The Independent’s Musoke wins Uganda’s best journalist award

African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME)  shortlisted 74 stories for the third edition of the Uganda National Journalism Awards.

Nile Breweries Award for Exceptional Journalism – The winner of the award is a participant in the Uganda National Journalism Awards who exhibits in-depth knowledge of his or her reporting beats, provides evidence of growth over the period of assessment, consistently produces quality work, and is highly regarded by others in the profession.

According ACME, “The awards, organised with support from the Democratic Governance Facility, celebrate and promote exceptional, in-depth and enterprising journalism that informs public debate and holds the powerful to account. They 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.”

Twelve judges chaired by Dr George Lugalambi adjudicated the entries for the 2016 awards. Dr Lugalambi is the Media Capacity and Development Programme Officer at the National Governance Resource Institute.  Other judges on the panel are Charlotte Kawesa Ntulume and Florence Namasinga from Makerere University, former news editors Joachim Buwembo, David Ouma Balikowa and JB Wasswa, and senior public communication professionals Rose Mary Kemigisha, Simon Kaheru, Teresa Nannozi, Edward Ssekalo, Wairagala Wakabi and Onapito Ekomoloit.

The following were the names of the journalists whose stories made the shortlist.

AGRICULTURE
Patience Ahimbisibwe – Daily Monitor
Michael Kanaabi – New Vision
Joshua Kato – New Vision
Hope Mafaranga – New Vision

ARTS AND CULTURE
Andrew Kaggwa and Justine Mirembe – The Observer
Emmanuel Ojok – Radio Pacis
Stephen Ssenkaaba – New Vision
Frank Walusimbi – NTV Uganda

BUSINESS, ECONOMY AND FINANCE
Judith Atim – 93.3 KFM
Felix Basiime – Daily Monitor
Ian Katusiime – The Independent
Billy Rwothungeyo – New Vision

DATA JOURNALISM
Haggai Matsiko – The Independent
Esther Namugoji, Mary Karugaba, Moses Walubiri, John Masaba and John Semakula – New Vision
John Semakula – New Vision
Joseph Ssemutooke – Daily Monitor

EDITORIAL CARTOONING
Chrisogon Atukwasize – Daily Monitor
Jimmy Spire Ssentongo – The Observer

EDUCATION
Catherine Ageno – 93.3 KFM
Suhail Mugabi – NTV Uganda
Ali Mukiibi Mivule – 93.3 KGM
Carol Natukunda – New Vision

ENERGY, OIL, GAS AND MINING
Joan Akello – The Independent
Haggai Matsiko – The Independent
Mark Keith Muhumuza – Daily Monitor
Benon Herbert Oluka – The Observer
Owen Wagabaza – New Vision

ENVIRONMENT
Conan Businge, Gerald Tenywa and Sauda Nakandi – New Vision
Gerald Tenywa – New Vision
Paul Tajuba – Daily Monitor
Ronald Musoke – The Independent

EXPLANATORY REPORTING
Emmanuel Ainebyoona – Daily Monitor
Andrew Masinde and Claire Nanyunja – New Vision
Raymond Mujuni – Uganda Radio Network
Carol Natukunda – New Vision

FEATURES
Edgar R. Batte – Daily Monitor
Ismail Musa Ladu – Daily Monitor
Ronald Musoke – The Independent
Mathias Wandera – Daily Monitor

HEALTH
Jacquiline Emodek – New Vision
Gloria Nakajubi, Owen Wagabaza and Billy Rwothungeyo – New Vision
Beatrice Nyangoma and Ronald Odongo – Uganda Radio Network
Michael Wambi – Uganda Radio Network

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
Haggai Matisko and Ian Katusiime – The Independent
Raymond Mujuni – NTV Uganda
Farahani Mukisa, Nelson Wesonga and Frederic Musisi – Daily Monitor
Suhail Mugabi – NTV Uganda

JUSTICE, LAW AND ORDER
Judith Atim – 93.3 KFM
Pascal Kwesiga – New Vision
Stephen Ssenkaaba – New Vision
Michael Wambi, Anthony Kushaba, Olive Nakatudde, Ronald Odongo – Uganda Radio Network

LOCAL REPORTING
Henry Lubulwa – Daily Monitor
Francis Mugerwa – Daily Monitor
Alex John Otto and Michael Wambi – Uganda Radio Network
Anthony Sennabulya – UBC TV

MULTIMEDIA FEATURE
Sebidde Kiryowa – New Vision
Antonio Kisembo – Ultimate Multimedia Consult

NATIONAL NEWS – BROADCAST
Solomon Lubambula and Anitah Muwanguzi – 104.1 Power FM
Bernard Yiga – UBC TV

NATIONAL NEWS – PRINT
Innocent Anguyo, Fred Turyakira, John Semakula, Godfrey Ojore, Jolly Owiny, Ali Mao and Richard Drasimaku – New Vision
Francis Mugerwa – Daily Monitor
Ronald Musoke – The Independent
Billy Rwothungeyo – New Vision

PHOTOJOURNALISM
Robert Atuhairwe – Daily Monitor
Daniel Edyegu – New Vision
Morgan Mbabazi – The EastAfrican

POLITICAL REPORTING
Moses Akena – NTV Uganda
Judith Atim – 93.3 KFM
Philimon Badagawa and Paul Kisembo – Campus Times
Flavia Nassaka – The Independent

SPORTS
Hafiz Bakhit – Radio Pacis
Sande Bashaija – Daily Monitor
Norman Katende – New Vision
Abdul-Nasser Ssemugabi – Daily Monitor