Vision journalists scoop population awards
In the story of the maternal deaths, Nakutunda traced the families that lost mothers in childbirth to establish how they were coping. The maternal death monster still kills 16 mothers per day in Uganda.
KAMPALA - Three New Vision journalists have scooped the 2019 population awards. Carol Natukunda was voted the overall winner for her three-part series on maternal deaths and teen mothers and Uganda's family planning targets.
In the story of the maternal deaths, Nakutunda traced the families that lost mothers in childbirth to establish how they were coping. The maternal death monster still kills 16 mothers per day in Uganda.
Her second part of the series centred on teen mothers in Bwaise slums in Kampala. The final part was an analysis of whether Uganda would achieve the 2020 population targets set in 2012. Nakutunda won sh6m, a plaque and a trip to Nairobi to attend an international population event. She has previously won two population awards.
Carol Natukunda, a senior writer with the New Vision receives a dummy cheque of sh6m from the state minister for finance, David Bahati (second left) after she was declared overall winner of the Population Media Awards 2019. Right is the UNFPA country representative Alain Sibenaler and National Population Council board chairman, Dr. Wabwire Mangen
Ronald Mugabe received the online category award for his story detailing what Uganda needs to do to harness the demographic dividend from its young population. Half of the country's estimated 42-million population is below 15 years. Christopher Bendana's story assessed Uganda's efforts to achieve gender parity and what should be done to accelerate progress.
Scovia Culton Nakamya and Diana Kibuuka from BBS TV and CBS FM won awards in the television and radio categories respectively. Mugabe, Bendana, Nakamya, and Kibuuka received sh800, 000, a plaque and a flat TV screen each.
The awards were handed to the winners at the launch of the state of Uganda and world population reports by the state minister for finance (planning), David Bahati, at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday.
The national population council rewards journalists each year for stories highlighting key population issues. The minister commended the winners for reporting on population issues. He urged journalists to continue to bring population issues to the attention of the people through their work. Ends
A participant talking at the event
