By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala: NTV Uganda’s investigative journalist Sudhir Byaruhanga has scooped the Uganda National Journalism Awards 2020, organised by Africa Centre for Media Excellence(ACME) at an event held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, Uganda.
Sudhir’s crown as Uganda’s ACME awards 2020 was approved by a panel of 16 communications professionals, media educators, and former journalists.
The panel was chaired by Dr. Charlotte Ntulume, a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University and also a former journalist.
After scooping the award, Sudhir took to his facebook page and posted; “I thank God and the entire NTV staff for their contribution towards this milestone in Investigative journalism. I wouldn’t have reached this far minus your support. I also thank all the sources that played a cardinal role that gave my piece the depth it required. I am the overall winner of the ACME Investigative reporting category and a second runners up in the Justice, Law and Order category. God bless you all.”
The award winner took home a cash prize of Shs1.5 million, a commemorative plaque, and a certificate while each runner-up has received Shs 750,000 and a certificate where there is a tie, the prize money was shared accordingly.
Inaugurated in 2014, the Uganda National Journalism Awards celebrate and honour reporting that embraces the ideals of journalistic excellence: enterprise, originality, depth, rigour, accuracy, and diversity of voices.
This year’s awards, organised with the support of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), continue in this tradition of publicly recognizing journalism that informs public debate, analyses trends, questions norms, and holds the powerful accountable
Here Is The Full List Of The Shortlisted Candidates In Their Categories That Participated In This Year’s Competitions
Agriculture Reporting
Alon Mwesigwa-The Observer-Milk prices test resilience of Uganda’s dairy sector
Joshua Kato-New Vision – Agro-chemicals endanger ecosystem
Ronald Musoke -The Independent – Museveni’s GMO law dilemma and American interest in Uganda’s GMO law
Arts Reporting
Andrew Kaggwa – Leo Africa Review – Stage to the State: The evolution of Bobi Wine
Frank Walusimbi – NTV Uganda – The poster boy of defiance music
Paul Kayonga – NBS Television – Fresh Kid ssi ye muto asoose okuyimba
Breaking News
Betty Amamukiror – New Vision – The forceful mutilation of girls in Kween
Cliff Wamala – NTV Uganda – Okweyanjula eri poliisi
Business, Economy and Finance Reporting
Alon Mwesigwa -The Observer – Winners and losers in the Uganda-Rwanda Row
Isaac Khisa – The Independent – Behind the sugar zoning politics
Ismail Musa Ladu -Daily Monitor – How much Uganda is losing in tax agreements with multinational companies (2-part series)
Data Journalism
Edgar R. Batte – Daily Monitor – Birding can rake in more revenue than mountain gorillas
Isaac Khisa -The Independent – Across Africa, tech-enabled micro insurance is the next big thing
Lillian Namusoke Magezi – New Vision – Balancing chores: Men need to take part
Education Reporting
David Kiyengo – CBS 89.2 Emmanduuso – School dropout
Richard Wetaya – New Vision – Is PLE to blame for low secondary school enrollment?
Solomon Serwanjja and Thomas Kitimbo – NBS Television – Mature before 18
Energy and Extractives Reporting
Daniel Lutaaya – NBS Television – The real gold diggers
Pascal Kwesiga, New Vision – How much will Uganda earn from $20bn oil projects?
Ronald Musoke – The Independent – ‘Oil money’ negotiations (2-part series)
Environment Reporting
Gerald Tenywa, New Vision – How green technology cut the cost of running universities
Peter Labeja, Radio Rupiny – Making charcoal attractive for Uganda’s supermarkets
Solomon Serwanjja and Timothy Maganda – NBS Television – Bidi Bidi’s firewood crisis
Explanatory Reporting
Cecilia Okoth, Benjamin Ssebaggala, Paul Lubwama and Ismail Nsubuga, Vision Group – Bribery in Uganda’s ID project (3-part series)
Pascal Kwesiga, New Vision – Why oil is here to stay
Raymond Mujuni and Godfrey Badebye – NTV – The sinking of MV Templar
Features
Christopher Bendana, New Vision – Equality: Women decry gaps between policy and reality
Felix Ainebyoona, Daily Monitor – Karimojong girl who refused early marriage graduates in Medicine
Richard Wetaya, New Vision – Is the fight against teenage pregnancy lost?
Health Reporting
Christopher Kayonga and Gabriel Iguma, Wizarts – Petition 16
Culton Scovia Nakamya – BBS Terefayina – Trials and tribulations of the deaf in Uganda
Leah Kahunde – Radio One 90 FM – Unsafe and sorry
Songa-Samuel Stone Mwesigwa, Salim Segawa and Victor Opira, STORYTELD – Meet Vivan Nabanoba and Hilary Niwamanya, two people living positively with the virus
Investigative Reporting
Canary Mugume and Thomas Kitimbo, NBS Television – Modern day slavery in Soroti
Daniel Lutaaya, NBS Television – Without a trace
Sudhir Byaruhanga, NTV Uganda – Ranch land being taken by government officials
Justice, Law and Order Reporting
Betty Amamukirori, Edward Muhumuza, Patrick Tumwesigye and Obeid Lutale, Vision Group – Officials turn courts into corruption dens
Paul Kayonga, NBS Television – Amateeka mu ddubi
Sudhir Byaruhanga, NTV Uganda – Police on opposition activities
Local Reporting
Culton Scovia Nakamya, BBS Terefayina – Mothers at risk of infection as water crisis cripples Nakaseke Hospital
George Bita, New Vision – Children at risk as condemned asbestos roofs persist
Herbert Kamoga and Gerald Luyima, NTV Uganda – Nakasongola student walks 15 kilometers to sit for UCE
National News Reporting – Broadcast
Canary Mugume and Godfrey Badebye, NBS Television – The death of Ziggy Wine
Joan Akello, Uganda Radio Network – Over 100 MPs listed among perpetual absentees in Parliament
Solomon Serwanjja, Godfrey Badebye and Kassim Mohammed, NBS Television – Stealing from the sick
National News Reporting-Print
Ian Katusiime, The Independent – UPDF’s uncertain future in Somalia
Patience Ahimbisibwe, Daily Monitor – 1,000 weddings at city church declared illegal
Ronald Musoke, The Independent – Colours of violence in 2021 elections
News Illustration – No entries were submitted
Photo and video journalism
Abubaker Lubowa, Daily Monitor – Nowhere to run
Richard Sanya, New Vision – Flying to safety
Songa-Samuel Stone Mwesigwa, Salim Segawa and Victor Opira, STORYTELD – Moving around Kampala as a person with a disability
Political reporting
Christopher Kayonga and Gabriel Iguma, Wizarts – Demarcation of polling areas
Ian Katusiime, The Independent – Visa denied
Misairi Thembo Kahungu, Daily Monitor – Seven years later, African leaders move slowly on democracy treaty
Sports reporting
Abdul-Nasser Ssemugabi, Daily Monitor – Malta: Opening the pool for young para-swimmers
George Katongole, Daily Monitor – Coach with physical disability
Henry Lematia, Radio Pacis – 14 years later, teenage pregnancy eating away the new Inzikurus in West Nile
