2023 Competitions Open for Submission

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Uganda Press Photo Award
A non-profit educational platform and annual competition organised by FOTEA to showcase and nurture photographic talent based in Kampala, Uganda
2023 Competitions Open for Submission
Photographers are invited to participate in our annual photography competitions in celebration of the photographic talents within Uganda and East Africa.  

Now in its 6th edition we have the annual East African Photography Award (EAPA), open to all visual storytellers from the East African region. 

The EAPA category invites East African photographers to submit their best single images to the following categories:

  • Human: Images that speak of people, humanity and mankind

  • Planet: Related to anything to do with our world

  • Imagine: For creative, innovative and experimental images 

Through these categories we continue to embrace photography’s diversifying appeal. Entries to ‘Human’ and ‘Planet’ might cover issues ordinarily within the scope of journalism and documentary, with the ‘Imagine’ category as an open invitation to artistic, commercial and fine art photographers to showcase their work. 

You can still submit a story, too- these categories should be treated as inspiration.

We look forward to seeing documentary and artistic work that reflects on the contemporary existence of people and the planet, and stories of life in East Africa.

The world around us is changing fast, and as creative workers it is our job to understand, keep up with and explain those changes. The impacts of cultural, socio-political, environmental and technological issues are growing larger as globalisation links us all together closer and the old collides with the new at every turn. 

We look forward to seeing stories that show the region, its people and cultures from varied, sincere and respectful viewpoints. This competition is open to single images and/or bodies of photographic work that have been worked on in the last year, from August 2022 up until the 2023 deadline. It is an opportunity to share varied perspectives and showcase our different shared and individual identities and experiences as East Africans.

Note: Projects that were commenced before August 1st 2022 are also eligible as long as they contain work created in the past year. 

The EAPA is open to citizens of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan

The story winner will be awarded $1,500 and the single image winner $700.

All shortlisted photographers will be rewarded with a variety of prizes. All prizes are sponsored by FOTEA  and the EU Delegation to Uganda. 

Note: All submissions to the Single Images and Stories must be done online through the Visura platform. Guidelines and terms and conditions can be found there as well. 

Jury for EAPA: Paul Botes - Photo Editor, The Continent (SA); Sarah Gilbert - Photo Editor, The Guardian (UK); Luis Tato - Photo Editor AFP (JP/KE), Niamh Tracey - Curator FORMAT Festival (UK); Asha Iman Veal - Associate Curator, The Museum of Contemporary Photography (US)

EAPA deadline is August 1st, 2023.

2023 Competitions Open for Submission

Next is the Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA). We are continuing the tradition of recognising and awarding some of the best photography and photojournalism within the country. This year we’re inviting Ugandan photographers to submit bodies of photographic work responding to the theme ‘BEYOND THE HEADLINES’.

The day-to-day headline often does not cover it all. There are many under-reported stories at the heart of livelihoods, development, human rights, aid, climate change and social innovation among others. 

Through this theme, we seek to give a platform to photojournalists and documentary photographers across Uganda to introduce viewers to diverse stories through photo essays. Through their creative voices, they will delve deeper into the critical issues of our age and bring to light thought-provoking photo stories of Uganda’s shifting economic, political, social and technological landscape.

Through this theme, we hope to encourage photographers to reflect  on more nuanced subjects and events more deeply and unleash their storytelling. Images submitted may be on any topic so long as they relate clearly to the theme and have been made in the last year (between August 2021 and the deadline). 

Awaiting the winner is UGX 3,000,000 prize money.

Jury: Edward Echwalu - Documentary Photographer (UG), Grace Ekpu - Photojournalist (NG), Martha Kazungu (UG), Ala Kheir - Photographer (SD), Anne Nwakalor - Photo Editor No Wahala (NG/UK).

Note: All submissions must be done online through the Visura Platform. Guidelines and terms and conditions can be found there as well.

UPPA deadline is August 1st, 2023.

2023 Competitions Open for Submission

The annual Young Photographer Award now in its eighth edition is open to emerging, passionate, Ugandan photographers between the ages of 21 and 28 years looking to cultivate a career in professional photography.

Awaiting the winner is a UGX 1,000,000 prize. The shortlisted photographers will also have the opportunity to participate in our intensive Emerging Photographer Mentorship Programme. During the programme, photographers will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge on photography as well as to develop a long term photography project that, if successful, will be exhibited during the UPPA 2024 exhibition. 

How to apply:

Photographers are asked to submit the following:

  • - a motivation letter introducing yourself as well as explaining why you should be considered for the award and the mentorship programme;

  • - a photographic project idea of a long term project that you would like to realise and take on during the mentorship programme. This has to be a realistic and attainable idea as you may have to follow through during the mentorship programme;

  • - a portfolio of 20 jpeg images taken by you, so that we can see your photographic skill in practice.

Remember - images submitted will speak for you and your talent, so be sure to show us a variety of your best work. The images do not have to be part of a singular story.

Jury: Dennis Kimbugwe - Photographer (UG), Stella Nantongo - Coordinator FOTEA (UG), Martin Kharumwa - Photographeer (UG), Giovanni Okot - Photographer (UG), Miriam Watsemba - Documentary Photographer (UG)

Note: All submissions must be done online through the Visura platform.

The deadline for all submissions is July 15th, 2023.

2023 Competitions Open for Submission
2023 Competitions Open for Submission
Copyright Uganda Press Photo Award 2024
Updated Jun 2023
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