By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus-Yes! it is finally home and the winning team did what they like doing once more, celebrating in style. Upon being announced the best, members of team KIU simply ran riot and danced without any attention to the beats and the DJ could not afford to disappoint.

The incredible scenes of jubilation at the Kabalagala-based Media Challenge Initiative Hub were testimony of how it feels when hard work finally pays. Before Friday's final, the team had been working under very intensive pressure to produce two news bulletins, one in English and the other in Luganda.

"Gratefulness is the only word I have for this team," said team leader Idarius Pajobo whose Community story had left judges wondering if he was already working somewhere on mainstream television.

"I can't really thank you enough l even don't know how to dance but I am trying to because am so happy thanks team, it's all your efforts," Luganda star reporter Apophia Nzeirwegye remarked.

This year's contest was very competitive, starting with the radio Contest in the first round which KIU claimed to qualify among the best six teams that competed on Friday.

In the build-up to Friday's victory, each individual could be seen doing something. From editing, writing scripts, advising a teammate, and operating the cameras. This could have been a warning gesture to the opponents but it underlines how committed team KIU was. No wonder majority of the crowd ranked them, as the most organised team.

There were praises for both the English and the Luganda bulletins with judges concluding that the bulletins were better than some of those they watch on some televisions. NTV's Solomon Kaweesa was simply speechless when asked to comment at the end of "Amateeketeeke," (KIU's Luganda bulletin).

"I have nothing to say about you guys. That was a wonderful bulletin," Kaweesa remarked.

" And if I were to ask for a contact here, I would simply take one, Hellen Otaga," Kaweesa said in praise of Hellen Otaga's extraordinary report.

Team spirit and hardwork made team KIU quite unbeatable according to English News live reporter, Ashirafu Sekagya.

"Team spirit and the dedication of the trainers made us tick. All members would turn up for training every day and it has finally paid off," he said.

The head of the Department of Journalism and Media studies, Ms. Maureen Komugisha said that the team had made her, the department and KIU proud.

"My dear boys and girls our victory is worth celebrating.  Let's take ourselves out for coffee immediately after exams," she wrote on the KIU news team's Social Media platform.

KIU now has the added advantage of sending more students into a six-month fellowship characterized by intensive training while rubbing shoulders with the best journalists and media practitioners in the land.

However, the date when team KIU shall collect the winning accolades and other awards is yet to be disclosed.

The National Newsroom Contest (NNC) is a TV reality show that equips students and tests the skills of young journalists in a race-against-time newsroom setting.

Picture Credit: Media Challenge Initiative