…As Canon Celebrates Its Sixth Year Partnership Of UPPA And EAPA Awards

By Kingsley I. Ilechukwu, Correspondent Lagos

Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is delighted to announce the winners of the ninth annual Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA) and the third East African Photography Award (EAPA).

The UPPA and EAPA recognizes, celebrates, supports and promotes the best photojournalists and photographers in Uganda and wider East Africa.

This is the sixth year that Canon, through its Miraisha Programme, has been involved as the sole imaging partner of the Awards. The programme aims to promote job opportunities and future livelihoods in Africa by sharing skillsets and knowledge for photographers, videographers and filmmakers.

Kuloba Peter Tera’s image ‘Salt Famer’ was chosen as the winning photograph of the Uganda Press Photo Award 2020. Peter is a freelance photographer living in Kampala. Last year he took first and second place in the People category for UPPA. Peter wins a professional-level Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR along with an EF 24-70mm lens along with other prizes.

Peter was a previous participant of the Miraisha programme and attended the Canon Miraisha Storytelling workshop in 2017.

In the East African Photography Award, open to citizens of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, the top prize went to Kenyan documentary photojournalist Gordwin Odhiambo for his story ‘Reinventing and Adapting Through Coronavirus’. Gordwin wins a Canon EOS RP with a 24-105mm lens and lens adapter.

Sales and Marketing Director at Canon Central and North Africa, Amine Djiouahra commented on this year’s Awards “We are proud to have been involved for the past six years in these Awards that provide a platform to recognise the best photojournalists and photographers in Uganda and wider East Africa. The entrants are making a remarkable contribution to African photography, freedom of information and the art of telling stories through visual imagery.”

“Congratulations to all the entrants and a special congratulations to all the winners for your exceptional entries. I hope the prizes from Canon help you grow in your profession as you discover that Canon equipment can be a perfect partner to inspire your photography,” said Djouahra.

The UPPA and EAPA 2020 were judged by an international jury composed of photography professionals including Yasuyoshi Chiba (KE/JP), Carielle Doe (LR), Georgina Goodwin (KE), Frédéric Noy (FR), Cynthia Matonhdze (ZIM), Lekgetho Makola (SA), Benjamin Füglister (CH/DE), Sarah Waiswa (UG/KE), Mallory Benedict (US), Uche Okpa-Iroha (NG) and Paul Boates (SA).

Other winners

News

1st: Abubaker Lubowa

2nd: Alex Esagala

3rd: Stuart Tibaweswa

HM: Delovie Kwagala

Daily Life

1st: Ashaba Alex

2nd: Andrew Kartende

3rd: Richard Sanya

People

1st: Kuloba Peter Tera

2nd: Ambrose Watanda

HM: Hassan Omar Wamwayi

HM: Evaline Mudondo

1st: Richard Sanya (Sport)

2nd: Denise Namale (Sport)

Urban

1st: Jonas Rayme

2nd: Doreen Adengo

3rd: Arnold Mugasha

East African Photography Awards

1st: Gordwin Odhiambo (KE) for “Reinventing and Adapting Through Coronavirus”

2nd: Kabir Dhanji (KE) for “COVID-19 Quarantine Nairobi”

3rd: Katumba Badru (UG) for “Sleeping at the Market”

HM: Katumba Badru (UG) for “My Trash, Your Trash”

HM: Kabir Dhanji (KE) for “Nairobi DusitD2 Hotel Attack”

Young Photographers Award

1st: Ahairwebyona Monica

2nd: Naibi Turihohabwe

3rd: Kairu Philip Peter

HM:Joshua Victor Semaganda

(HM = honourable mention)

Canon would like to encourage all the entrants to continue to tell their stories from their cameras to document the world around us and keep us informed. If you don’t who will?