Even with Makerere University closed, the institution can’t stay out of the news.
Its journalism students once again topped the list of winners in the inter-institutional Media Challenge (IMC) awards. At a colourful ceremony held at the Kampala Serena hotel on November 27, Makerere University won nine out of the 24 awards on offer.
Makerere was followed home by Uganda Christian University (UCU), with six awards, St Lawrence University (four), Kampala University (three), and Islamic University in Uganda and Makerere Business Institute (MBI), each winning one award.
However, the celebrations were tinged with some sadness as nearly, every Makerere student who made it to the podium, blamed its closure for their late submission of reports to the judges.
One such student, Shillar Nayebale, who competed in the best Luganda environment reporter category, was in tears.
“I feel sad that I did not take this award because my story had to be captured at the university premises. When it [the university] was closed, I had to involve costs and record the story from another place,” Nayebare, who emerged first runner-up, said. “But all the same, Makerere has taken more awards and I’m happy for the other students.”
She lost in her category to St Lawrence University’s Francis Sempala, who was also the biggest winner of the night with three awards. A soft-speaking Sempala commended the organisers and his teammates, after he also won the best health reporter and best Luganda news reporter categories, respectively.
Ndejje University students did not take home any awards, but received certificates of appreciation. Abaas Mpindi, the CEO, Media Challenge Initiative (MCI), which organised the annual awards, said he was impressed with the great improvement in the work submitted by students.
“There is really good progress because you can realise that students put in a lot of effort in their videos, essays, photography, among others compared to the previous years,” Mpindi said.
He attributed this to one of their projects; the media challenge academy, a Kansanga-based hub that supports media students with hands-on training in radio presentation and production, TV presentation, online journalism, beat reporting and photography, among others.
“Students were supported with equipment to rehearse their news anchoring and reporting at the hub before submitting their final work to the judges. This has been a huge addition to the students’ work,” he said.
MCI also recognised UCU’s Martha Kay for her exceptional photography work and Makerere University’s City Television team that runs an online television channel.
Mpindi urged universities and media institutions to ensure that students are prepared not only for the awards but for life after the campus which is still a challenge.
Meanwhile, journalism students also recognised media personalities under the media challenge awards. Themed “Mentoring the next generation of journalists”, students took off some time to bond with journalists in various media houses.
Celebrated journalist like Joel Kibazo took home the media lifetime achievement award, Alex Ndawula (radio legend award) and Drake Ssekeba (TV legend award) while the African Centre for Media Excellence took the media excellence award for their role in shaping journalism in Africa.
For the future, Mpindi hopes to set up a daily students’ radio and TV station that focuses on offering media students a platform to practise and provide real-time content.
nangonzi@observer.ug