Kaliro’s Budini SS wins Kiira/Busoga regional debate championship

Jinja College won the storytelling category.

In poetry, Israel Galandi of Busoga College Mwiri emerged as the winner. Yusuf Mulanga Mwanja of Budini SS finished first runner-up, while Mackenzie Babirye of Iganga SS placed second runner-up.

Busoga College Mwiri's Israel Galandi (right) receives his certificate from Saleh (left), patron of the Budini Secondary School Debate Club, during the 11th Kiira/Busoga Regional Speech and Debate Qualifiers at Busoga College Mwiri in Jinja District on July 12, 2026. (Photo by Donald Kiirya)

Herman Paul Ahabwe of Viva College won the public speaking category, followed by Leila Mutesi Abaasa of Holy Cross Lakeview Secondary School as first runner-up and Claire Lochoro of Mother Kevin High School as second runner-up.

Jesse Avril Besimire of Budini SS was named the overall best speaker of the tournament.

Debating the 'algorithmic edge'

This year's championship was held under the theme "The Algorithmic Edge", challenging students to examine issues of ethics, transparency, accountability and safety in the digital age.

Speaking about the theme, National Debate Council Uganda programmes manager Cohens Mugisha highlighted the importance of giving young people a platform to discuss technology and its impact.

"We are trying to explore how living in the technology era has risks but also advantages," Mugisha noted.

"How can young people talk about these issues, address their safety, improve accountability and transparency, and promote the spirit of anti-corruption? We want them to use debate and these other arts as vehicles to tell the stories that happen in their own villages and lives."

Mugisha congratulated Jinja College for winning storytelling, Viva College for public speaking, and Busoga College Mwiri for winning poetry. He also commended Holy Cross Lakeview Secondary School for finishing as first runner-up in the debate competition.

Road to Budo

The tournament concluded with the presentation of certificates to participating schools by National Debate Council official Andy Kaka, who also formally invited the qualifying schools to the national championship.

The National Speech and Debate Championship will be held from December 6 to 10, 2026, at King's College Budo in Kampala.

The event will bring together qualifying schools from 17 sub-regions to compete in debate, poetry, creative dance, news anchoring and a quiz championship.

The National Speech and Debate Championship, Uganda's flagship debate competition organised by the National Debate Council in partnership with Parliament and other partners, seeks to equip young people with critical thinking, communication and creative expression skills while encouraging informed discussion on contemporary issues.

The championship was first held in 2009.