'Photography can boost Uganda's tourism'

Dec 08, 2017

Atuhaire was speaking at the Photography Awards 2017 at Protea Hotel in Kololo where a number of photographers were awarded for their excellence

Nalwadda with her award at the Photography awards at Protea Hotel in Kampala. Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba

Photography has been identified as one of the avenues of promoting the image of Uganda internationally and boost tourism.

Grace Atuhaire, the director and founder of Lynx Media Limited said that since 2014 she launched an annual photography competition as one of the strategies of rebranding Uganda through the lenses.

She said through photography and the Internet, Uganda can get positive coverage and enable the rest of the world to learn about her positive image and endowments.

Atuhaire and Don Douglas hand over a certificate to the overall winner of the Dr William Kane Olwit

Atuhaire was Wednesday evening speaking at the Photography Awards 2017 at Protea Hotel in Kololo where a number of photographers were awarded for their excellence.

Dr William Kane Olwit, a medical student doing a post graduate course in Radiology in Mulago Hospital was declared overall winner after his submission of a newly born gorilla in Bwindi impenetrable forest in western Uganda was declared best photograph for 2017.

First runner-up was Michael Bagaya and New Vision photographer, Hajara Nalwadda was second runner-up with her picture, taken during a Kiganda cultural performance at the National Theatre.

Henk Boneshans, general manager in charge operations of Air Serv, one of the companies that sponsored the event admires Nalwadda's picture

At least 300 entries were received by a panel of judges who included an international photography expert, Jeremy Greenberg from Hong Kong.

Atuhaire who runs a free magazine, Experts in Uganda said the photography annual competition runs from October and closes on November 30 with an awarding ceremony is trying to see how the camera can be used to rebrand the country.

"Our intention is to have as much positive coverage of Uganda as possible, adding on what is already available so that with time Uganda can be known everywhere for good things, which can boost our tourism," she explained.

The other judges were Sherry Mckelvie, Mark Dudley Peter Hogel all from Uganda and Usha Vanish from Kenya.

The different entry categories included wildlife, nature, culture, children and others. Dr Kane he took his award winning picture in Bwindi in December 2016 during a gorilla tracking expedition as a tourist. He used a Canon D camera.

He said he learnt of the birth of a gorilla on Facebook and picked interest to take its pictures in order to raise awareness about Uganda's tourism. He posted the photos on his Facebook wall and a friend who appreciated them asked him to enter the competition. He won two nights at Volcanoes Safari Lodge and a package from Kampala Serena Hotel.

Nalwadda said this was her third award. She submitted under culture category. She won herself a certificate and a day of rafting at Nile River Lodge and Positive Emotions Spa. "I feel good and excited because these are some of the moments I have been waiting for," she said.

She uses a 5D Mark II Canon.

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