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 UGANDA JOURNALISM AWARDS 2023 

A quality team of Vision Group journalists have been recognized for their work at the 2023 National Journalism Awards during a delightful ceremony held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday evening.

Five of them emerged as category winners and others as runners-up across the 15 categories.

The awards are organised annually by African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME)  Uganda  — a Kampala-based independent organisation — and for this latest edition, as many as 183 journalists submitted a total of 262 entries for 15 different categories.

Some of the areas of focus include health, environment, public accountability, agriculture, arts & culture, and for the first time ever, science & technology.

Each of the winners walked away with an accolade, a certificate and a cash prize of sh1.5 million. Unlike in the past where joint-winners shared the prize money, this year, each joint-winner received the full amount (sh1.5 million).

The first runner-up received a certificate and cash prize of sh500,000. The second runners-up got honorary mentions for their equally impressive work.

New Vision's Elvis Basudde Kyeyune and Henry Sekanjako were the joint-winners of the Health Reporting award. An NBS TV team of Henry Mugenyi, Shamim Nabakooza and Swaleh Ssali were the runners-up.

Seasoned journalist Basudde's story looked at Kalangala as being a dreamland with a blemished reputation while co-winner Sekanjako's entry counted the heavy cost of post-road accident care on the part of the government.

The NBS TV team investigated the 'Mulago emergency ward: The missing file'.

(Basudde receives his award 👇🏽)

Sekanjako receives his accolade 👇🏽

Richard Wetaya of New Vision won the inaugural Science & Technology Reporting award for his submitted story on biogas digesters projected to reduce energy poverty.

NTV Uganda's Walter Mwesigye was the runner-up for his story on doctors using virtual reality to improve their craft.

(Wetaya receives his award 👇🏽)

Richard Wetaya receives his award

Wetaya's workmate Javier Silas Omagor, who is keen on athletics, was the winner of the Opinion & Editorial Commentary award for his piece on why Ugandan athletes are loyal servants.

David Mafabi of PML Daily was the runner-up for his entry titled: 'China-Africa relationship is increasingly showing signs akin to colonialism'.

Radio Rupiny's Jesse Johnson James Muto won the Community Reporting award for his entry on sexual violence victims using music for trauma healing.

New Vision pair Joshua Kato and Charles Etukuri emerged joint-runners-up for the Agriculture Reporting award. David Kiyengo of CBS FM 89.2 was the winner of this category.

Etukuri's entry was a series on deadly chemicals in local market vegetables while Kato's story was titled 'How can Karamoja mark independence?' The winning entry was on counterfeit products being a threat to agriculture business.

(Etukuri and Kato receive their certificates 👇🏽)

Seasoned journalist Gerald Tenywa of New Vision was the runner-up for the Environmental Reporting award. Ronald Musoke of The Independent was the winner of this category.

For his submission, Tenywa asked whether Isimba is a dam of fortune or misfortune while Musoke focused on what was behind the lion massacres in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

For the Urbanisation, Land and Property Reporting award, Tenywa was the runner-up for his entry on Namuwongo being the underbelly of Kampala’s urban poor. The winner was Musoke, who submitted a piece titled 'Benet battle for land'.

(Kato receives Tenywa's certificate on his behalf 👇🏽)

New Vision's Edward Anyoli was the runner-up in the Justice, Law and Order Reporting category. The winners were a three-strong team from NBS TV: Canary Mugume, Jamila Mulindwa, Patrick Lubwama and Godfrey Badebye. 

In his series, Anyoli focused on why Uganda is a haven for wildlife traffickers while the winning team did a story titled 'Money swap bandits'.

New Vision's Stuart Yiga received an honorary mention for his investigative series on child trafficking from South Sudan to Uganda.

For the Business, Economy and Finance Reporting award, Sekanjako and Mary Karugaba of New Vision were the runners-up for their story on how cuts on government expenditure will affect service delivery.

(Sekanjako receives his certificate 👇🏽)

The winners of the business category were Esther Oluka and Elizabeth Kamurungi of the Daily Monitor for a series on property auction loans doubling after COVID-19.

New Vision's Ritah Mukasa was the runner-up for the Education Reporting award and her entry explored a critical question: Is your child comfortable at school?

(Mukasa receives her certificate 👇🏽)

New Vision's Stuart Yiga received an honorary mention for his story on UETCL paying sh28b for plots created in Lake Victoria under the Public Works and Infrastructure Reporting category.

