Winning the Komla Dumor is the epitome of my career – Serwanjja

NBS Television investigative journalist, Solomon Serwanjja has said winning the prestigious BBC Komla Dumor Award is the epitome of his career in journalism that dates back nine years.

Serwanjja was on Sunday night announced the second Ugandan after Nancy Kacungira but also the fifth winner after Waihiga Mwaura ,Amina Yuguda and Didi Akinyelure to win the award in fifth year set up by BBC in honor of its presenter Komla Dumor who passed on in 2014.

Speaking to the Nile Post on Tuesday via phone from London, the investigative journalist said winning the award was realization of a dream he has heard for many years.

“It has been a dream I have had for many years. Three years ago, I saw the competition but I was not yet ready to compete. When I saw the first winner (Nancy Kacungira) was a Ugandan and a former workmate, I was proud of her and said to myself that one day I could win it,” an excited Serwanjja said.

“This is the epitome of my career and I am thankful to God and my wife who believed in me.”

He narrated a story of how her wife Vivian Serwanjja encouraged him to apply for the award and this later paid off.

“When I told her the award was out, she encouraged me to apply but also kept on reminding me to apply. Two days to the deadline, she insisted I apply and send her a screenshot to which I did and in response, she congratulated me in advance for winning the award.”

The investigative journalist applauded his wife for believing in him but also keeping by his side.

Sserwanjja could not stop appreciating NBS Television for giving him a platform that enabled him to exhibit his talent but also making him a better journalist than he was.

He also applauded UBC television and NTV Uganda, his past workplaces from where he started his journalism career.

Testament to good journalism

Sserwanja early this year released an investigative piece titled, “Stealing from the sick” in which he unearthed a cartel of government officials, especially medics who were selling government drugs meant to be given out freely to patients.

Speaking about the same, Sserwanjja the Komla Dumor award is a testament that good journalism is what the society needs and that it pays.

Using the statement, “excellency feeds on itself” the investigative journalist said good journalism is one that causes impact in the life of members of the society.

“I believe journalism is not only about telling stories but amplifying life, telling stories of the voiceless and when you do it, the world appreciates you. I have dedicated nine years of my life in broadcast journalism to tell stories of the voiceless and when you do such, the world cannot help but appreciate you,” he noted.

“I have walked with mafia. I have sacrificed, risked and told many stories many fear to tell. Journalism is a noble cause that does not pay but something we do because we have a duty to humanity to contribute to the betterment of society.”

According to Serwanjja, journalists have an obligation to make the society better through telling life changing stories but not sitting and watch things unfold.

“If we see social evil becoming the new normal and keep quiet, we betray ourselves because it will eventually come back to us.”

Spending time at BBC

As part of the prize, Serwanjja will spend three months at the BBC in London and travel back to the continent to report on a story there.

Speaking of the three months he will spend with the BBC, the investigative journalist said this will be a great opportunity to training with some of the world’s best journalists, a thing he says will greatly help improve his career.

“It will be an exciting three months at the BBC,” he notes