New Vision dominates journalism awards shortlist

The New Vision has dominated the Uganda National Journalism Awards 2016 shortlist released today, with 23 stories from the 74 nominations.

The awards, organized by the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), attracted 148 journalists who submitted 237 entries for competition.

Carol Natukunda has been nominated for the Nile Breweries Award for Exceptional Journalism award. The winner of this award is an applicant who shows in-depth knowledge of his or her reporting beats, provides evidence of growth over the period of assessment, consistently produces quality work, and is highly regarded by others in the profession.

Natukunda has also got nomination gongs in the education and explanatory writing categories. She faces competition from Andrew Masinde and Claire Nanyunja who also have a shared nomination in the same category.

Last year's Nile Breweries Award for Exceptional Journalism award Stephen Ssenkaaba's works were nominated in two categories; arts and culture and justice, law and order. Pascal Kwesiga is also nominated in the arts and culture and justice, law and order category.

New Vision has three of the four nominations in the agriculture category, with Michael Kanaabi, Joshua Kato and Hope Mafaranga all vying for the award.

Billy Rwothungeyo is nominated in the business, economy and finance and the national news-print categories. Rwothungeyo is joined by Gloria Nakajubi and Owen Wagabaza with a shared nomination in the health category.  Wagabaza is also nominated in the energy, oil, gas and minerals category.

The trio though, is in for a tough competition from Jacquiline Emodek, who is also nominated for the health award.

In the data journalism category, Esther Namugoji, Mary Karugaba, Moses Walubiri, John Masaba and John Semakula's piece is nominated; although Semakula has a separate nomination in the same category.

Gerard Tenywa, one of Uganda's most prolific environment journalists, is nominated in the environment award. The multiple awarded Tenywa is also joined by Conan Businge and Sauda Nakandi with a separate shared nomination in the same category.

Sebidde Kiryowa is nominated in the multi-media feature category. In the national news-print category, Innocent Anguyo, Fred Turyakira, John Semakula, Godfrey Ojore, Jolly Owiny, Ali Mao and Richard Drasimaku all have one shared nomination. Norman Katende is nominated in the sports category.

Daniel Edyegu is nominated in the photo-journalism category.

In a statement on ACME's website, Dr Peter Mwesige, ACME's executive director said while there was a slight drop in the number of entries from last year, there was more diversity in this year's competition.

"We are pleased that more journalists, particularly those from TV and radio, are growing in confidence to compete against their peers from print," he said.

Dr George Lugalambi, the chair of the 12 judge panel noted that the overall quality of entries is proof that the bar has been raised further in this cycle.

"We've seen more reporting that explores issues in-depth and follows them up to hold those responsible accountable," said Lugalambi, who is also the Media Capacity and Development Programme Officer at the National Governance Resource Institute.

This year's winners will be announced at a gala dinner on 20 April 2016 at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala.  Former Principal Judge James Ogoola, will preside as chief guest.