NTV Uganda’s Investigative Reporter Sudhir Byaruhanga Scoops ACME 2020 Award

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