Ugandan Television Presenter Wins 5th BBC World News Komla Dumor Award

By Irene Gaitirira
Published October 6, 2019

Solomon Serwanjja of Uganda has been awarded the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award.

Serwanjja is an investigative reporter and news anchor with NBS TV in Kampala where he hosts one of the channel’s prime-time shows. He also reports for Kenya’s KTN News TV from Kampala. A respected journalist in East Africa, he has produced award-winning reports, including for Africa Eye, catapulting him into the spotlight across the continent for his hard-hitting journalism.

Solomon Serwanjja–the fifth winner of the award, following in the footsteps of Kenya’s Waihiga Mwaura (2018), Nigeria’s Amina Yuguda (2017) and Didi Akinyelure (2016) and Uganda’s Nancy Kacungira (2015)–begins his three month placement at BBC by attending a training course at the BBC Academy before joining BBC News teams – across TV, radio and online – which will provide him with the opportunity to gain skills and experience across BBC News’ multifaceted platforms.

Following the training and placements, Solomon Serwanjja will travel to a country in Africa, with a top BBC producer, to report on a story for a global audience. The story will then be broadcast on BBC platforms, which reaches audiences of 426 million across the world each week.

Solomon Serwanjja said, “Komla brought so much to the African narrative; his perspective was a breath of fresh air, as he believed Africa was rising and that the world needed to see the continent from a different angle. His reports always struck a chord with me, and I feel the same passion for our continent that he demonstrated. I want to continue his legacy by telling stories that cast a spotlight not only on the critical challenges we face in Africa, but also the progress and successes that have been made.”

Serwanjja impressed judges–Bilkisu Labaran of BBC Africa service; Jon Zilkha, Senior Project Director for Newsroom Change at BBC; Pamela Sittoni, Managing Editor at Daily Nation in Kenya–not only with his eloquence and passion for telling African stories, but also with his commitment and bravery in uncovering what’s in the public interest. His passion for investigative journalism highlighted his desire to make positive change in his native Uganda, as well as across the continent, and some of his reports have already resulted in societal changes. Solomon’s tenacity in challenging preconceived stereotypes and holding leaders to account are journalistic traits that resonate with the BBC’s global audiences.

Jamie Angus, Director of BBC World Service Group, said, “To recognise and empower some of Africa’s leading talent in journalism, in honour of Komla, is really important to us. Komla’s reporting made a huge impact with audiences all over the world, and we’re excited to have Solomon at the BBC, to harness Komla’s commitment to telling African stories.”

The award was set up in honour of presenter Komla Dumor, who died in January 2014, and aims to continue Komla’s legacy by celebrating African journalism and finding exceptional talent.