SCECSAL Excellence Awards

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SCECSAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS

The SCECSAL Excellence Award was introduced in January 2018 to honour and recognize individuals that have made outstanding contributions to SCECSAL. The guidelines for the Awards are available here.

2024 Awards - 24 April 2024, Mombasa, Kenya

Ms. Velenasi Mwale Munsanje - In recognition of her leadership in the library and information services field and her contribution to strengthening the Library and Information Association of Zambia.
Prof. Maria G. N. Musoke - In recognition of her contribution to knowledge generation knowledge generation in the library, information, and knowledge fields focusing on health information and services in the SCECSAL region.

2020 Awards - 24 April 2024, Mombasa, Kenya

Prof. Dennis N. Ocholla - In recognition of his contribution to knowledge generation in library, information, and knowledge management field, capacity development of LIS professionals in the SCECSAL region, and contribution to SCECSAL development.
Ms Jacinta Were - In recognition of her leadership in the library and information services field, mentoring and coaching young LIDS professionals, and contribution to SCECSAL development.
Ms Nomsa Nqobile Victoria Mkhwanazi [Posthumous] - In recognition of her contribution to SCECSAL.

(Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Excellence Awards were handed to the awardees in-person in 2024)

2018 Awards - 23 April 2018, Entebbe, Uganda

Tucker Kigongo Lwanga, Uganda – For his foresight and instrumental work in founding the Standing Conference of Eastern and Central African Librarians (SCECAL), the forerunner to SCECSAL. In 1970, Mr. Lwanga served as the host Chairperson of the biennial conference of the East African Library Association (E.A.L.A). At the next E.A.L.A biennial conference in 1972, taking into account the prevailing situation in East Africa, he proposed the dissolution of E.A.L.A and the formation of SCECAL. His proposal was accepted, and SCECAL was formed, with its first biennial conference held in 1974, which is also recognized as the first year of SCECSAL.
Jafred Shalimba Musisi (posthumous), Kenya – For his key role in founding SCECSAL. Mr. Musisi was, for many years, the institutional memory of SCECSAL. In 1998, he wrote an article detailing the history of SCECSAL in a special issue of Maktaba, the journal of the Kenya Library Association. This ensured that the early history of SCECSAL was preserved. Until his passing in 2011, he was a regular participant at SCECSAL conferences.
Prof. Maurice Chifwembe Lundu (posthumous), Zambia – For his dedicated professional support and service to SCECSALL. Prof. Lundu was one of the few library and information professionals from outside East Africa who contributed to the formation of SCECSAL and its expansion into Central and Southern African regions. He played a key role in organizing the second SCECSAL conference, and the first one outside East Africa, in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1976.
Prof. Isaac M.N. Kigongo-Bukenya, Uganda – For his continued support to SCECSAL since its formation in 1974. Prof. Kigongo-Bukenya has participated in 15 SCECSAL conferences and played key roles at the conferences, including as a paper presenter, conference paper reviewer, and Master of Ceremonies (MC) at SCECSAL events.
Justin Chisenga, PhD, Zambia, – For his more than 15 years of dedicated professional support and service to SCECSAL. Since 2000, Dr. Chisenga has been SCECSAL’s “institutional memory.” He has provided support and guidance to National Organizing Committees of SCECSAL conferences, led the development of the SCECSAL brand and logo, ensured that SCECSAL has an online presence (www.scecsal.org), presented papers at SCECSAL conferences, served on several SCECSAL conference paper review committees, led the 2000 and 2018 SCECSAL constitution amendment processes, and guided the development various SCECSAL policies and guideline documents.