KIU’s Esther Owarimpa Wins Best Photo Feature Award at 2025 Media Challenge Initiative Awards

By Isaac Akuzibwe

KIU, Main Campus - Kampala International University (KIU) student Esther Owarimpa has won the Best Photo Feature Award at the 2025 Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) Awards, held on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

The annual awards celebrate outstanding student journalists and alumni who participate in the National Newsroom Contest, one of East Africa’s most competitive training grounds for emerging media talent.

Owarimpa’s victory was KIU’s sole award at this year’s ceremony, following a rare year in which the university did not secure major wins at the National Newsroom Contest—something that had not happened since 2022.

Speaking after receiving her award, Owarimpa described the moment as both humbling and motivating.

“It’s a huge honor, but also a big responsibility. KIU has a reputation for being a superpower, and there was a lot of pressure on all of us to deliver. Bringing home the only award means I was able to keep our flag flying high", she noted.

Owarimpa, who serves as President of the Mass Communication Students Association (MACOSA), said the achievement reaffirms the exceptional talent within KIU’s media community.

"This win proves that KIU students have an X‑factor that sets us apart. I hope it inspires my fellow students to keep pushing, because we definitely belong at the top”, she added.

Having participated in the National Newsroom Contest since August 2023, Owarimpa said the award has boosted her confidence and reshaped her outlook on photojournalism.

"As a student, you enter these competitions hoping to learn and just show what you can do, so actually winning is an incredible confidence boost. I think it was my unique eye and the way I approached the subject. I focused on the emotion of the moment, and I think the judges saw my passion and effort", she remarked.

She added that the recognition has transformed photography from a casual interest into a serious professional pursuit.

"I used to see photography as just a hobby, but now I’m looking at the world through a lens of possibilities", she concluded

Other standout KIU performers at the awards included Kenneth Rubatsimbira, who emerged first runner‑up for Best English News Reporter, and Jean Ebosiri, who secured first runner‑up for Best Fact Checker.

With the awards concluded, Owarimpa and her teammates are now eligible to apply for the prestigious Media Challenge Fellowship, a six-month intensive multimedia training program designed to prepare top student journalists for professional newsrooms.