The Festival of East African Photography (FOTEA) has announced the winners of its 2025 photography awards, recognizing outstanding work across multiple categories that showcase the region's documentary photography and photojournalism talent. The awards ceremony celebrates both established and emerging photographers from East Africa who have demonstrated exceptional skill in capturing stories that matter to their communities and beyond.
The 2025 East African Photography Award (LEAPA) was judged by a distinguished international panel of photography professionals. The jury included Martin Kharumwa, a photographer and gallery owner from Uganda; Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, a photojournalist from South Africa; Maggie Soladay, photo editor at the Open Society Foundations in the United States; Luis Tato, photo editor at AFP based in Spain and Kenya; and Sana Ullah, senior program officer at the National Geographic Society in the United States.
The Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA) continues its tradition of recognizing the finest documentary photography and photojournalism in Uganda. Timothy Akolamazima emerged as the winner with his compelling project titled "Beyond the Barre: Ballet Stories in Uganda," which explores the quiet rise of ballet in a country where it exists on the margins of mainstream culture. His work documents the resilience, passion, and determination of young dancers who pursue this art form despite facing significant economic, social, and structural obstacles. Timothy receives a Fujifilm X-T50 camera and XF 16-50 kit, generously provided by Fujifilm Middle East FZE.
The UPPA 2025 was evaluated by a regional jury of photography professionals, including documentary photographer Ala Kheir from Sudan, photojournalist and documentary photographer Edward Echwalu from Uganda, and documentary photographer Maheder Haileselassie from Ethiopia. Their expertise ensured that the winning entries met the highest standards of visual storytelling and journalistic integrity.
The Young Photographer Award (YPA) serves as an educational initiative designed to encourage young photographers passionate about documentary photography or photojournalism. The winner and finalists receive the opportunity to participate in an intensive mentorship program that provides hands-on photography training while guiding participants in developing a documentary photography project under the guidance of industry professionals.
Agaba Joel Gabriel has been named the 2025 Young Photographer Award winner. Based in Kampala, Agaba is a multi-talented DJ, photographer, and theater creator whose multidisciplinary practice explores themes of memory, place, and belonging through experimental works rooted in preservation and everyday life. She receives a Fujifilm X-S20 camera with an XF 16-50 kit, provided by Fujifilm Middle East FZE, and is invited to participate in next year's Emerging Photographers Mentorship Program, where she will have the opportunity to develop her project and present her work at UPPA 2025. This year's Young Photographer Award was judged by Ugandan photographers Zahara Abdul, Dennis Kimbugwe, and Esther Ruth Mbabazi.
An exhibition featuring all winning images from the East African Photography Award, Uganda Press Photo Award, and Young Photographer Award will be open to the public from Thursday, September 25, at MoTIV Uganda through October 13. The exhibition will also showcase the work of Barbra Mercy Leni, last year's Young Photographer Award winner, who will present the results of her participation in this year's Emerging Photographers Mentorship Program. Barbra's project, titled "Salt Extraction on Lake Katwe," powerfully illustrates the vital yet dangerous livelihoods of miners, detailing their endurance in the face of harsh conditions and health risks for meager wages. Her work highlights the urgent need for formal protections, better tools, and health support, emphasizing the critical gap between Uganda's labor policies and the harsh reality of informal livelihoods.
This year's awards program is supported by several key partners and sponsors, including the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation Uganda, Fujifilm Middle East FZE, the Swedish Embassy in Uganda, the EU Delegation in Uganda, and the Future Generation Foundation. Their support makes it possible to recognize and nurture photographic talent across East Africa.
The complete list of winners includes the East African Photography Award categories: Story category winners are Amar Abdalla from Sudan (1st), Jérémie Onyango from Kenya (2nd), and Maureen Gathoni from Kenya (3rd), with honorable mentions to Daniel Irungu Mwangi from Kenya and Sosina Mengistu from Ethiopia. In the Human category, Israa Alrrayah from Sudan took first place, with Donwilson Odhiambo from Kenya earning both second and third place, and Lucas Oyugi from Kenya receiving an honorable mention. The Planet category was won by Katumba Badru from Uganda, followed by Anthony Ochieng Onyango from Kenya in second place, Edwin Ndeke from Kenya in third, and Anthony Ochieng Onyango receiving an additional honorable mention. In the Imagine category, Natnael Ashebir from Ethiopia was the winner, with Kevin Ochieng from Kenya receiving an honorable mention. The Uganda Press Photo Award rankings show Timothy Akolamazima in first place, Serina Efrance Kirabo in second, Vanessa Mulondo in third, and Peter Simon receiving an honorable mention. For the Young Photographer Award, Agaba Joel Gabriel won first place, Victor Kibalama second, Hannah Bitebekezi third, and Sandra Agwico earned an honorable mention.
