Uganda Conservation Media Awards renewed for another year
Many Ugandans may never visit a national park, see a pangolin, or a shoebill, or a lion in the wild, but they will hear a wildlife report on the radio, view a powerful video on social media, or click on an eye-opening article.
That is why it is so important for conservation that we honor journalists - at the latest edition of the Uganda Conservation Media Awards (UCMA), hosted in Kampala this week by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in partnership with WildAid.
These awards – which have been running since 2023 - celebrate the media professionals whose work shines a spotlight on the threats, triumphs and everyday realities of conserving wildlife and the natural world. From investigations into conservation challenges to stories about the people standing up for nature, the competition this year was intense, and judges felt the overall standard of entries continued to improve. Nine reporters took the top prizes, with a further 16 being recognized for outstanding work.
Media matters - and we are here to stay
Chief guest at this year’s ceremony, Uganda's State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, reiterated the government's commitment to nature conservation, noting that it is central to Uganda’s development.
Prof. James Kalema, Chair of the UWA Board of Trustees, confirmed the organization's continued support for the awards, seeing them as a cornerstone of conservation communication in Uganda, and formally announced that the 2026 UCMA is now open for entries. The fourth round of the scheme will include a new category for New/Digital Media, aimed at rewarding influencers and bloggers that spotlight conservation issues.
The power of the press in shaping the conservation narrative
Maz Robertson, Deputy Africa Program Manager for WildAid, reminded journalists that their stories drive the conservation narrative, which gives them immense power to shape public understanding and spark action.
One standout entry - Innocent Kiiza’s article “The Vanishing Roar: Uganda’s Lions Caught Between Survival and Extinction,” published in Rwenzori Daily, documented mounting pressures on Uganda’s lion populations. The piece highlighted habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and poisoning incidents that have reduced prides in key landscapes, notably Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Responding to the spotlight on lions, Dr. James Musinguzi, Executive Director of UWA, affirmed that lion conservation remains a top priority for the agency. He also announced that UWA will translocate white rhinos to Kidepo Valley National Park in the near future, as part of efforts to restore iconic wildlife populations.
Other key issues raised by the winning entries included the role of women in conservation, tourism and conservation infrastructure, pangolins and Uganda’s totem culture, and invasive species – a growing issue across protected areas in Africa.
"I am immensely proud of WildAid's partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority in creating and sustaining these media awards," said Simon Denyer, WildAid's Africa Program Manager. "As a former journalist myself, I believe that high-quality journalism has a crucial role to play in shaping the debate."
"These awards have helped encourage, highlight and reward some excellent reporting on conservation in Uganda over the past three years, and we are very excited that they are carrying on next year," he added.
2025 Winners
Community Conservation
Print/online: Edward Anyoli and Davis Buyondo - Who is Eating Uganda’s Shy Wild Animal?
Broadcast media: Richard Olwenyi and David Ochieng - Restoring Uganda’s National Parks
Habitats & Environment
Print/online: Gerald Tenywa - Toxic Weed Invades Mweya in Queen Elizabeth Game Park
Broadcast media: Akiza Eli - How Climate Change and Encroachment Threaten Uganda’s Grey Crowned Crane
Wildlife Crime
Print/online: Innocent Kiiza - The Vanishing Roar: Uganda’s Lions Caught Between Survival and Extinction
Broadcast media: Johnisani Ocakacon - Lack of Scanner Hindering Fight Against Illicit Wildlife Trade at Elegu Border Point
Wildlife Protection
Print/online: Sarah Mawerere - Courage in the Wild: How Uganda's Women Rangers Guard Nature and Change Minds
Broadcast media: Joshua Kagoro - Rainy Season Put Wildlife and Tourism at Risk
Wildlife Photograph of the Year
Jacob Mukalazi - Necking Titans
IG: @mukalazizuma
Across all categories, these winning stories illuminate the people, places and wildlife at the heart of Uganda’s conservation story - and remind us why media matters.
The Ugandan awards have been so successful that the idea is now spreading to other countries. This year, WildAid will launch the first-ever Gabon Environmental Journalism Awards, in partnership with Gabon's Ministry of Communications and Media, and with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Libreville. We hope to take the idea elsewhere in Africa in coming years.