The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) has announced a shortlist of 59 entries for the 2022 edition of the Uganda National Journalism Awards.
The awards, launched in 2014, celebrate and promote exceptional, in-depth and enterprising journalism that informs public debate and holds power 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.
“Recognition and reward are proven ways of motivating professionals to maintain good standards and to raise their performance,” says George Lugalambi, ACME executive director.
He adds that the awards showcase the best of Ugandan journalism and inspire media platforms to continue striving to excel.
Across the media industry, 196 journalists participated in the awards, submitting 283 entries for the competition. About 30 percent of participating journalists are women and 40 percent of entries were from journalists based outside Kampala.
A panel of 8 judges drawn from the media, academia and public communications adjudicated the entries.
Dr Charlotte Kawesa Ntulume of the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University chaired the panel.
“Quality journalism can no longer be taken for granted,” says Lugalambi. “It needs to be celebrated and we’re grateful to every journalist who participated in the competition and all the sponsors who responded to our call for support.”
This year’s winners will be announced at a gala to be held on Wednesday 14 December 2022 at 4:30 pm at Mestil Hotel Conference Centre in Nsambya, Kampala.
Among the highlights, Rachael Akidi Okwir, BBC World Service head of East Africa languages, will deliver a keynote address on covering Africa in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
The Award categories range from Agriculture, Arts, Sports, Business Finance and Economy, Education, Energy and Extractive Industries, among others.