From circumcision to gospel hip hop: the best of Uganda's Press Photo Awards 2014

Photojournalism in east Africa was celebrated on 15 October with the third annual Uganda Press Photo Awards. Here is a selection of the most striking images on show at Makerere University Art Gallery in Kampala


  • ‘Black & white’, a portrait from Papa Shabani’s ongoing project about the roles and relationships of the albino community. Shabani is also a poet and graffiti artist, and won third place in the portrait category.
    Black & white

  • A trader stares at his former stall after fire gutted the St Balikuddembe market in December 2013. Richard Sanya won third place in the news category for this picture.
    St. Balikuddembe Fire

  • This picture – called Bright on the Roof – features Rankie, a budding gospel hip hop artist. ‘I thought this view on top of the Buganda Road flats was great, especially with the sun setting and the old peeling paint and rusted rails,’ says Peter Tera, who won first place in the portrait category.
    Bright on the Roof

  • The second annual Kampala City Festival gathered over 3,000 people in October 2013. Kibuuka Mukisa Oscar won second place in the daily life category.
    Kampala City Festival

  • An athlete competes in the national junior cross-country championships at the Jinja golf course in February 2014. Norman Katende won second place in the sport category.
    National Cross-Country Championships

  • A small dock at the Gaba landing site on Lake Victoria. Joel Nsadah Isababi won second place in the creative category.
    Gaba sand dock in Kampala

  • A mob assaults a woman wearing a mini-skirt on the Mbarara-Masaka road in July 2013, following misinterpretation of a proposed law to ban miniskirts in Uganda. The police later dispersed the crowd. Colleb Mugume won first place in the news category.
    Against the mini-skirt

  • Lunchtime for a snake in Mabira Forest, central Uganda. Matthias Mugisha won first place in the nature category.
    Snake in Mabira Forest, Central Uganda

  • The traditional rite of male circumcision, popularly known as imbalu, is a tradition stretching back to 1801. It draws Bamaasaba people from Kenya and Uganda to the Mutoto cultural grounds in Mbale, Uganda. The spectacle is beginning to gain recognition as a tourist attraction. Edyegu Daniel Enwaku won first place in the story category.
    Launch of Imbalu Season

  • Mathew Odong (right, of the sports lub Victoria University) beats goalkeeper Mike Kabeya (CS Don Bosco) for the only goal of their first round second leg Africa Champions League match at Namboole Stadium, Kampala, in February 2014. Michael Nsubuga won 1st place, Sport.
    Africa Champions League

  • The railway to Kampala. The picture was taken while two people walked with torches towards the camera during a long exposure. Matthisa Mugisha won 1st place, Creative.
    Railway to Kampala

  • A couple and their entourage sit in a Toyota Corolla after a mass wedding reception at Katama army barracks in Masindi last year. Abu Mwesiga claimed first place in the daily life category, and was the overall winner. Uganda Press Photo Award photos will be on show at Makerere University Art Gallery in Kampala until 8 November.
    Mass wedding reception
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