JOURNALISTS | AWARDS | DGF

KAMPALA - Winners of the Uganda National Journalism Awards will be announced today at a function that will be held at Mestil Hotel, Nsambya in Kampala. 

The ceremony, according to the organisers of the awards, African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), will be attended by a few selected nominees while the rest will follow through a livestream on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. 

This is to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 preventive guidelines which limits public gatherings and calls for social distancing. 

Last month, 54 journalists were shortlisted for the awards. The nominees are spread across 10 categories out of the maximum 20. Among them are 17 Vision Group journalists. 

They are Joshua Kato, Betty Amamukirori, Lillian Namusoke Magezi, Richard Wetaya, Pascal Kwesiga, Gerald Tenywa, Peter Labeja and Cecilia Okoth. 

Others are, Benjamin Ssebaggala, Paul Lubwama, Ismail Nsubuga, Christopher Bendana, Edward Muhumuza, Patrick Tumwesigye, Obeid Lutale, George Bita, and Richard Sanya. 

The entries were assessed by a panel of 16 communication professionals, media educators, and former journalists.  

The panel was chaired by Dr. Charlotte Ntulume, a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University and also a former journalist. 

Each winner will take home a cash prize of Shs1.5 million, a commemorative plaque, and a certificate. Each runner-up will receive Shs750,000 and a certificate. Where there is a tie, the prize money will be shared accordingly. 

Inaugurated in 2014, the Uganda National Journalism Awards celebrate and honour reporting that embraces the ideals of journalistic excellence: enterprise, originality, depth, rigour, accuracy, and diversity of voices.  

This year’s awards, organised with the support of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), continue in this tradition of publicly recognising journalism that informs public debate, analyses trends, questions norms, and holds the powerful to account. 

The shortlist 

Agriculture reporting 

Alon Mwesigwa, The Observer – Milk prices test resilience of Uganda’s dairy sector 
Joshua Kato, New Vision – Agro-chemicals endanger ecosystem 
Ronald Musoke, The Independent – Museveni’s GMO law dilemma and American interest in Uganda’s GMO law 

Arts reporting 

Andrew Kaggwa, Leo Africa Review – Stage to the State: The evolution of Bobi Wine 
Frank Walusimbi, NTV Uganda – The poster boy of defiance music 
Paul Kayonga, NBS Television –  Fresh Kid ssi ye muto asoose okuyimba 

Breaking news 

Betty Amamukirori, New Vision – The forceful mutilation of girls in Kween 
Cliff Wamala, NTV Uganda – Okweyanjula eri poliisi 

Business, economy and finance reporting 

Alon Mwesigwa, The Observer – Winners and losers in the Uganda-Rwanda Row 
Isaac Khisa, The Independent – Behind the sugar zoning politics 
Ismail Musa Ladu, Daily Monitor – How much Uganda is losing in tax agreements with multinational companies (2-part series) 

Data journalism 

Edgar R. Batte, Daily Monitor – Birding can rake in more revenue than mountain gorillas 
Isaac Khisa, The Independent – Across Africa, tech-enabled micro insurance is the next big thing 
Lillian Namusoke Magezi, New Vision – Balancing chores: Men need to take part 

Education reporting 

David Kiyengo, CBS 89.2 Emmanduuso – School dropout 
Richard Wetaya, New Vision – Is PLE to blame for low secondary school enrollment? 
Solomon Serwanjja and Thomas Kitimbo, NBS Television – Mature before 18 

Energy and extractives reporting 

Daniel Lutaaya, NBS Television – The real gold diggers 
Pascal Kwesiga, New Vision – How much will Uganda earn from $20bn oil projects? 
Ronald Musoke, The Independent – ‘Oil money’ negotiations (2-part series) 

Environment reporting 

Gerald Tenywa, New Vision – How green technology cut the cost of running universities 
Peter Labeja, Radio Rupiny – Making charcoal attractive for Uganda’s supermarkets 
Solomon Serwanjja and Timothy Maganda, NBS Television – Bidi Bidi’s firewood crisis 

Explanatory reporting 

Cecilia Okoth, Benjamin Ssebaggala, Paul Lubwama and Ismail Nsubuga, Vision Group – Bribery in Uganda’s ID project (3-part series) 
Pascal Kwesiga, New Vision – Why oil is here to stay 
Raymond Mujuni and Godfrey Badebye, NBS Television – The sinking of MV Templar 

Features 

Christopher Bendana, New Vision – Equality: Women decry gaps between policy and reality 
Felix Ainebyoona, Daily Monitor – Karimojong girl who refused early marriage graduates in Medicine 
Richard Wetaya, New Vision – Is the fight against teenage pregnancy lost? 

Health reporting 

Christopher Kayonga and Gabriel Iguma, Wizarts – Petition 16 
Culton Scovia Nakamya, BBS Terefayina – Trials and tribulations of the deaf in Uganda 
Leah Kahunde, Radio One 90 FM – Unsafe and sorry 
Songa-Samuel Stone Mwesigwa, Salim Segawa and Victor Opira, STORYTELD – Meet Vivan Nabanoba and Hilary Niwamanya, two people living positively with the virus 

Investigative reporting 

Canary Mugume and Thomas Kitimbo, NBS Television – Modern day slavery in Soroti 
Daniel Lutaaya, NBS Television – Without a trace 
Sudhir Byaruhanga, NTV Uganda – Ranch land being taken by government officials 

Justice, law and order reporting 

Betty Amamukirori, Edward Muhumuza, Patrick Tumwesigye and Obeid Lutale, Vision Group – Officials turn courts into corruption dens 
Paul Kayonga, NBS Television – Amateeka mu ddubi 
Sudhir Byaruhanga, NTV Uganda – Police on opposition activities 

Local reporting 

Culton Scovia Nakamya, BBS Terefayina – Mothers at risk of infection as water crisis cripples Nakaseke Hospital 
George Bita, New Vision – Children at risk as condemned asbestos roofs persist 
Herbert Kamoga and Gerald Luyima, NTV Uganda – Nakasongola student walks 15 kilometers to sit for UCE 

National news reporting – Broadcast 

Canary Mugume and Godfrey Badebye, NBS Television – The death of Ziggy Wine 
Joan Akello, Uganda Radio Network – Over 100 MPs listed among perpetual absentees in Parliament 
Solomon Serwanjja, Godfrey Badebye and Kassim Mohammed, NBS Television – Stealing from the sick 

National news reporting – Print 

Ian Katusiime, The Independent – UPDF’s uncertain future in Somalia 
Patience Ahimbisibwe, Daily Monitor – 1,000 weddings at city church declared illegal 
Ronald Musoke, The Independent – Colours of violence in 2021 elections 

News illustration – No entries were submitted 

Photo and video journalism 

Abubaker Lubowa, Daily Monitor – Nowhere to run 
Richard Sanya, New Vision – Flying to safety 
Songa-Samuel Stone Mwesigwa, Salim Segawa and Victor Opira, STORYTELD – Moving around Kampala as a person with a disability 

Political reporting 

Christopher Kayonga and Gabriel Iguma, Wizarts – Demarcation of polling areas 
Ian Katusiime, The Independent – Visa denied 
Misairi Thembo Kahungu, Daily Monitor – Seven years later, African leaders move slowly on democracy treaty 

Sports reporting 

Abdul-Nasser Ssemugabi, Daily Monitor – Malta: Opening the pool for young para-swimmers 
George Katongole, Daily Monitor – Coach with physical disability 
Henry Lematia, Radio Pacis – 14 years later, teenage pregnancy eating away the new Inzikurus in West Nile