Ugandan journalist and KTN news anchor Nancy Kacungira yesterday received the first BBC World News KomlaDumor Award. The award was established as a tribute to Komla Dumor, the BBC journalist who passed away last year.
As part of the award, which seeks to promote excellence in African journalism, Ms Kacungira, who has brought calm and simplicity to prime times news in Kenya, will spend the next three months working at the BBC’s headquarters in London and sharing her experiences as news anchor for KTN Kenya.
“This is such a good opportunity to continue the legacy of a man I truly admired,” Ms Kacungira said after receiving the award. “Komla was such a true representation of what Africa is. One of the greatest things being at the BBC office is hearing his colleagues talk about him and reflect exactly who I thought he was when I watched him on screen.”
She said the BBC experience is an opportunity to learn and improve her story telling skills. “I am constantly confronted with what I don’t know so I will learn, learn, learn and observe to improve my skills in telling stories about the content am so passionate about,” she added.
Ms Kacungira won the award for her passion in understanding of African journalism, according to BBC Africa editor Solomon Mugera, which truly embodies everything the award commemorates. Also, her enthusiasm about digital media, earned her more points.
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She will have the chance to tell the African story to the BBC audiences across the world and continue the legacy of Komla Dumor. With a background as an entrepreneur, radio and TV reporter and presenter Ms Kacungira, was selected from nearly 200 applicants. There were two runners-up for the award: Leila Dee Dougan from South Africa and Paa Kwesi Asare from Ghana.
“To be a part of continuing Komla’s legacy is such an honour it feels almost like a dream. I will do my very best to justify the great trust that I have been awarded, and ensure that the benefit of this opportunity goes far beyond myself,” she said.
One of the judges, BBC Africa’s current affairs editor, Vera Kwakofi, said: “Nancy is incredibly smart with a breadth and depth to her knowledge and experience that comes across instantly.”
Nancy grew up in Uganda where she attended Makerere University in Kampala.
She has more than 14 years of experience working across a range of media in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and holds a Master’s degree in communications from Leeds University.
She is currently prime time evening news anchor on KTN where she is also the channel’s social media editor.
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