The eleventh edition of the Uganda National Journalism Awards, hosted by the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), unfolded at Mestil Hotel in Kampala, bringing together a distinguished gathering of journalists, editors, civil society leaders, development partners, and government officials.
The annual ceremony honoured Uganda’s most outstanding journalism work that informs, scrutinises, and amplifies the voices often left unheard. Now firmly established as Uganda’s most prestigious journalism honour, the 2025 awards reaffirmed the crucial role of rigorous, ethical, and impactful reporting in shaping national discourse and strengthening democracy.
Media’s Role in Shaping Public Trust
Delivering the keynote address, John R. Musinguzi, Commissioner General of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), underscored the media’s profound influence on public perception and behaviour.
“Every story you tell contributes to public perception. And perception shapes behaviour. When reporting is rushed or inaccurate, it doesn’t just misinform — it erodes public trust and, in our case, directly affects tax morale and compliance,” he said.
Musinguzi announced a forthcoming URA–ACME Fellowship for Business and Financial Reporting, designed to build journalists’ capacity to cover public finance, tax policy, and economic reform with depth and integrity.
Judges Call for Stronger Editorial Engagement
Chief Judge Benon Herbert Oluka, speaking on behalf of the judging panel, praised the diversity and daring nature of the submissions. However, he expressed concern over weak editorial oversight in some entries.
“Too often, we found ourselves asking: ‘Where is the editor?’ Editors must do more than copy-edit. Their mentorship, guidance, and narrative shaping are vital to impactful journalism,” Oluka noted.
In recognition of editorial leadership, editors were again credited alongside finalist journalists — a tradition introduced last year to encourage newsroom collaboration and excellence.
Radio Pacis Wins 2025 Stanbic Shield of Journalism
Radio Pacis of Arua clinched the Stanbic Shield of Journalism Award, now in its third year, for its consistent delivery of impactful public interest journalism on local governance, development, and community issues. The award came with a UGX 10 million cash prize.
Samuel Mwogeza, Executive Director at Stanbic Bank, reaffirmed the bank’s support for high-quality journalism, especially in an era plagued by misinformation.
“The media’s role in upholding truth has never been more critical. We stand with the journalism fraternity and recognise that our success as a financial institution is tied to the integrity of public information.”
New Award Spotlights Climate Reporting
A new category — the Climate Change Reporting Award — was launched this year to recognise excellence in environmental journalism.
Martin Amayiko (Radio Simba) won the individual award for his reporting on deforestation. New Vision took home the institutional award for its sustained coverage of climate issues. InfoNile and Monitor Publications were named runners-up.
The award is part of a partnership between ACME and the Climate Smart Jobs Programme, funded by the UK Government’s International Climate Fund. Speaking at the event, Ralph Weir of the British High Commission said:
“Climate journalism connects science to people’s lives. It’s key to inspiring informed action and building resilience, especially for vulnerable communities.”
Cross-Border Spotlight on Renewable Energy
A special regional award on the productive use of solar energy in agriculture — supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation — attracted entries from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Zakia Mrisho of Nukta Habari (Tanzania) emerged winner for her compelling story on how microfinancing is driving clean energy adoption among smallholder farmers. The recognition highlighted the potential of cross-border reporting to address shared development challenges.
Jamila Mulindwa Nuwaha Named Inspiring Female Journalist of the Year
The prestigious Inspiring Female Journalist of the Year Award went to Jamila Mulindwa Nuwaha of NBS Television, applauded for her fearless reporting on gender justice, civic activism, and the arts, as well as her mentorship of young women in the industry.
“Jamila represents the heart of journalism — compassion, courage, and commitment to truth,” said the judges.
The 2025 Uganda National Journalism Awards were made possible through generous partnerships with: Stanbic Bank, CNOOC, URA, UNOC, Centenary Bank, TotalEnergies, Bank of Uganda, European Union Delegation to Uganda, Climate Smart Jobs Initiative, Airtel Uganda, Nile Breweries, Twaweza, CIPESA, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Ltd.
Credit: ACME
