By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU Main Campus-Five students from the department of journalism and media studies have qualified for the 2023 Media Challenge Fellowship program where they will undergo a series of intensive multimedia training for six months.

Organized by the Media Challenge Initiative, the program features 26 outstanding students of journalism and mass communication from various universities in Uganda. This fellowship is preceded by the National Newsroom Contest where the best individuals earned a 50% mark before applying for the six months training program.

KIU has the highest number of representatives in this year's fellowship with five going for the Media Challenge fellowship Program and one, Nicole Frieden Munezero opting for a training in fact-checking by Debunk, an independent fact-checking firm at the Media Challenge Initiative Hub in Kabalagala.

Isaac Tayebwa, Apophia Nzeirwegye, Deborah Akunyo, Ashiraf Sekagya, and Helena Otaga, all part of the KIU news team that won the 2022 National Newsroom Contest, now have the chance to advance their multimedia skills and journalism experience in this year's Media Challenge Fellowship.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone on this team for allowing and giving me a chance to serve as a news manager, producer, radio host, and writer. May God reward you abundantly," Isaac Tayebwa wrote on the KIU news team's social media platform immediately after being inducted into the fellowship.

 "I have been selected for the 2023 Media challenge fellowship program. I want to thank God and my team for believing in me and for the prayers thank you so much team let me go and make you proud. We are the winning team," Helena Otaga said after being confirmed for the fellowship.

It should be noted that the six candidates made it on merit after passing both the written and oral interviews. The Head of the department of journalism and media studies at KIU, Miss Maureen Komugisha said that she was impressed by the level of confidence exhibited by her students.

"Congratulations my boys and girls, you people have made me proud again, go and shine," she wrote on social media. We wish the six students a successful exploration and congratulate them upon this worthy milestone.