One Wednesday 12th April, the Ugandan Journalists received what I may describe as the Easter gift and this happened at Golf Course Hotel in Kampala where exceptional practitioners were recognized for a job well-done.
The prestigious Uganda National Journalism Awards is an annual event and one of the most respected media Awards organized by the African Center for Media Excellence.
The following is a full list of winners of the Uganda National Journalism Awards 2017. A full report on the Awards gala to be published soon.
Nile Breweries Award for Exceptional Journalism
Winner – Mr Solomon Serwanjja, NBS Television
Runner-up – Mr Benon Herbert Oluka, The Observer
Agriculture reporting
| Winner | Ms Immaculate Amony, Radio Wa
Reaping big from fish farming |
| Runner-up | Benon Herbert Oluka, The Observer
Series on the history and evolution of the National Agricultural Advisory Services |
| Honourable mention | Ronald Kato, Urban Television
The fall of Masaka Cooperative Union |
Arts and culture reporting
| Winner | Mr Stephen Ssenkaaba, New Vision
Wakaliwood, Uganda’s rudimentary answer to Hollywood (series) |
| Runner-up | Mr Andrew Kaggwa, The Observer
Buganda’s lost sounds (series) |
| Honourable mention | Ms Agnes Eriosi Nantaba, The Independent
Money and campaign songs |
Business, finance and economic reporting
| Winner | Mr Isaac Khisa, The Independent
Fishing in the dark on Lake Victoria |
| Runner-up | Mr Mark Keith Muhumuza & Mr Frederic Musisi, Daily Monitor
Tanga pipeline to take more than just oil to sea |
| Honourable mention | Mr Mark Keith Muhumuza
Debt: Has Uganda mortgaged its oil with increased borrowing? |
Data journalism
| Winner | Mr Edgar Raymond Batte, Daily Monitor
Illegal wildlife trade a thorn in tourism |
Editorial cartooning
| Winner | Mr Chrisogon Atukwasize, Daily Monitor |
Education reporting
| Winner | Mr Conan Businge New Vision
Surging free education numbers fail learning quality |
| Runner-up | Mr Ronald Musoke, The Independent
Rethinking science teaching at O-Level (series) |
| Honourable mention | Ms Agness Nandutu, NTV Uganda
Series on education challenges in Mbale and Bududa districts |
Education reporting category top three celebrate their achievements with Bank of Uganda deputy governor Louis Kasekende.
Energy, oil, gas and mining reporting
| Winner | Mr Benon Herbert Oluka, The Observer
The untold story of oil (series) |
| Runner-up | Mr Haggai Matsiko, The Independent
The Karuma, Isimba dams saga |
| Honourable mention | Mr Michael Wambi, Uganda Radio Network
From waste to resource: The role of biomass in Uganda’s energy mix |
Environment reporting
| Winner | Mr John Masaba, New Vision
Rwenzori suffers first pains of global warming |
| Runner-up | Gerald Tenywa, New Vision
Poisoned quietly on Lake Victoria |
| Honourable mention | Mr Ronald Mugabe, New Vision
The war on plastics (series) |
Explanatory reporting
| Winner | Mr Solomon Serwanjja & Mr Godfrey Badebye, NBS Television
The dark world of drugs |
| Runner-up | Mr Adante Okanya, Mr Edward Anyole & Mr Paul Busharizi, New Vision
How terrorists delivered death to 76 Ugandans |
| Honourable mention | Mr Raymond Mujuni, NTV Uganda
Silent voices of war |
Features
| Winner | Mr Ronald Musoke, The Independent
Massacre on Masaka Road |
| Runner-up | Mr Solomon Serwanjja & Mr Thomas Kitimbo, NBS TV
Born in captivity |
| Honourable mention | Ms Gillian Nantume, Daily Monitor
Evelyn Amony on reclaiming a lost life |
Health reporting
| Winner | Mr Andrew Masinde, New Vision
Series on the dire state of Uganda’s public ambulance system |
| Runner-up | Ms Lillian Namusoke Magezi, New Vision
Series on combating the causes of diabetes |
| Honourable mention | Ms Gloria Nakajubi, New Vision
Series on the challenge of treating Hepatitis B in Uganda |
Justice, law and order reporting
| Winner | Mr Sulaiman Kakaire, The Observer
Ten years on, Industrial Court fails to dispense timely justice |
| Runner-up | Mr Frederic Musisi, Daily Monitor
Series on the dilemma of mentally ill inmates |
| Honourable mention | Mr John Semakula, New Vision
Fraudsters use courts to grab land |
Investigative reporting
| Winner | Mr Andrew Bagala, Daily Monitor
Masked police goons named, faces revealed |
| Runner-up | Mr Solomon Serwanjja & Mr Godfrey Badebye, NBS Television
Kifeesi: Kampala’s deadly thieves |
| Honourable mention | Ms Clare Namanya & Mr Charles Etukuri, New Vision
Ugandan girls recount shocking tales from working abroad |
Andrew Bagala (right), Daily Monitor, celebrates his win of the investigative reporting award.
Local reporting
| Winner | Mr Daniel Edyegu, New Vision
Charcoal burning: A cancer eating Karamoja’s future away
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| Runner-up | Mr Francis Mugerwa, Daily Monitor
Combating land grabbing in the oil-rich districts
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| Honourable mention | Ms Hope Mafaranga, New Vision
She lost four children to a tribal conflict AND Mr EMar Okanokodi, Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC Commemorating the 2003 Pajule massacre |
Multimedia feature
| Winner | Mr Stephen Ssenkaaba, New Vision
Kabbo ka muwala: An artistic take on the thorny subject of immigration |
| Runner-up | Ms Betty Amamukiror & Mr John Isingoma of Campus Times
Intersex dilemma: To have or not to have surgery |
National news reporting – Broadcast
| Winner | Ms Anitah Muwanguzi, 104.1 Power FM
Series on the plight of teenage mothers |
| Runner-up | Mr Joseph Sabiti, NBS Television
Unanswered questions on Aine AND Ms Joan Akello, 104.1 Power FM Series on causes of high failure rates of Grade III teaching examinations |
| Honourable mention | Mr Raymond Mujuni, NTV Uganda
Series on the Kasese crisis |
National news reporting – Print
| Winner | Mr Haggai Matsiko, The Independent
Inside the Shs 1 trillion bailout |
| Runner-up | Mr Sulaiman Kakaire, The Observer
Four universities producing fake nurses |
| Honourable mention | Mr Emmanuel Ainebyoona, Daily Monitor
Government officials fight over new cancer machine deal |
Photojournalism
| Winner | Mr Alex Esagala, Daily Monitor |
| Runner-up | Ms Patience Ahimbisibwe, Daily Monitor |
| Honourable mention | Ms Rachel Mabala, Daily Monitor |
Political reporting
| Winner | Mr Gabriel Iguma & Mr Christopher Kayonga, WizArts
Campaign finance AND Mr Solomon Serwanjja, NBS Television Government losing billions of shillings on MPs with pending election cases |
| Runner-up | Mr Ian Ssenabulya, 93.3 KFM
Uganda’s Electoral College voting system |
| Honourable mention | Mr Haggai Matsiko, The Independent
Amama Mbabazi’s presidential petition |
Sports reporting
| Winner | Mr Billy Rwothungeyo, New Vision
How Ugandans contribute to rich English Premier League footballers’ salaries |
| Runner-up | Mr Sam Mpoza, NTV Uganda
Ondupalaka FC: An example of the power of football |
| Honourable mention | Mr Makhtum Muziransa, Daily Monitor
Women’s football verses men’s football: The differences and why they exist |
