Finalists of Inaugural EAC-EABC East Africa Media Awards Announced

Arusha, Tanzania, 10 March, 2011. The East African Business Council and East African Community Secretariat have announced the finalists for the EAC-EABC East Africa Media Awards.

The finalists for the Umoja Award honouring the best reporter on EAC integration include: Charles Kazooba from The East African; Dorothy Nakaweesi and Walter Wafula from Daily Monitor (Uganda); and Jamhuri Mwavyombo from BBC Swahili Service (Tanzania).

Finalists for the EABC Chairman’s Award honouring the best business reporter include George Omondi from Business Daily (Kenya) and Ramadhani Rajab from the The Standard (Kenya).

Finalists for the EAC Green Award honouring the best reporter on environment include Wanjohi Kabukuru from New African (Kenya); Edwin Nuwagaba from Daily Monitor (Uganda) and Barbara Namisango from Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.

Category winners and the overall winner of the EAC Secretary General Award will be announced at the East Africa Media Awards Gala Dinner scheduled to take place on 14 March 2011 at Hilton Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges who included Dr. George Lugalambi, Head of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Makerere University, Uganda, Ms. Joyce Mhaville, Managing Director of ITV from Tanzania, Mr Arthur Asiimwe, Chairman of Media High Council of Rwanda, and Mr Jared Obuya, Secretary General of Kenya Union of Journalists.

Dr. George Lugalambi, the chairman of the panel of judges, said: “There is a lot of good journalism going on in our countries which deserves to be recognized.

“Managers of media organizations should encourage their journalists to submit their stories for future EAC Awards,” he said.

The Awards attracted a total of 88 entries and drew participation from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. They are intended to be an annual event, with the objective of reinforcing the critical role of the media in East Africa in moving forward the agenda of EAC integration; and to reward, recognize and encourage journalistic talent across all media disciplines in the various aspects of regional cooperation.

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About East African Business Council

The East African Business Council (EABC) is the umbrella organization of the private sector in East Africa. Established in 1997, EABC is at the forefront of facilitating private sector participation in the integration process of the East African Community (EAC). EABC works closely with East African Community Secretariat, East African Legislative Assembly, governments, regional economic communities, multilateral groups and the business community to improve the region’s trade and investment climate.

Website: http://www.eabc.info

For more information please contact:

Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department; Corporate Communications and Public Affairs; Tel: +255 784 835021; Email: othieno@eachq.org

Godwin Muhwezi Bonge, Communications Officer, East African Business Council; P.O. Box 2617, Arusha, Tanzania; Cell: +255 766 196025/ +256 753 080571; Email: gmuhwezi@eabc.info