EU Boss Tips Photo-journalist Esagala to Win Upcoming Photo Awards

By Max Patrick Ocaido

Anna Merrifield, the Deputy Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Uganda has tipped Daily Monitor’s photo-journalist Alex Esagala to win upcoming photo awards.

Merrifield lauded Esagala’s incredible shot of a man walking past a burning car tyre like a movie star during last week’s Makerere University students’ strike over tuition increment.

She was swept off her feet by Esagala’s photo and tipped the young man who hails from Busoga sub region to win the next Photo Award.

“Sometimes you see a news photo that you just *know* will be winning awards. This one by Alex Esagala from @DailyMonitor on the protests at Makerere has just perfect composition, it is almost like a painting. Incredible,” Merrifield tweeted.

Indeed, Esagala is no stranger to winning photo awards. The youngster already has a handful of accolades in his name since joining Daily Monitor in 2015. In 2017, Esagala was over the moon after winning his first Award as the Best Photo-Journalist during the Uganda National Journalism Awards ceremony organized by African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME).

In October 2018, Esagala’s photo of a police officer ruthlessly dragging the then Makerere University guild president Papa Were Salim emerged the overall winner of the Uganda Press Photo Awards (UPPA) held at the Square in Industrial Area. He bounced home with a prize of a5D Mark 4 Camera.

His works were then recognized by the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, who invited him to his office for ‘special’ recognition.

Esagala has already taken a couple of admirable and potential award winning photos most of which have dominated discussions on social media and there is no doubt that he will win big in the next photo awards as foreseen by EU’s Merrifield.