The Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA) was conceived in 2012 to offer support and appreciation for Ugandan photojournalists and photographers who sometimes take great risks to document the world around us and keep us informed. Our aim is to promote the best of today’s photojournalism in Uganda and support visual literacy, as well as encouraging a new generation of photographers by focusing on photographic education through our programmes. We also seek to remind the viewing public of the importance of a vibrant press for democratic development.
As of 2016 UPPA is a program of the FOTEA Foundation, which was established to provide umbrella support for the UPPA and its satellite activities. These include most recently the East African Photography Award, the Young Photographers’ Award and Young Photographer Mentorship Programme,workshops, film screenings, portfolio reviews and exhibitions. Through all of this FOTEA strives to bring together photographers and other visual storytellers to encourage unique voices that document and engage with social change. With the newly added East African Photography Award we’re looking to up the ante as we not only foster some healthy competition with our neighbours but also share our different worlds and perspectives.
The winners of the Uganda Press Photo of the Year Award, the East African Photography Award and the Young Photographer Award all receive professional-level camera equipment sponsored by Canon. The prizes awarded are tools of the trade that enable the winners to continue their work and hone their skills.The winners also get exposure through the annual month-long exhibition, as well as in media both online and in print. 2017 saw UPPA take part in the Images of Current Affairs | Press Photography and Archives in Africa exhibitionat the Basel University Library from 28 April – 26 August.
Jury members in 2018
UPPA & EAPA
Yasuyoshi Chiba, AFP chief photographer for East Africa and Indian Ocean
Georgina Goodwin, Documentary Photographer
Martin Kharumwa, Photographer and Content Creator
Frédéric Noy, Documentary Photographer, Cosmos Agency
Annette Sebba, Photography Lecturer, Makerere University, Kampala
