Sixteen East African photographers from five countries are recognised for work exploring displacement, identity, conservation and everyday life across the region.

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), 9th East African Photography Award (EAPA) and 11th Young Photographer Award (YPA).

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.

“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.”

The awards are supported by Fujifilm, which provides equipment to selected winners, alongside partners including Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Uganda and the European Union Delegation to Uganda.

The 2026 exhibition is on view at MoTIV Uganda in Kampala, with a free public programme scheduled through 5 November 2026.