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Awards • Awarding Methodology

The Awarding Methodology

The VIGA Music Awards works through a clear, three-stage awarding process—nomination, public voting, and winners’ announcement. Our goal is simple: recognize excellence while keeping the journey open, fair, and easy to follow.

The nomination stage blends an Academy-led selection with an open application window so deserving work can surface from multiple directions. From there, fans have their say through a transparent vote, and winners are revealed live at our regional galas and the Grand Finale. The details below explain exactly how each stage works, who participates, and how we safeguard integrity from start to finish.

Stage 1. Nomination process

The VIGA Music Awards uses a rigorous, transparent, and inclusive nomination process to ensure accuracy, combining a selection approach and an application approach, both designed to uphold the highest standards of integrity and fairness.

To be considered for nomination, any artist and/or work submitted must have been released within the published eligibility period. The vetting criteria also consider artistic merit, social impact, technical excellence, innovation and originality, and industry success.

Here’s how it works:

Selection approach – Academy led

The Academy—stakeholders including producers, media personnel, music executives, and scholars, among others, drawn from key music and media institutions—evaluates media and industry trends against clearly defined criteria to select nominees (top performers and outstanding works) in their respective categories and forwards a shortlist to the Nominations Panel.

It considers publicly released works without seeking consent from rights holders, unless they formally opt out of consideration in writing before the nomination process begins. Upon nomination, all nominees automatically grant VIGA Music Awards the right to use their name, likeness, and nominated works for marketing and promotion across media platforms.

Application approach

Following significant public demand and a review of industry dynamics, the VIGA Music Awards now accept open submissions from interested parties — including artists, labels, managers and rights holders — who may apply directly via the VIGA portal with official audio/video links and required details. Terms and conditions apply.

Submitted works are vetted by a select jury, which sends a shortlist to the Nominations Panel.

By submitting their work(s), the rights owners, artist(s) and/or their representative(s) grant VIGA Music Awards the right to use their name, likeness, and submitted works across media platforms for marketing and promotional purposes.

Final nominee selection

After receiving the Academy’s selections and the jury’s vetted applications, the Nominations Panel reviews the entries and selects the final nominees.

Stage 2: Public Voting

The nominees who advance from the nomination process enter a transparent, fan-driven online vote that decides the winners in each category.

Voting progress is shared at intervals to build excitement and encourage participation, and candidates are encouraged to mobilize their fans to vote.

Stage 3. Winners Announcement

Winners are revealed and announced at the Regional Awards Galas and the Grand Finale. The nominee with the highest combined score in each category is crowned the winner.

Vote integrity is ensured by a secure, reliable voting system. Full scorecards are archived for audit and dispute resolution.

The categories

Technical Support Awards

  1. Song Writer of the Year
  2. Videographer of the Year
  3. Audio Producer of the Year
  4. Musician/Instrumentalist of the Year
  5. Dancer/Dance Group of the Year
  6. DJ/VJ of the Year
  7. Press & Visual Print Media of the Year
  8. Special Gospel Icon

Music Genre/Type Awards

  1. Acapella Song of the Year
  2. Ugapop (Kadongo kamu, band)
  3. RnB-Jazz-Soul-Ctry Song Category
  4. Electro-Funkie (Techno, House, Rock) Song Category
  5. Reggae Song Category
  6. Urban Contemporary (Dancehall, Ragga, Hip-hop, & Rap) Song Category
  7. Afropop (Zouk, Kwaito, Soukous, Amapiano, Afrobeat, etc) Song Category
  8. Praise Song of the Year
  9. Worship Song of the Year

Cross-border & Distinct feat Awards

  1. Special entity category
  2. East Africa Category
  3. Africa Category
  4. International Category
  5. Rest of Africa Category
  6. East African Category
  7. Diaspora Category
  8. Juniors Gospel Category
  9. Breakthrough Artist of the Year
  10. Dual/Collaboration Song of the Year
  11. Video of the Year
  12. Live Band/Group/Choir/Troupe of the Year
  13. Artist of the Year (This is voted from the regional female and male artists)

Harmony 360 Awards

  1. Pearl Health Song/Video of the Year
  2. Pearl Green/Eco-Stewardship Song/Video of the Year
  3. Pearl Social-Economic Empowerment Song/Video of the Year
  4. Pearl Nationalism/Patriotism Song/Video of the Year
  5. Pearl People Connect/Social Relationships Song/Video of the Year
  6. The Pearl Pride (Tourism; Heritage & Culture) Song/Video of the Year

Regional Awards

These are given out at the regional galas in the 4 regions of Uganda: Northern, Eastern, Western & Buganda.

  1. TV Category
  2. Radio Category
  3. Social Media Category
  4. Gospel Promoter/Manager
  5. Choral Song Category
  6. Traditional/Folk Pop Song Category
  7. Gospel Legends Award
  8. New/Upcoming Artist
  9. Female Artist of the Year
  10. Male Artist of the Year
  11. Special Gospel Icon (Clergy/Civic Leaders)
  12. High School Social-Green-Civic Song/Video of the Year
  13. Primary School Social-Green-Civic Song/Video of the Year