Ugandan PR practitioners to be honoured

At the launch, Cathy Adengo PRAU's co-ordination director, said the association has taken this step in an effort to uplift the standards of public relations, communications and recognise professionalism and leadership in the PR sector in Uganda. During the first awards, which will take place in February 2009, up to 13 PR practitioners will be recognised in various categories.

Adengo said the awards would honour winners in categories including PR Campaign of the Year, PR Governance, Corporate Social responsibility, and Website among others. “With these different categories, we are giving the opportunity for all sectors - private, public and non-profit - to enter,” she said.

“We are delighted to introduce these awards and honour exemplary performance in PR and communications. PRAU is fulfilling a long-awaited ambition to visibly and unequivocally identify and celebrate true excellence in the practice of public relations,” said Jimmy Kiberu, the director of programmes, PRAU.

The awards are open to business enterprises, private institutions, government bodies, PR agencies, in-house PR departments and individual practitioners.

Juma Walusimbi, president of PRAU said that in order to promote professionalism within the PR sector, the association will soon start certifying all practitioners in the country. The aim will also be to separate qualified PR practitioners from the unqualified - most of whom are actually marketing professionals.

PRAU was established in 1976 but due to political instability in the country, it failed to achieve its objectives but has become more active and visible in the recent years.