More than 200 people congregated at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala on Wednesday 20 April to celebrate exceptional reporting at the Uganda National Journalism Awards 2016 gala night.
A programme of African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), the Uganda National Journalism Awards represent a pinnacle of achievement for Ugandan journalists by showcasing their outstanding work. The awards, for which core funding was provided by the Democratic Governance Facility, are a platform on which first-rate, agenda-setting journalism in Uganda is heralded.
A total of 237 entries by 148 journalists were entered for competition in 20 reporting. A panel of 12 expert judges from the academia, public communications and the media assessed each story on the basis of reporting accuracy, writing, reporting rigour, analysis, relevance and enterprise.
Chair of the panel of judges, Dr George Lugalambi, encouraged editors to borrow or appropriate the criteria used to assess the submissions for the awards.
“These could be incorporated into your in-house training, coaching and mentoring efforts,” he said.
Dr Lugalambi disclosed that one of the most gratifying things about this year’s competition was the increase in entries by radio and TV journalists. He said this was important because the two platforms are the primary sources of news and information for a sizeable portion of Ugandans.
“TV and radio journalists have embraced the challenge and put forward their work in growing numbers,” he said.

34 journalists and writing teams received first place honours at the Uganda National Journalism Awards, each taking home a USH2.5 million cash, a specially crafted plaque and a certificate. Listed according to category they are:
Agriculture reporting
Mr Joshua Kato, The New Vision – Planting and harvesting in the dark
Arts and culture reporting
Mr Frank Walusimbi, NTV Uganda – Songs of resistance: The arts as a tool for political mobilisation
Business, economics and finance reporting
Mr Billy Philip Rwothungeyo, The New Vision – Has Uganda abandoned the Central Corridor?
Data journalism
Ms Esther Namogoji, Ms Mary Karugaba, Mr Moses Walubiri, Mr John Masaba and Mr John Semakula – The New Vision – 45% of female MPs battered
Editorial cartooning
Mr Chrisogon Atukwasize, Daily Monitor
Education reporting
Ms Carol Natukunda, The New Vision – Teen moms defy odds to stay in school
Energy, oil, gas and mining reporting
Mr Owen Wagabaza, The New Vision – Namayingo graves that turned into gold mines’.
Environment reporting
Mr Gerald Tenywa, Mr Conan Businge and Ms Saudha Nakandha, New Vision – Schools eating Uganda’s forests
Explanatory reporting
Ms Carol Natukunda, The New Vision – Buying acid is so easy, so is moving around with it
Feature writing
Mr Ronald Musoke, The Independent – Island of chimps
Health reporting
Mr Michael Wambi, Uganda Radio Network – Visualising the burden of chronic kidney disease in Uganda
Investigative reporting
Mr Farahani Mukisa (lead writer) with Mr Nelson Wesonga and Mr Frederic Musisi, Daily Monitor – An investigation into the fraudulent sale of Namulonge Institute land
Justice, law and order reporting
Mr Stephen Ssenkaaba, The New Vision – Land; does a woman have a place?
Local reporting
Mr Anthony Sennabulya, UBC Television – Sanitation and hygiene in Karamoja
Multimedia feature
Mr Antonio Kisembo, Ultimate Media Consult – Making a difference through fundraising campaigns; models and techniques that work
National news reporting – Broadcast
Mr Benard Yiga, UBC Television – HIV/AIDS in Kasese
National news reporting – Print
Mr Innocent Anguyo (lead writer) with Mr John Semakula, Mr Fred Turyakira, Mr Godfrey Ojore, Mr Jolly Owiny, Mr Ali Mao and Mr Richard Drasimaku, New Vision – UPE schools grapple with Alupo’s directive on feeding
Photojournalism
Mr Daniel Edyegu, The New Vision
Political reporting
Mr Moses Akena, NTV Uganda – The Democratic Alliance selection headache
Sports reporting
Mr Abdul-Nasser Ssemugabi, Daily Monitor – Juggling sports and fasting: Muslims face a tough choice

Nile Breweries Exceptional Journalist of the Year Award
Mr Ronald Musoke, The Independent
Runners-up and honourable mentions
The runners-up of the Uganda National Journalism Awards 2016 each received a cash prize of USH1 million and a certificate. Each journalist who received an honourable mention was given a special certificate for the high quality of their work.
Listed according to category, the second and third placed winners are:
Agriculture reporting
Runner-up: Ms Patience Ahimbisibwe, Daily Monitor – Uganda scientists develop poultry vaccine
Honourable mention: Ms Hope Mafaranga, New Vision – Turn El-Niño into a blessing
Arts and culture reporting
Runner-up: Mr Emmanuel Ojok, Radio Pacis – Bizarre tattoo methods: The new killers of the youth?