The NBS TV pair of Jamila Mulindwa and Thomas Kitimbo won this category's award, with their winning article focusing on Uganda’s construction catastrophe. Their colleagues, Isaac Otwii and Canary Mugume, were the runners-up for their story on Lira-Kamdini Road being a death trap.

BBS TV's Culton Scovia Nakamya was the winner of the education category for her story on marriage and education presenting a dilemma at the islands.

Nakamya also won the Arts and Culture Reporting award, with Jacob Seaman Odongo of BBC Africa the runner-up.

Nakamya's winning entry was: Okutumbula Ekitiibwa kya Buganda while Odongo focused on Tshala Muana, as 'the 'raunchy DR Congo diva who captivated a continent'.

Frederick Dramadri of Radio Pacis was the winner of the Energy, Petroleum and Mining Reporting award while NTV Uganda's Ritah Kemigisa was the runner-up.

The NBS TV trio of Canary Mugume, Goretti Kyeswa and Shamim Nabakooza took the Political Reporting award for their story titled: 'It’s politics, stupid'.

Shamim Nabakooza and Godfrey Badebye of NBS TV were the winners of the Public Accountability Reporting award for their entry on 'The long walk for compensation'.

Special recognition

 CULTON SCOVIA NAKAMYA - BBS TV 

Nakamya is the recipient of the Esteemed Inspiring Woman in Journalism Award.

The award stands for a "testament of power of dedication and talent within a relatively brief yet illustrious career", said Gabriel Iguma, the ceremony's moderator.

"Her journey has been punctuated by remarkable achievement, having secured multiple prestigious regional and national journalism accolades."

Over time, Nakamya has "transitioned seamlessly into a figure of prominence, casting a far-reaching influence beyond her media house. Her journey serves as an inspiration to the entire field, particularly to emerging talent, underscoring that dedication, skill and passion for the greater good can truly transform the course of journalism, making it a force for postive change in the society".

Iguma revealed that an anonymous "private citizen who is passionate about journalism and would like to recognize the effort of female journalists, decided that for as long as the Uganda National Journalism Awards exist, they will give a cash prize of sh2 million to the winner of this category".

 ELVIS BASUDDE KYEYUNE - NEW VISION 

Basudde is the recipient of the inaugural Stanbic Shield of Journalism Award, which, according to Iguma, "stands as a true beacon of honour and accomplishment".

Basudde was recognized for having "done an incredible job and left a mark on both the media landscape and audiences".

"With nearly two decades of unwavering dedication to journalism, [he] has become the definitive source for comprehensive public affairs. Beyond impactful reporting, [Basudde's] mentorship has illuminated the paths of numerous aspiring journalists, fostering a legacy of knowledge sharing and excellence," said Iguma.

"This award celebrates this journalist's exceptional performance over the years, his dedication, skill and unwavering commitment to high reporting standards."

'Voice of the voiceless'

The chief guest of Wednesday's ceremony was the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Uganda, Jan Sadek (below right).

In his remarks, he paid glowing tribute to ACME, saying it has "consistently championed excellence in journalism and played a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant and free press in Uganda".

He commended the centre's "commitment and unwavering dedication to upholding the values of transparency, accountability and integrity in journalism".

Sadek said journalism is "not just about big headlines", but that it is also about "the detail of an issue and the individual stories that illuminate them".

"In this way, you as journalists, give a voice to the voiceless, shining a light on stories of resilience, hope and human spirit. They remind us about our shared humanity, connecting us crossborders and cultures.

"A robust media sector is critical for our societies. It fosters good governance and transparency. It empowers citizens to participate actively in their communities and advocate for change.

"A strong media sector is a cornerstone of development and one of the pillars of any democratic society."

The ambassador said the areas of focus for the national journalism awards are of top priority for the European Union's partnership with Uganda.

"Over the coming years, the EU plans to provide some €600 million (sh2.44 trillion) in funding to projects focused on the green and climate transition, sustainable jobs and growth and governance and social inclusion," he said.

Sadek added that they will want to keep the media fraternity "in the loop" about their activities, "knowing that transparency leads to better results".

"The media plays a critical role in promoting accountability in the usage of public and develoment funding."
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MORE PICTURES  📸 

The vibrant performances applied an added touch of liveliness to the event.

The beautiful performers swayed from side to side in admirable synchronization.

A celebration of journalism in Uganda captured by journalists, showing the true dedication of the men and women of this profession.

The veterans of the craft: Nation Media Group's Daniel Kalinaki (left) and Vision Group's Felix Osike.

Vision Group's Hillary Bainemigisha. Some of you know him as Dr Love from his addictive column in New Vision.

The drinks were flowing generously on a night of celebration.