Four Ugandans are among the 27 finalists from 13 countries announced for the CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the year 2011 award.

Norman Katende of The New Vision

Norman Katende, of  The New Vision, Farouk Kayondo, of UBC, Nigel M. Nassar, of The New Vision, and Benon Herbert Oluka, of Sunday Monitor are among the finalists announced today by Joel Kibazo, the Chairperson of the competition’s judging panel.

Four South Africans are among the finalists, but is Kenya that has dominated the finalist nominations with six finalists on the list.

According to a press release, the 2011 competition drew received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.

Announcing the finalists, Joel Kibazo said: “African journalists are becoming noticeably more challenging, showing greater courage and strength which would have been unimaginable a few years ago. “Entries this year have demonstrated this – bolder, more determined on their home patch, and with a new found zeal to cover countries beyond their own borders,” Kibazo said.

The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday 25 June 2011.

The recipient of the Free Press Africa Award for 2011 is Mahamud  Abdi Jama, Editor of Waaheen, an independent private newspaper published in Somaliland.  Waaheen, part of the Waaheen Media Group, is known for its critical coverage of the Government.

Mahamud was sentenced to three years in prison and fined in connection with a story alleging public corruption.  After pressure on the Government Mahamud was granted a Presidential pardon and released after spending over a month in prison.

“He is awarded this prize for working under stressful conditions, and in the face of opposition and providing the public with important information, regardless of the consequences to himself,” the panel said in the statement.

List of Finalists for the CNN Multichoice African Journalist 2011 Award

·                                 Kofi Akpabli, Freelance for the Daily Graphic, Ghana

·                                 Claudine Efoa Atohoun, ORTB, Benin

·                                 Rabin Bhujun, L’Express Dimanche, Mauritius

·                                 José Bouças de Oliveira, Televisão Santomense, São Tomé

·                                 Sylvia Chebet, Citizen TV, Kenya

·                                 DispatchOnline Team, Daily Dispatch, South Africa

·                                 Kimani Githae, Citizen TV, Kenya

·                                 Lamia Hassan, Business Today, Egypt

·                                 Virgil Augustin Pascal Houesson, L’événement Précis, Benin

·                                 Mahamud Abdi Jama, Waaheen, Somalia

·                                 Norman Katende, Freelance for The New Vision, Uganda

·                                 Farouk Kayondo, UBC, Uganda

·                                 Mark Klusener, eNews Africa, South Africa

·                                 Selma Marivate, Record, Mozambique

·                                 Melini Moses, SABC, South Africa

·                                 Lindile Mpanza, e.tv, South Africa

·                                 Kamau Mutunga, DN2 Magazine, Daily Nation, Kenya

·                                 Nigel M. Nassar, The New Vision, Uganda

·                                 Fatuma Noor, The Star, Kenya

·                                 Oluwatoyos Ogunseye, Sunday Punch, Nigeria

·                                 Nnamdi Okosieme, Next Newspaper, Nigeria

·                                 Benon Herbert Oluka, Sunday Life Magazine, Sunday Monitor, Uganda

·                                 Beryl Ooro, K24 TV, Kenya

·                                 Sonny Serite, Freelance for The Sunday Standard, Botswana

·                                 Portia Solomon, TV3 News, Ghana

·                                 Kipchumba Some,  The Standard, Kenya

·                                 Nkula Zau, Televisão Pública de Angola