Sanyu FM, Radio One 90.7 FM Uganda, Power FM Uganda, Galaxy FM Uganda and KFM Uganda. Spice FM Kenya is listed as a regional player. Howwe Music is listed as an others.
Does Radio Simba have an API?
No public API is recorded for Radio Simba.
What industry is Radio Simba in?
Radio Simba's product category is Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAC, Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAG, Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication. Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.