In Uganda, AP explores the experience of aging on a continent where it’s unusual to be old

By Matt Sedensky and David Goldman

Africa, a continent known for its massive number of young people, is seeing a boom in longevity thanks to advances in nutrition, sanitation and clean water, as well as reductions in disease and infant mortality. National writer Matt Sedensky and photographer David Goldman traveled to cities and rural areas of Uganda to explore the experience of growing old in places where the idea is new.

They found the joy of families experiencing life with a cherished grandparent and villages full of pride for an esteemed elder. But, in crumbling houses and dim mud huts, they also found the challenges many face in places where social safety nets are minimal and routine problems of age are unaddressed.

Sedensky and Goldman told the story of this dramatic demographic shift through the eyes of the people living it, diving deep into issues that ran from long walks to get water that grow harder with age, to dementia diagnoses that lead to accusations of witchcraft. They went to places so remote that people said they were the first foreigners ever to visit them.

Their nine-segment package of visually led stories, plus two photo galleries and three videos, was tied together in a stunning presentation by Panagiotis Mouzakis that brought life and movement to the work. Mouzakis worked with the team for months to showcase Goldman’s visuals and present the stories in a way that encouraged readers to click around and stay with the site — reader engagement was unusually long. Allen Breed worked with Goldman to produce video for digital customers and clients, drawing out the storytelling for them. Africa staff, including Chinedu Asadu and Rodney Muhumuza, provided invaluable assistance on the ground and thoughtful input and edits.

Judges praised the work’s “incredible dynamic presentation,” as well as the story’s framing of aging as a double-edged sword — an apparent blessing that often comes with challenges and suffering.

For their nuanced and powerful work to illustrate an untold story of Africa, Sedensky and Goldman are this week’s Best of the Week – First Winner.