Uganda National Journalism Awards 2017 shortlist released

The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) is pleased to announce a shortlist of 83 journalists for the Uganda National Journalism Awards 2017. These journalists have amongst them 95 stories/entries that have been evaluated for final accolades by a panel of 16 judges.

This year’s winners will be announced at an invitation-only gala event on the evening of Wednesday, 12 April 2017, at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. Dr Louis Kasekende, the deputy governor of Bank of Uganda, will preside as chief guest. Each winner will take home a cash prize of Shs2.5 million, a commemorative plaque, and a certificate. Each runner-up will receive Shs1 million and a certificate. Where there is a tie, the prize money will be shared accordingly.

The awards, organised with support from the Democratic Governance Facility and Hivos, celebrate and promote in-depth and enterprising journalism that informs public debate and holds the powerful to account. The awards are open to all journalists working for media outlets in Uganda or regional media houses with wide circulation and significant audience reach in the country.

One hundred eighty six (186) journalists from media outlets across Uganda participated in the 2017 competition, a 25 per cent increase over the previous year. There was also a marked increase in the number of stories entered. The overall number of entries from print, broadcast and online platforms was 307, up from 237 in the 2016 edition.

The general standard of entries continues to improve year-on-year, said Dr George Lugalambi, who has chaired the judging panel since the awards were first held in 2014.

“More than ever, the shortlisted journalists produced stories that competed against some of the best in the industry and are truly deserving of a place on the final list,” Dr Lugalambi said.

There were 20 categories with health, features, education and local reporting attracting the highest number of entries. Competition was greatest in the explanatory and education reporting categories. At least three judges evaluated each story and every one of them provided extensive comments to support the mark given.

During the judges’ final conference held on 17 March 2017, it was observed that while the quality of stories had improved, there were significant knowledge gaps in specialised beats such as justice, agriculture, environment and health that led to inadequate reporting.

“While the awards serve to reward excellence, they are also a vital tool in informing us about the knowledge and skills gaps in Ugandan journalism,” said ACME Executive Director Peter G. Mwesige.

“The awards further provide us with a solid baseline on which to tailor our training programmes, small grants and mentoring efforts,” he said.

THE SHORTLIST

Nile Breweries Award for Exceptional Journalism

For the third year in a row, ACME will administer the Nile Breweries Award for Exceptional Journalism. The winner of the award is a participant in the Uganda National Journalism Awards who exhibits extensive knowledge of his or her reporting beat, provides evidence of growth over the period of assessment, consistently produces quality work, and is highly regarded by others in the profession.

The panel of judges nominated the following journalists for this award:

  1. Benon Herbert Oluka – The Observer
  2. Carol Natukunda – New Vision
  3. Daniel Edyegu Enwaku – New Vision
  4. Haggai Matsiko – The Independent
  5. Solomon Serwanjja – NBS TV
  6. Raymond Mujuni – NTV Uganda

Uganda National Journalism Awards 2017 Finalists

Category Journalist & media house Entry
Agriculture Benon Herbert Oluka,

The Observer

The genesis and failure of NAADS (series)
Immaculate Amony,

Radio Wa

Reaping big from fish farming
Ronald Kato,

Urban Television

The fall of Masaka Cooperative Union
Samuel Kamugisha,

Daily Monitor

Revamping Uganda’s coffee sector: Ray of hope from the west
Sheila Nduhukire and Abubakar Zirabamuzale,

NTV Uganda

Isingiro residents suffer through the worst drought in decades

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arts and culture

Agnes Eriosi Nantaba,

The Independent

Money and campaign songs

 

Andrew Kaggwa,

The Observer

Buganda’s lost sounds (series)
Denis Nsubuga and John Unzima,

New Vision

Madi dance on the list of endangered cultures
Ivan Kimuli Kigozi and Abubakar Zirabamuzale,

NTV Uganda

Pursuing a career in music against all odds
Stephen Ssenkaaba,

New Vision

Wakaliwood: Uganda’s rudimentary answer to Hollywood (series)
 
 

 

 

 

 

Business, economy and finance

Frederic Musisi and Mark Keith Muhumuza,

Daily Monitor

Tanga pipeline to take more than just oil to sea
Isaac Khisa,

The Independent

Fishing in the dark on Lake Victoria
Jonathan Adengo and Mark Keith Muhumuza,

Daily Monitor

65 loan-stressed firms line up for Shs1 trillion taxpayer bailout
Mark Keith Muhumuza,

