The evening of September 16th saw 9 journalists awarded top prizes & another21 from different local newspapers, television & radio stations recognized at the Sustainable Tourism Media Awards Gala which was presided over by Honorable Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage.

 

2011 Sustainable Tourism Media Awards - A Success

  The 2011 Sustainable Tourism Media Awards Committee, with representatives from Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Uganda Tourism Association, Association of Uganda Tour Operators, Uganda Tourism Board, Fountain Publishers, Association of Uganda Female Writers (FEMRITE), Makerere University and USAID-STAR would like to extend cordial appreciation to the sponsors for the generous support towards the 2011 Media Awards Event. Your enormous support of over US $35,760 (equivalent to UGX 89,400,000); more of it in Kind helped this committee to organize a colorful gala event on the evening of September 16, 2011 at Kampala Serena Hotel where journalists and media houses were honored and recognized for their responsible coverage of tourism and conservation related issue over the last year.

To AMPROC Group, USAID- STAR and Kampala Serena Hotel; this year’s prime sponsors, we were humbled by your massive sponsorship and there is no doubt that without your support, it would have been very hard for this committee to host such a successful gala event. We cannot undervalue generous and numerous sponsorships from different institutions, both private and public. Our sincere thanks goes to Brussels Airlines, Kyambura Game Lodge, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Brussels Airlines, Wild Places, Volcanoes Safaris, Turkish Airlines, Matoke Tours Company, Lake Kitandara Lodges, Chobe Safari Lodge, Great Lakes Safaris, Geo Lodges, S.M.K Dynamic Printers, Kiganda Arts, Wildlife Clubs of Uganda, Uganda Wines & Spirits, Adrift Company of Uganda, Wild Waters Lodge, Business Today Publications, Protea Hotel, Golf Course Hotel, Nile Gold, Wild Frontiers, Nile River Explorers, KB Tours & Travel, Tour Guide Publications, Afri Tours and Travel Ltd, Rwenzori Bottling Company and Red Chilli Hideaway. Your implausible support to this national effort has demonstrated how much each of you favors responsible media coverage of Uganda’s sustainable tourism and is a true success story. 

The Sustainable Tourism Media Awards Program, an annual event organized by a committee/panel of judges, with representatives from Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Uganda Tourism Association, Association of Uganda Tour Operators, Uganda Tourism Board, Fountain Publishers, Association of Uganda Female Writers (FEMRITE), Makerere University and USAID-STAR to recognize journalists and media houses that show exemplary coverage of tourism and conservation related issues is a true success story for the Public-Private Sector partnerships. This has confirmed that when system integration and coordination are enhanced, not only is it a wise way to invest in transforming a structure, but is a way in which everyone wins! 

To the Journalists and media houses, we thank you for your participation in the awards competition and your tremendous role in promoting Uganda’s tourism treasures through your responsible coverage. Over 160 articles were submitted from 31 journalists. These submissions were evaluated by a panel of Judges using a criteria based on content, educational value, information quality, creativity, accuracy of research, newsworthiness, and other qualifications. Awards were offered in three categories: print, radio and television broadcast, with three winners (prime winner and two runners up) from each category.  On the evening of September 16 2011, nine Journalists were awarded top prizes and other twenty-one journalists from different local newspapers, television and radio stations recognized at a Sustainable Tourism Media Awards gala event organized by different tourism and conservation stakeholders with support from private sector.

The Gala Event was presided over by Honorable Ephraim Kamuntu, the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage who hailed the significant role of the media in promoting the destination and called upon the media fraternity to “take” Uganda to the world as other media has done elsewhere.

The winners included: Excellent Coverage by the Print Media Prime Winner- Gerald Tenywa, New vision, 1st Runner Up-Agather Atuhaire, The Independent Magazine, 2nd Runner Up-Titus Kakembo, New Vision.   Excellent Coverage for Sustainable Tourism for Television Broadcast Prime Winner- Craig Kadoda, NTV, 1st Runner Up-Isabel Nakirya, NTV, 2nd Runner Up-Samuel Ssettumba, NTV   Excellent Coverage for Sustainable Tourism for Radio Broadcast Prime Winner- Benjamin Jumbe, KFM, 1st Runner Up-Dennis Sigoa, UBC Radio, 2nd Runner Up-Adellah Orishaba, Radio West.   Excellent Coverage for Sustainable Tourism by Print Media Prime Winner- New vision, 1st Runner Up-Daily Monitor, 2nd Runner up-The Observer.   Excellent Coverage for Sustainable Tourism by Broadcast Media Prime Winner-NTV, 1st Runner Up-UBC, 2nd Runner Up-WBS TV

 

We appreciate that “the sustainability of Uganda’s tourism and improved livelihoods of many depends on what we do now, together.”

Many thanks to all the Sponsors and Congratulations to the winners!!!

http://www.star-uganda.org/media-awards-program.html