Bunyoro Mourns Radio Pioneer Canan Kyanku's Sudden Passing

The Bunyoro region is mourning the sudden loss of Canan Kyanku, the pioneering founder of Radio Hoima – the first radio station established in Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom. Kyanku passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 25, 2025, during a prayer service at Nyakitema Church of Uganda in Kikoboza village, Kikuube district.

According to his son, Jorokamu Bamwenda (known professionally as JB Lawyer), Kyanku collapsed while attending the afternoon service. "He was in good health when he drove himself to church with his wife this morning," Bamwenda revealed. "The news of his sudden collapse and subsequent passing came as a profound shock."

Canan Kyanku, pioneering broadcaster of Radio Hoima (File Photo)

Eyewitness accounts indicate Kyanku briefly complained of feeling unwell to his spouse before proceeding to present his offertory. After returning to his seat, he reportedly fainted. Congregants swiftly arranged emergency transport to medical facilities in Hoima City, but he passed away en route.

Though Kyanku had battled diabetes for years—a condition that previously necessitated leg amputation—his son confirmed the media pioneer hadn't required medical attention in the preceding fortnight. "His condition had been stable recently," Bamwenda stated, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the tragedy. Bamwenda currently serves as Chief Executive Manager of Radio Hoima, continuing his father's legacy.

Legacy of a Media Trailblazer

Kyanku's establishment of Radio Hoima in 2001 marked a transformative moment in Bunyoro's media landscape. His station became a launchpad for numerous prominent figures, including:

Badru Mugabi - Hoima Resident City Commissioner
Amlan Tumusiime - Kikuube Resident District Commissioner
Joshua Atugonza - Kitara Football Club CEO
Rev. Kolio Stephen Byaruhanga - Bunyoro Kitara Diocese clergy

Tumusiime, who spent two decades at Radio Hoima, paid heartfelt tribute: "As a pioneer staff member since 2001, I owe my career trajectory to Kyanku's vision. The exposure provided by his station fundamentally shaped my professional journey."

Beyond Broadcasting: A Multifaceted Innovator

Kyanku's ingenuity extended beyond media. Though not formally trained as an engineer, he maintained deep connections with Bunyoro's mechanical sector and was mentored by the late prominent engineer Deogratius Kisembo. Boniface Byenkya of Bonne Motor Spares recalled Kyanku as both mentor and client: "He possessed remarkable creativity despite lacking conventional technical education."

This inventive spirit characterized Kyanku's most significant achievement—establishing Bunyoro's inaugural radio station ahead of better-resourced contemporaries. His grassroots approach revolutionized regional information sharing and community engagement.

Radio Hoima nurtured generations of Bunyoro's media professionals

Funeral arrangements remain pending as relatives coordinate with family members abroad. "We're consulting with our diaspora-based relatives and will announce details once finalized," Bamwenda confirmed.

Kyanku's passing leaves a void in Uganda's media history. His creation of Radio Hoima not only gave Bunyoro its first independent voice but cultivated generations of communicators who continue shaping the region's social and political discourse—a testament to his enduring vision for community-driven media.