KAMPALA, UGANDA, October 2026: The Foundation for East African Photography (FOTEA) has announced the winners of its 2026 photography awards, celebrating photographers documenting the people, places and issues shaping East Africa.
This year’s shortlist features 16 photographers from Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Burundi and Ethiopia across the 15th Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA), the 9th East African Photography Award (EAPA) and the 11th Young Photographer Award (YPA). Each award has its own focus, so the winners range from long-term documentary projects to single images and the work of emerging photographers.
FOTEA has named its 2026 winners: 16 photographers from five countries recognised for work on displacement, identity, conservation and everyday life.
The winners
Among the winners, Wadah Omer received the EAPA Stories award for Weaving the Earth, a project following Sudanese refugees in Uganda since the war in Sudan began in April 2023. Alex Nyende won the overall UPPA award for Where Do They Go?, documenting evictions in Kampala’s Kawaala neighbourhood as authorities sought to restore part of the Lubigi wetland. Mohamed Abuagla won EAPA Single Images (Human) for The Place That No One Belongs, while Anthony Ochieng Onyango won EAPA Single Images (Planet).
Irene Jemillah Ahebwa was named the YPA winner. The programme supports emerging photographers through mentorship and professional development.
“A prize list tells you who won. The projects tell you what the region is asking to be seen.” Omiren Styles, Editorial Intelligence
In their words
“East African photographers continue to take charge of their own visual narratives,” said Stella Nantongo, Director of FOTEA. “This year’s photographers live the stories they tell, and it shows in the trust and intimacy of their work.”
Supporters and exhibition
Fujifilm supports the awards by providing equipment to selected winners, alongside partners including Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Uganda and the European Union Delegation to Uganda, both of which were also named for the 2025 awards. The 2026 exhibition is on view at MoTIV Uganda in Kampala, with a free public programme scheduled through 5 November 2026.
Full results
East African Photography Award: Story
- 1. Wadah Omer (Sudan)
- 2. Jaili Hajo (Sudan)
- 3. Khalid Alarabi (Sudan)
- 4. Shabani Herve (Burundi)
East African Photography Award: Human
- 1. Mohamed Abuagla (Sudan)
- 2. Tsion Molla (Ethiopia)
- 3. Jimmy Nduati (Kenya)
East African Photography Award: Planet
- 1. Anthony Ochieng Onyango (Kenya)
East African Photography Award: Imagine
- HM. Nasasira Joshua (Uganda)
Uganda Press Photo Award
- 1. Nyende Alex (winner)
- 2. Hassan Omar Wamwayi
- 3. Richard Sanya
- HM. Apassmarley Zalwango
Young Photographer Award
- 1. Irene Ahebwa
- 2. Achire David
- 3. Nasasira Joshua
- HM. Pearl Aketch
HM = honourable mention.
Also Read:
- 10 African Fashion Photographers Shaping a New Editorial Era
- Kelechi Amadi-Obi: The Photographer Who Built Nigeria’s Fashion Image Infrastructure Before Anyone Asked Him To follow
- 10 African Women Changing the Face of Contemporary Art
- RAI Lagos: The Alternative Art Space Shaping Global Creative Exchange
The Omiren Argument
The detail that stands out in this list is authorship: who is telling the stories the region is known for. FOTEA’s own framing, that East African photographers are taking charge of their visual narratives, matches the projects named, which cover Sudanese refugees in Uganda, evictions in Kampala and the question of what is lost when a wetland is restored. These are subjects that visitors often photograph, and here they are documented from within. More coverage of the creative economy is at Omiren Styles, including our look at how visual arts and African fashion share a language.
About FOTEA
Established in 2016, the Foundation for East African Photography supports photography and visual storytelling across the region through awards, mentorships, workshops, portfolio reviews, discussions, exhibitions and film screenings.
Media enquiries
Ayushi Ruparelia Thakrar
Head of PR, Agile Media Africa
+256 700 990 015
ayushi@agilemediaafrica.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the main FOTEA 2026 awards?
Wadah Omer won the EAPA Stories award for Weaving the Earth, and Alex Nyende won the overall UPPA award for Where Do They Go? Irene Jemillah Ahebwa is the YPA winner.
Which countries do the 16 photographers come from?
Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Burundi and Ethiopia.
Where can I see the 2026 exhibition?
At MoTIV Uganda in Kampala, with a free public programme scheduled through 5 November 2026.
Who supports the awards?
Fujifilm provides equipment to selected winners. Other partners include Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Uganda and the European Union Delegation to Uganda.
