Last Friday evening at the Serena Hotel, the 2nd edition of the Annual Communications Innovation Awards (ACIA) came to pass. Organized by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for the purpose of recognizing 'excellence through innovation' in Uganda's communications sector, this year edition came just six months after the initial edition was held last October at the Common Wealth Resort, Munyonyo.
UCC Executive director; Godfrey Mutabazi, said this year's Awards event had been realigned so as to coincide with the World Telecommunications and Information Day which took place last Thursday.
At the end of the evening which featured a prodigious, several-course dinner and performances from Maurice Kirya, Jackie Chandiru and Iryn Namubiru, several organizations and individuals went off smiling with awards for their respective categories. There were five categories - Student Research, Rural Services, Local Content, Green ICT and E-Government.
Set Muhairwe and Michael Opaka respectively walked off with the students' Awards for under-graduate and post-graduate research walking off with cash prizes as well.
National water and Sewerage Corporation won the E-Governance category for using ICT in the billing and payment transactions with their customers.
F.I.T Uganda, a leading private sector business development consulting company won the Rural Services Category.
Logitel Project won the Green ICT category, while none of the nominees for local content category satisfied the judges' requirements to win the category.
Labs@Mak won the Best Exhibitor's award for the communications exhibition that was held in the Serena Hotel Gardens before the party moved indoors for the Award ceremony.
Guests included the speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, the Minister of ICT Ruhakan Rugunda, Multichoice Country MD Charles Hamya, Vision Group CEO Robert Kabushenga, the entire ICT committee of parliament.
The chief guest was Dr. Veena Rawat, from Blackberry Canada.
From New Vision
