By Niyonshima Joshua
URA’s Assistant Commissioner for Public and Corporate Affairs, Ibrahim K. Bbossa, recognized the best business reporters from Uganda during the Uganda Journalism Awards organized by the Africa Centre for Media Excellence (ACMEI).
The two journalists awarded were Esther Oluka and Elizabeth Komurungi from the Daily Monitor. The two researched, compiled, and published a story, “Property auctions over loans double after COVID.” The story was submitted to ACMEI for analysis and verification, and the two journalists emerged winners.
While awarding the winners at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, Ibrahim Bbossa stated that URA, as an entity, believes in the free press and media excellence.
“Well researched, balanced, fair, and neutral stories inform the public and government on the next point of action. A story like this makes us, the URA, understand how businesses are performing and how we can support them. Bbossa
Bbossa highlighted the need for development journalism. “For Uganda to become economically independent, we need quality and patriotic journalists that are willing to build and hold institutions accountable through storytelling,” he added.
“Media plays a central role in informing and engaging the masses. Without the media, government agencies like URA would find it hard to sensitize the masses, let alone increase the acceptability of the products. So awarding media is a great motivation and ensures improvement in the quality of output they give, said Ag. Manager Public and Corporate Affairs URA Robert Wamala Lumanyika.
The annual Uganda National Journalism Awards were launched nine years ago to inspire and recognize journalism that informs and empowers the public, increases the voices and spaces for citizen debate, and holds the powerful to account. This year, over 15 journalists scooped awards in different categories.