Honourable mentions: Ms Jane Justine Mirembe and Mr Andrew Kaggwa – The Observer – What happened to radio dramas?
Business, economics and finance reporting
Runner-up: Mr Ian Katusiime, The Independent – Fight over road contracts
Honourable mention: Mr Felix Basiime, Daily Monitor – How youth in Rwenzori region have improved their skills, lives
Data journalism
Runner-up: Mr Haggai Matsiko, The Independent – Districts fail to spend Shs2.3 trillion
Honourable mentions: Mr John Semakula, New Vision – District councils push for creation of 600 MP slots; and Mr Joseph Ssemutooke, Daily Monitor – The cost of our avoidable imports
Editorial cartooning
Runner-up: Dr Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, The Observer
Education reporting
Runner-up: Mr Suhail Mugabi, NTV Uganda – Jiggers attack Karamoja
Honourable mention: Ms Catherine Ageno, 93.3 KFM – Awindiri Primary School
Energy, oil, gas and mining reporting
Runner-up: Ms Joan Akello, The Independent – Mafia to grab Namanve thermal plant
Honourable mentions: Mr Mark Keith Muhumuza, Daily Monitor – Delayed oil dreams hurt many Ugandans; Mr Haggai Matsiko, The Independent – Oil investors fire workers, close operations; and Mr Benon Herbert Oluka, The Observer – Rural electrification series
Environment reporting
Runner-up: Mr Gerald Tenywa, New Vision – Uganda loses land to DR Congo
Honourable mention: Mr Ronald Musoke, The Independent – Secrets of Kasese’s river of death
Explanatory reporting
Runner-up: Mr Raymond Mujuni, Uganda Radio Network – Attacks in the Rwenzoris
Honourable mentions: Mr Andrew Masinde and Ms Claire Nanyunja, New Vision – Sleep blights pupils’ performance
Feature writing
Runner-up: Mr Mathias Wandera, Daily Monitor – How much alcohol are we taking?
Honourable mention: Mr Ismail Musa Ladu, Daily Monitor – Arua town series
Health reporting
Runners-up: Ms Gloria Nakajubi, Mr Owen Wagaba and Mr Billy Rwothungeyo, The New Vision – Kampala could face another food borne epidemic soon
Honourable mentions: Ms Beatrice Nyangoma and Mr Ronald Odongo, Uganda Radio Network – Waiting for the first cry: Why more women are opting for caesarean birth
Investigative reporting
Runners-up: Mr Haggai Matsiko and Mr Ian Katusiime, The Independent – Inside the MTN mobile money saga
Honourable mention: Mr Suhail Mugabi, NTV Uganda – People die as famine rages Karamoja
Justice, law and order reporting
Runner-up: Ms Judith Atim, 93.3 KFM – Torture series
Honourable mention: Mr Pascal Kwesiga, The New Vision – Stolen land fight that went on for 43 years
Local reporting
Runner-up: Mr Henry Lubulwa, Daily Monitor – Long road to good health services in Kalangala
Honourable mentions: Mr Alex John Otto and Mr Michael Wambi, Uganda Radio Network – Lukodi massacre 11 years later
Multimedia feature
Runner-up: Mr Sebidde Kiryowa, The New Vision – No arms, no legs, but 18-year-old Kamukama plays the trombone better than anyone you know
National news reporting – Broadcast
Runners-up: Mr Solomon Lubambula and Ms Anitah Muwanguzi, 101.4 Power FM – Nude protests
National news reporting – Print
Runner-up: Mr Ronald Musoke, The Independent – Confusion over kavera ban
Honourable mention: Mr Francis Mugerwa, Daily Monitor – Hoima grapples with teen pregnancy
Photojournalism
Runner-up: Robert Atuhairwe, Daily Monitor
Honourable mention: Mr Morgan Mbabazi, The EastAfrican
Political reporting
Runner-up: Ms Flavia Nassaka, The Independent – Money in politics
Honourable mentions: Mr Philimon Badagawa and Mr Paul Kisembo, Campus Times – To vote or not to vote; will the 2016 election represent the will of all Ugandans?
Sports reporting
Runner-up: Mr Sande Bashaija, Daily Monitor – Coach Wemali arrested
Honourable mention: Mr Norman Katende, The New Vision – Sports shaping the future of reformed youth
Nile Breweries Exceptional Journalist of the Year Award
Runner-up: Ms Carol Natukunda, The New Vision
