New Vision scribes scoop WASH media awards

PIC:  From left, New Vision's winners Francis  Emorut, Nelson Naturinda (represented winner Vicky Wandawa) and Owen Wagabaza at Imperial Royale Kampala on Friday. (Credit: Ramadhan Abbey)

KAMPALA - New Vision journalists have again shined at this year's Uganda Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) media awards.

Uganda wash media awards (UWMA) is an initiative of Ministry of water and Environment with civil society organisations working in water, sanitation and the hygiene sector.

It was launched in 2016 and this year's was the third one.

The awards are aimed at rewarding excellent reporting on water, sanitation and hygiene services in Uganda.

In a colourful ceremony, New Vision's Francis Emorut was declared winner in the print category news feature with his article titled "Will Uganda eliminate open defecation come 2030?" published in the Saturday Vision.

Other winners were Vicky Wandawa, Fred Mugira and Annika McGinnis in multimedia category while Owen Wagabaza scooped online category.

Each of the winners walked away with sh1.7m and a plaque.

New Vision, as a media house, was the overall winner and the award was given to Fred Mugira and Annika McGinnis  coupled with a cheque of sh4m.

New Vision Online Editor Nelson Naturinda, accompanied by his daughter, received an award on behalf of Vicky Wandawa.

(From left to right) Francis Emorut who was the winner of print news features Water media award, Deputy Online Editor Nelson Naturinda with Vine Kobugabe Naturinda, who represented Vicky Wandawa and Owen Wagabaza winner of online Water Media award posing for a photo. (Credit: Ramadhan Abbey)

According to the panel of judges, the winning stories were selected on the basis of journalist knowledge and understanding of WASH issues.

John Baptist Wasswa, the lead judge, said other criteria used at arriving at the winners were quality of story, audience engagement, the power of description to tell the story and affirmative action was taken into consideration among others.

Wasswa, a media consultant and trainer, observed that many journalists do  not integrate laws and policies into their stories yet these are available in statutory law books. 

 Annika McGinnis and Fred Mugira  after winning Water Media award in  the multimedia category. (Credit: Ramadhan Abbey)

Wasswa was assisted by Dr (PhD) George Lugalambi and Paul Kimumwe, both communications and media consultants.

He appealed to the editors of media houses to assist journalists in reporting water, sanitation and hygiene issues because they have the potential and talent.

"It appears reporters are left on their own without guidance by the editors and yet they need to be supported," Wasswa said.

The director of water development at the ministry of water and environment, Eng. Aoron Kabirizi said the media plays a critical role in informing the public and policy makers about what needs to be done to improve service delivery in the water sector.

"The awards are a deliberate effort to promote coverage of WASH issues in the local, national and international media and have positive influence on decision makers, the private sector, civil society and individuals," he said.

The director, who was representing the permanent secretary of ministry of water and environment, Alfred Okot Okidi, said to address gaps in the water sector, there is need to increase funding by nine times the current budget the ministry receives annually, which is sh700b.

He informed guests that according to water sector report as of June 2018, safe water coverage is at 70%, sanitation 79% while handwashing is at 36.5%.

A Primary Six pupil of Modern Junior School in Kampala, Lynette Nalule  with her  award after  winning  Television News feature/ hard news category. (Credit: Ramadhan Abbey)