The initiative continues to empower students, fostering a generation equipped to tackle societal challenges and contribute meaningfully to communities. PHOTO/ESTHER BRIDGET NAKALYA
Every year, Uganda dedicates a special week for students across the country to raise their voices on global issues through debate, public speaking, poetry, storytelling, news anchoring, and creative dance. This year, about 109 schools across the country gathered at King’s College Budo for a week-long event, which was organised by the National Debate Council, Uganda (NDC). The participating schools engaged in debate and other activities highlighting four areas of health, climate change, education and environment under the theme, " speaking for impact.
Inclusivity
Chol Ajak Deng, a visually impaired Senior Four student, says he joined this year’s championship to advocate for inclusion and inspire others with disabilities to recognise their potential. “In the 11th edition, I won the storytelling category, which was a defining moment for me. Now, I aim to compete internationally and inspire others through a YouTube channel. Although my visual impairment poses challenges, I have learned to adapt and excel,” he shares.
He adds: “I am doing storytelling and I have come to defend my title because through story, I can reach over 1,000 students, encouraging them not to sit on their talents. I came for this championship because it was one of the ways I could advocate for inclusion and could also inspire.”
Deng explains that due to her limited vision, she often has to write stories and memorise them. “In my case, my writing materials are very bulky, so I can’t easily carry them around. Instead, I sit down, commit everything to memory, and deliver it all on stage from recall.”
Mentorship
Another participant Nicole Peace Murungi, 14 a student at Bright Grammar School says she wants to use her debating skills to transform her school and the generation by nurturing her fellow students.
“I want to use my debate skills to transform my school and inspire generations by addressing societal issues people may not know about. Debate has enhanced my critical thinking because we only get five minutes to prepare,” she explains.
“This has pushed me to think outside the box and apply these skills in my academics. My ambition is to join Uganda’s Cranes Debate Team and represent the country internationally. I also plan to train others because teaching helps me improve my skills.” Murungi says she came from Masaka with an ambition and aims towards winning a trophy and maintain the school’s legacy in debate, she commands, " this has also helped me to learn from different people and improv my skills."
Programme
Initially focused solely on debates, the programme now includes poetry, public speaking, storytelling, news anchoring, and creative dance. This year, it covered regions such as Rwenzori, Greater Masaka, Ankole, Albertine, Northern Uganda, West Nile, Karamoja, Wakiso, Kampala, Greater Mubende, Kigezi, Teso, and Elgon.
Mr Cohen Mugisha, the tournament director of the 12th National Speech and Debate Championship, says the initiative began in 2009 in response to parental concerns about the lack of extracurricular activities for their children.“The first edition in 2009 involved only 20 schools from four regions. Today, the programme has expanded to 15 sub-regions across the country.
Regional qualifiers are held where schools compete in various genres. The winner’s progress to the National Championship, a five-day residential event held every December. Here, we crown champions in each category,” Mr Mugisha explains.
He adds, “For debates, only teams that qualify through regional rounds can participate at the national level. However, to promote inclusivity, we allow individual entries in other categories for students from schools that may not prioritise such activities. This ensures that all students, regardless of their school’s resources, have a chance to participate.”
Challenges
To ensure inclusivity, the programme has embraced schools for learners with special needs. For instance, Iganga Secondary School, which supports visually impaired students, has excelled, with participants earning recognition as top performers. However, he acknowledges challenges such as financial constraints faced by some schools.
“Registration fees often cover logistical needs for the program, which can limit participation. To address this, we’ve introduced individual events to expand opportunities for students,” he says.
One of the judges from Kenya, Mr Stephen Boro commended the government for its demonstration that recognizes the importance of nurturing them through speech and debate “As a judge, my highest responsibility is to remind children that they are loved, appreciated, and capable. Winning is great, but the ultimate goal is for them to develop effective communication skills for the future,” Mr Boro says.
Background
Since its inception in 2009, the National Debate Council (NDC) has engaged youth in critical issues such as HIV prevention, environmental protection, and anti-corruption through debates. In 2019, the NDC partnered with the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to promote integrity among young people.The initiative continues to empower students, fostering a generation equipped to tackle societal challenges and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
