The amateur radio hobby is often perceived as a technical pastime focused on overcoming distances, testing antennas, or competing in contests. There are brands that carry a much deeper story than just a locator and report. One such example is the station 5X4E from Uganda. Behind this call sign is Paolo Bicego, an Italian amateur radio operator with the home call IZ3QFD, who has turned his work in Africa into a life mission to help the most vulnerable.
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Mission in the Heart of Northern Uganda
Paolo Bicego has lived and worked in Uganda for ten years. Together with his partner Sara Meneguzzo, who joined him in September 2021, they operate in the city of Gulu in the north of the country. Their home and workplace has become St. Jude Children’s Home - an orphanage and center for children with disabilities. This facility is not just an institution; for many abandoned and vulnerable children, it represents the only real home they have ever known.
The history of this place is closely linked to Italian missionaries. Paolo worked closely with Brother Elio Croce, a member of the Comboni order, who led the orphanage for more than three decades. Together they built infrastructure and organized activities that gave hope to children without a future. After Brother Elio's death in 2020 from COVID-19, Paolo and Sara took on the challenging task of keeping this work alive.
Stigma and Shadows of the Past
The situation in Uganda is extremely harsh for children with disabilities. Physical or mental disabilities are still stigmatized in the local society. Families are often forced to hide their children, or worse, abandon them, due to the lack of social policies and economic resources to provide necessary medical care.
In addition to the disability, the center also bears the burden of the tragic history of the region. Many children at St. Jude are descendants of victims of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebellion led by Joseph Kony. Some of them were previously rejected by their own families as 'unclean children' because they were born to mothers who became victims of violence during the conflict. Currently, the center provides shelter for 65 children, 25 of whom suffer from severe mental or physical disabilities.
The struggle for survival and amateur radio bridge
St. Jude Children’s Home is currently going through a critical period. The death of key donors and a change in leadership have caused financial uncertainty that threatens the very existence of the orphanage. Paolo and Sara have therefore decided to leave their original jobs and fully dedicate themselves to saving this project. Their efforts are supported by the Italian NGO 'Insieme si Può', which ensures transparency in the management of funds.
Here the amateur radio hobby comes into play. For Paolo, the call sign 5X4E is a means to connect the world of technology with the world of solidarity. Every connection he makes from Uganda is an opportunity to highlight the fate of children in Gulu. Funds raised through voluntary contributions for QSL lístky alebo priamych darov smerujú na opravy ubytovní, prevádzku kliniky, nákup liekov na epilepsiu, kosáčikovitú anémiu či hydrocefalus, a na zabezpečenie vzdelávania.
Practical information for 5X4E hunters
If you manage to make a connection with station 5X4E, you should pay attention to specific instructions for confirming connections. Paolo is a member of the ARI Agno Chiampo amateur radio club in Italy, which helps him with the QSL card agenda.
Potvrdenie spojenia je možné viacerými spôsobmi. Cez rádioamatérsky byro (Bureau) sa lístky posielajú na klubovú značku IQ3CO. Pre tých, ktorí preferujú priamu cestu (Direct), je manažérom Alberto Casa (IZ3ZLG) z talianskej Vicenzy. Pri priamej žiadosti sa vyžaduje príspevok 3 USD a spiatočná obálka s adresou. Dôležitým upozornením je, že stanica nevyužíva systém Logbook of the World (LoTW). Vzhľadom na to, že Alberto Casa vykonáva funkciu manažéra dobrovoľne popri svojom zamestnaní, rádioamatéri sú žiadaní o trpezlivosť pri doručovaní potvrdení.
Paolo Bicego, through his work under the brand 5X4E, demonstrates that amateur radio can also have a strong humanitarian dimension. Every '73' sent from Uganda to the world is a reminder that behind the noise in the ether are real human destinies and children who, thanks to the help of the amateur radio community, are given a chance for a more dignified life.