Daily Monitor

Debt: Has Uganda mortgaged its oil with increased borrowing?
Ronald Mugabe,

New Vision

Over 13 million workers do not have pension scheme
 

Data journalism

Edgar R. Batte,

Daily Monitor

Illegal wildlife trade a thorn in tourism
Emma Namwanje Kisa, WeInformers Communities for the future
 

 

Editorial cartooning Chrisogon Atukwasize,

Daily Monitor

Come to daddy
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Education

Agness Nandutu,

NTV Uganda

Mbale and Bududa education challenges (series)
Benjamin Jumbe,

93.3 KFM

Kyangwali education report
Conan Daniel Businge,

New Vision

Surging free education numbers fail learning
Frank Walusimbi,

NTV Uganda

Plight of a teacher
Ian Katusiime,

The Independent

Bridge Schools saga (series)

 

Moses Ndhaye,

93.3 KFM

How cultural practices affect the plight of girls in Uganda
Remmy Bahati,

NBS TV

UPE schools in Kasese district in dire need
Ronald Musoke,

The Independent

Rethinking science teaching (series)
Sheila Nduhukire,

NTV Uganda

Children in Mayuge face many hurdles to get an education
 
 

 

 

 

Energy, oil, gas and mining

Benon Herbert Oluka,

The Observer

The untold story of oil (series)
Frederic Musisi,

Daily Monitor

Discovery of commercial oil reserves ten years later (series)
Haggai Matsiko,

The Independent

The Karuma, Isimba dams saga

 

Mark Keith Muhumuza,

Daily Monitor

Oil price: Are Uganda’s oil dreams dashed or merely delayed?
Michael Wambi,

Uganda Radio Network

From waste to resource: The role of biomass in Uganda’s energy mix
 
  Environment Bamuturaki Musinguzi,

The EastAfrican

Chilli, trenches reduce human-wildlife conflict in Murchison Falls
Benjamin Jumbe,

93.3 KFM

E-waste report
Gerald Tenywa,

New Vision

Poisoned quietly on Lake Victoria
John Masaba,

New Vision

Rwenzori suffers first pains of global warming
Ronald Mugabe,

New Vision

The war on plastic bags (series)

 

 
 

 

 

 Explanatory reporting

Carol Natukunda,

New Vision

Patients detained over treatment debts
Mark Keith Muhumuza and Frederic Musisi,

Daily Monitor

How oil pipeline deal slipped out of Kenya’s hands
Paul Busharizi, Edward Anyole and Andante Okanya,

New Vision

How terrorists delivered death to 76 Ugandans
Raymond Mujuni,

NTV Uganda

Silent voices of war
Richard M. Kavuma,

The Observer

Term limits in Africa
Risdel Kasasira,

Daily Monitor

How UPDF planned and landed in Mogadishu
Solomon Serwanjja and Godfrey Badebye,

NBS TV

The dark world of drugs
 
 

 Features

Geoffrey Mutegeki Araali,

New Vision

Education stalls as latrines spill over
Gillian Nantume,

Daily Monitor

Evelyn Amony on reclaiming a lost life
Pascal Kwesiga and Benedict Okethwengu

New Vision

Refugee girls in Adjumani share sanitary pads
Ronald Musoke,

The Independent

Massacre on Masaka Road

 

Solomon Serwanjja and Thomas Kitimbo,

NBS TV

Born in captivity
 
 

 

 

 Health

Andrew Masinde,

New Vision

Uganda’s ambulance services (series)
Gloria Nakajubi,

New Vision

Exploring the impact and treatment of Hepatitis B (series)
Lillian Namusoke Magezi,

New Vision

Managing diabetes (series)

 

Solomon Lubambula,

104.1 Power FM

Access to emergency health care
Zahara Namuli,

NBS TV

Vitiligo: We have seen it, but do we understand it?
 
