NEMA opens University Quiz to students with disabilities
“This year, we have brought something unique. Besides the usual contest that we have been having, we have created a window for the people with disabilities. We believe that even the people with disabilities can be good environmental stewards,” Mugabi said.
The initiative, introduced for the fourth season of the competition, will allow students with disabilities to compete in the environmental component alongside other university contestants. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
KAMPALA - The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has opened a special window for students with disabilities to participate in the Vision Group-led Ultimate University Quiz aiming to make environmental education more inclusive.
The initiative, introduced for the fourth season of the competition, will allow students with disabilities to compete in the environmental component alongside other university contestants.
Speaking during the quiz launch on September 10, 2026, at Bank of Uganda headquarters in Kampala, Isaac Mugabi, a senior environment assessment officer at NEMA and Uganda’s national focal point for the Montreal Protocol said the move was based on the belief that people with disabilities can play an important role in protecting the environment.
“This year, we have brought something unique. Besides the usual contest that we have been having, we have created a window for the people with disabilities. We believe that even the people with disabilities can be good environmental stewards,” Mugabi said.
The new inclusion window is expected to give students with disabilities an opportunity not only to compete but also to contribute ideas to environmental protection. (All Photos by Miriam Namutebi)
Mugabi said the initiative would also help broaden students’ understanding of environmental protection beyond the issues that traditionally dominate public discussion, particularly wetlands.
“We are here to create a deeper understanding of the environment. Many people perceive the environment as wetlands. Yes, wetlands are part of the environment,” he said.
Mugabi highlighted that NEMA’s participation adds an environmental education component to a competition that has attracted partners seeking to use the platform to connect students with knowledge and opportunities beyond their university courses.
He said NEMA was particularly interested in helping young people understand environmental issues beyond wetlands, which he described as only one part of the broader environmental agenda.
He explained that ozone protection, for example, is governed internationally through the Montreal Protocol, with the ozone layer acting as a protective shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
The new inclusion window is expected to give students with disabilities an opportunity not only to compete but also to contribute ideas to environmental protection.
The fourth season of Vision Group’s Ultimate University Quiz brings together 20 universities, up from the 16 institutions that participated when the competition started in 2023.
Vision Group chief executive officer Don Wanyama said the competition was created as a platform for academic excellence, teamwork and knowledge beyond the classroom.
Vision Group chief executive officer Don Wanyama said the competition was created as a platform for academic excellence, teamwork and knowledge beyond the classroom.
“When we started in 2023, 16 universities found the faith and courage to demonstrate their wit and knowledge on national television,” Wanyama said.
The competition has since grown to 20 universities, while its previous season generated significant public attention, recording 3.15 billion views across Vision Group’s digital platforms. More than 25,000 unique authors generated over 95,000 messages, while 59,000 interactions, including shares and comments, were recorded around the quiz.
The winning university will receive equipment worth Sh25m, while each contestant and the team coach will receive a laptop and Sh1m cash.
The first runner-up will receive university equipment worth Sh15m, while the second runner-up will receive equipment worth Sh10m. The fourth-placed university will receive equipment worth Sh5m.
Individual participants will also receive cash and electronic-device prizes, while the top three coaches will receive fully paid return economy-class tickets from Turkish Airlines to destinations within its global network.
The fourth season brings premium sponsor BOU together with other partners, including the Uganda Revenue Authority, the Capital Markets Authority, the Uganda Communications Commission, Parliament, Turkish Airlines and Harris International, each bringing different learning and career and funding opportunities to the competition.