On 28 May 2025, the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) hosted the eleventh edition of the Uganda National Journalism Awards at Mestil Hotel in Kampala. The event brought together journalists, editors, media executives, civil society leaders, development partners, and government officials to celebrate the exceptional work of journalists that informs the public, holds power to account, and gives voice to the underrepresented. It also served to honour those whose reporting has demonstrated excellence, integrity, and impact.
Now in its eleventh year, the awards have become the premier platform in Uganda that recognises journalism that reflects depth, precision, and a strong sense of civic responsibility. The 2025 ceremony reinforced the value of rigorous reporting and thoughtful storytelling in shaping public understanding and contributing to national discourse.
Media’s role in shaping public trust
Delivering the keynote address, Mr John R. Musinguzi, Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), emphasised the media’s influence on public perception and behaviour, stating: “Every story you tell contributes to public perception. And perception shapes behaviour. When reporting is rushed, inaccurate, or sensationalised, it does more than misinform. It undermines public trust. It distorts the social contract. And in our case, it directly affects tax morale and compliance.”
He urged journalists to maintain the highest standards of integrity, ensuring that opinion is not misrepresented as fact and that economic policy is reported with rigour and evidence. Mr Musinguzi also announced a prospective collaboration between URA and ACME to establish a URA–ACME Fellowship for Business and Financial Reporting, aimed at strengthening journalists’ capacity to cover tax policy, public finance, and economic reform.
Judges urge stronger editorial collaboration
Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, Chief Judge Benon Herbert Oluka noted the breadth and quality of submissions, describing many as “diverse and often daring.” He highlighted concerns about editorial disengagement in the journalistic process, remarking: “Across many submissions, the judges repeatedly asked, ‘Where is the editor?’ This highlights a common concern that some editors are often absent from the storytelling process beyond basic copy-checking. Yet, their role in mentoring journalists, shaping story ideas, and guiding follow-through is critical.”
To recognise and encourage editorial leadership, editors were named alongside finalists for a second consecutive year. Mr Oluka encouraged newsrooms to build a culture of active editorial collaboration in order to strengthen research, diversify sources, and enhance narrative depth.
Radio Pacis wins Stanbic Shield of Journalism Award
The Stanbic Bank Shield of Journalism Award, now in its third year, recognises institutional editorial excellence in Uganda. In 2025, the award was presented to Radio Pacis, based in Arua, for its consistent delivery of public service journalism, with particular focus on local governance, development, and community affairs—even in the face of limited resources. The win came with a cash prize of UGX 10 million awarded to the station.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Paul Mwogeza, Executive Director and Head, Personal & Private Banking at Stanbic Bank, emphasised the critical role of the media in combating misinformation and upholding truth. “In an era of misinformation, journalists have an obligation to challenge this with integrity and responsibility,” he said. “The financial services sector has also been affected by misinformation, and the stakes for truthful information are an area we at Stanbic Bank are very keen on. The role of the media is very important in strengthening this journey.”
He further stated, “It is for this reason that Stanbic has, for the third year, supported this award—because we are deeply vested in the quality of journalism in this country, and we will continue to do so in the future. Tonight, we reaffirm our partnership with the media fraternity. We understand that your success is directly linked to ours, and we can only grow when we address the issues at a national level.”
New award spotlights climate reporting
A new category – the Climate Climate Change Reporting Award – was introduced this year to honour excellence in journalism on climate issues. Martin Amayiko of Radio Simba won the individual award for his reporting on deforestation’s environmental impact, while New Vision received the institutional award for its sustained climate coverage. InfoNile and Monitor Publications were runners-up.
The award is supported by a partnership between the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) and the Climate Smart Jobs programme, funded by the UK government’s International Climate Fund. The programme trains and mentors journalists to produce accessible climate information, especially for women and refugees, and advocates for dedicated media desks to improve coverage quality.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ralph Weir of the British High Commission said, “This award highlights the role of journalists in demonstrating how climate change affects our lives. It recognises the power of journalism to inform, inspire, and drive action to combat the climate crisis.” He added, “As journalists, you can explain complex issues simply and help promote solutions that can change people’s lives.”
Renewable energy stories get a boost with regional award
This year, the Uganda National Journalism Awards featured a special one-off regional category on the productive use of solar energy in agriculture, made possible through a partnership between ACME and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Open to journalists from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, the category attracted nearly 20 submissions, signalling strong interest and the potential for enhanced cross-border storytelling on shared development challenges.
Among the finalists were four journalists from Tanzania and one from Kenya. The award was won by Zakia Mrisho of Nukta Habari for her impactful reporting on how microfinancing is driving clean energy adoption in Tanzania.
Inspiring Female Journalist of the Year: A gala highlight
The evening was crowned by the much-anticipated announcement of the Inspiring Female Journalist of the Year award. It is one of the standout honours at the Uganda National Journalism Awards. Each year, the judges select the winner from a group of exceptional female finalists whose work demonstrates courage, impact, and dedication to telling important stories. This year, the award was presented to Jamila Mulindwa Nuwaha of NBS Television. Known for her compelling field reporting and anchoring, Jamila was recognised for her outstanding coverage of gender justice, the arts, and civic activism, as well as her commitment to mentoring emerging women journalists.
This year, the Uganda National Journalism Awards were made possible with the generous support of Stanbic Bank, China North Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), Centenary Bank, TotalEnergies, Bank of Uganda, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Delegation of the European Union to Uganda. Other partners are the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Ltd., the Climate Smart Jobs Initiative, Airtel Uganda, Crown Beverages Uganda, Nile Breweries, Twaweza, Electricity Regulatory Authority, and the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA).
