Pupils from Bishop Asili Memorial Nursery and Primary School in Kabale District have emerged overall winners of the East African Debate Network Competition held in Arusha, Tanzania.
The four pupils- Raymond Kwesiga, Ankunda Mark Sharom, Igiraneza Dinah and Mary Denise Ankunda, beat more than 100 participants from across East Africa to claim the top prize and bring recognition to their school and Uganda.
The competition, which attracted 30 debaters in 10 teams, was held from September 8 to 13 at St Jude Secondary School in Arusha, with the finals taking place at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in the presence of the Speaker, Joseph Ntakirutimana.
The competition gave learners from across the region an opportunity to demonstrate their public speaking, critical thinking, research and argumentation skills.
The pupils were welcomed back to Kabale on Tuesday by school administrators, parents and other stakeholders in a procession led by a brass band through the streets of Kabale town.
Calleb Nuwagaba, an English teacher who accompanied the pupils, said the competition was highly competitive, with participating schools battling for the top position.
He said the pupils remained motivated throughout the competition and attributed their success to their academic preparedness and determination.
“The competitions were tense because every school was fighting for the first position, but our pupils remained self-motivated,” Nuwagaba said.
He said the pupils lost only in a silent round, which he said did not provide an opportunity for feedback and was judged by one person.
Nuwagaba said strong academic performance was important for learners who want to excel in debate.
The head teacher of Bishop Asili Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Rev Sr Margaret Tusiime, attributed the victory to the learners’ commitment, discipline and determination.
She said the achievement reflects the school’s emphasis on academic excellence and encouraging learners to invest extra effort in developing their talents and abilities.
Sr Tusiime urged other schools to create environments that promote hard work, confidence and participation in academic and co-curricular activities. She said learners can excel when they are given proper guidance, support and opportunities to showcase their abilities.
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The school chaplain, Rev Fr Placid Mugumya, and the Kabale Diocese assistant education secretary, Willy Turyahikayo, congratulated the pupils for representing the school and Uganda well. They described the achievement as a blessing that could open opportunities for the pupils in their future academic journeys.
Kabale Municipality assistant inspector of schools, Agnes Asiimwe, attributed the school’s success to collaboration among teachers, learners, parents and education partners.
She said achievements of this nature require collective effort and commitment from all stakeholders in the education sector. Asiimwe urged schools to embrace co-curricular activities, saying they help learners develop skills beyond classroom learning.
She said debates help learners develop critical thinking, effective communication, confidence, teamwork and problem-solving skills, which are important for both academic and professional development.
Asiimwe urged schools to integrate co-curricular activities into their programmes alongside classroom learning.
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Speaking during the homecoming ceremony at the school, Kabale District Resident Commissioner, retired Maj Godfrey Katamba, commended private schools for complementing government efforts to provide education and promote holistic development among learners.
Maj Katamba said private schools provide alternative opportunities for learners and help reduce pressure on government schools.
He said the growing number of learners in Uganda would place significant pressure on public schools if private institutions were not also providing education services.
He said continued collaboration between government and private schools enables more children to access education while giving government room to plan and allocate resources to learners in public institutions.
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