Sixteen in the 2013 Tumaini Awards finals

The search for the 2013 Tumaini Awards winners has come to a close with a total of 16 individuals, organisations and businesses making it to the finals. The winners shall be announced at an awards gala scheduled for Friday night at Hotel Africana. ANDREW MASINDE looks back at the events leading to the finals and now writes

After running a series of individuals and organisations making significant contributions towards improving the livelihood of children in Uganda, 16 finalists were selected from a total of 100 nominees recommended from across the country for the 2013 Tumaini Awards.

The final winners shall be announced and given their prizes in a gala night at Hotel Africana this Friday – June 14, 2013. They shall share a sh50m prize.

Panelists

The 16 that have made it to the final were selected by a panel of five eminent personalities who are experts in their respective fields. They included James Kaboggoza Ssembatya, a child protection expert and Assistant Commissioner for Children at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

Also on the panel were Ms. Allen Nankunda, a livelihood expert and executive director, Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU); Rose Mary Kemigisha, the senior human rights officer and editor,ganda Human Rights Commission (Media expert); Stellah Tumwebaze, executive director, Literacy & Adult Basic Education (education expert) and Dr. Stella Alamo, Executive Director of Mbuya ReachOut who was the health expert.

Tumaini Awards was initiated three years ago by a group of seven child-focused organisations to inspire and recognise those individuals, businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) that have made significant efforts to improve children’s welfare in Uganda. Each year, the award focuses on a different theme. This year’s award theme was “Eliminating Harmful Social and Cultural Practices Affecting Children: Our Collective Responsibility.”

This year, the Tumaini partnering organisations include African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) – Uganda Chapter, Child Fund Uganda, Compassion International, Save the Children in Uganda, the Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN), World Vision Uganda and the UN Children’s Fund - UNICEF.

The individuals and organisations will be honoured for their contribution towards child welfare in the areas of health, education, protection and livelihood. A separate award will also go to the corporate company with the best themed corporate social responsibility initiative. There is also the lifetime achievement as well as the Day of the African Child awards.

Children in a debate at the launch of state of the World’s Children Report at Parliament 2009

The finalists

The individuals and organisations that have made t to the finals include Hadijja Namyalo, a child protection officer with the Uganda Police Force, Lt. Byamukama of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and Gladys Kalibala, a New Vision journalist covering children’s affairs.

Also on the list to compete for the final prize are Florence Namaganda for her work toward making Uganda safer for children with special needs, John Bosco Ojok and Betty Mujungu for her efforts in social transformation and Jane Frances Kuka, a Sabiny woman and former Kapchorwa legislator for her efforts in fighting female genital mutilation (FGM).

The NGOs/CBOs and businesses that have made it to the finals include Standard Chartered Bank for its Seeing is Believing Sight restoration Project; the Reproductive Education and Community Health programme (REACH), a civil organisation based in Kapchorwa spearheading the campaign against FGM, the Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL), an NGO rehabilitating child/teen prostitutes; Bringing Hope to the Family that deals with children shunned and rejected by society;  Raising Voices, Global Care Uganda, Amani Initiative and Acholi Child Rescue Team.