 

 

 

 

 Investigative reporting

Andrew Bagala,

Daily Monitor

Masked police goons named, faces revealed
Charles Etukuri and Clare Namanya,

New Vision

Ugandan girls recount shocking tales from working abroad
Othman Semakula,

Daily Monitor

The case of UK stolen cars and their route to Uganda
Raymond Mujuni,

NTV Uganda

Men of rogue
Solomon Serwanjja and Godfrey Badebye,

NBS TV

Kifeesi, Kampala’s deadly thieves

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Justice, law and order

Carol Natukunda,

New Vision

More patients suing doctors
Derrick Kiyonga,

The Observer

Investigating Uganda’s mediation programme (series)
Frederic Musisi,

Daily Monitor

The dilemma of mentally ill inmates (series)
John Semakula,

New Vision

Fraudsters use courts to grab land

 

Sulaiman Kakaire,

The Observer

Ten years on, industrial court fails to dispense timely justice
 
 

 

 

 

Local reporting

Benard Yiga,

UBC Television

Family planning low in Pallisa district
Daniel Edyegu Enwaku,

New Vision

Charcoal burning: A cancer eating Karamoja’s future away
EMar Okanokodi,

Northern Uganda Media Club

Commemorating the 2003 Pajule massacre
Francis Mugerwa,

Daily Monitor

Combating land grabbing in the oil-rich districts
Hope Mafaranga,

New Vision

She lost four children to a tribal conflict
 
Multimedia feature John Isingoma and Betty Amamukiror,

Campus Times

Intersex dilemma: to have or not to have surgery
Stephen Ssenkaaba,

New Vision

Kabbo ka muwala: An artistic take on the thorny subject of immigration
 
 

 

 

 

 

National news – Broadcast

Anita Muwanguzi,

104.1 Power FM

Population and the plight of teenage girls (series)
Benard Yiga,

UBC Television

The even year: Female genital mutilation still looms
Joan Akello,

104.1 Power FM

Why students of primary teacher colleges fail English and maths (series)
Joseph Sabiti,

NBS TV

Unanswered questions on Aine

 

Raymond Mujuni,

NTV Uganda

The Kasese clashes (series)

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

National news – Print

Carol Kasujja,

New Vision

Row erupts over cancer drugs
Emmanuel Ainebyoona,

Daily Monitor

Government officials fight over new cancer machine
Haggai Matsiko,

The Independent

Inside the Shs1 trillion bailout

 

John Masaba,

New Vision

Survey: Most ministries do not interact with the public
Sulaiman Kakaire,

The Observer

Four universities producing fake nurses
 
 

 Photojournalism

Abubaker Lubowa,

Daily Monitor

Who are they! “Goons” beat Besigye supporters.
Alex Esagala,

Daily Monitor

Police whip protesters
Badru Katumba,

The EastAfrican

Rest in peace
Patience Ahimbisibwe,

Daily Monitor

St Edward Gobero Primary School
Rachel Mabala,

Daily Monitor

For love of education
 
Political reporting Gabriel Iguma and Christopher Kayonga,

WizArts

Campaign finance
Haggai Matsiko,

The Independent

Amama Mbabazi’s presidential petition
Ivan Ssenabulya,

93.3 KFM

The electoral college voting system, an analysis
Joseph Sabiti,

NBS TV

The making of Museveni’s cabinet

 

Solomon Serwanjja,

NBS TV

Government losing billions of shillings on MPs with pending election cases
 
 

 

 Sports

Abdul-Nasser Ssemugabi,

Daily Monitor

Disability sports (series)

 

Andrew Kaggwa,

The Observer

Shall women ever play omweso?

 

Billy Rwothungeyo,

New Vision

How Ugandans contribute to rich English PL footballers’ salaries
Makhtum Muziransa,

Daily Monitor

Women’s football vs. men’s: The differences and why they exist
Sam Mpoza,

NTV Uganda

Onduparaka FC an example of the power of football
 

ABOUT AFRICAN CENTRE FOR MEDIA EXCELLENCE: ACME is a Kampala-based independent, non-profit professional organisation committed to helping African journalists seek and achieve professional excellence. The organisation fulfils its mandate through refresher training for mid-career journalists; media literacy training for civil society organisations, corporate companies and others; media research; free expression advocacy; and media monitoring.

 

ABOUT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE FACILITY: Established by Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the European Union, the DGF is a basket fund that supports state and non-state partners to strengthen democratisation, protect human rights, improve access to justice and enhance accountability in Uganda. (www.dgf.ug)

 

ABOUT HIVOS

Guided by humanist values, Hivos is an international development organisation that works with local civil society organisations in developing countries to contribute to a free, fair and sustainable world. (www.hivos.org)

Rachel Mugarura-Mutana

Rachel Mugarura-Mutana is a programme manager at the African Centre for Media Excellence.

2 Comments

  1. This message is for Rachel Mugarura I have a story to run by you. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

    1. Please write to training@acme-ug.org. Thank you.

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