Tororo hosts 45 schools for national music, dance, drama and debate festival
A total of 45 schools, including 635 Kenyan students, have converged in Tororo for the national secondary schools music, dance, drama and debate (MDDD) festival, which organisers say is promoting talent, cultural heritage, teamwork and East African integration.
Manjasi High School students perform a marriage ceremony song. (Photo by Faustine Odeke).
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A total of 45 schools, attracting a student population of 3,400, and 635 Kenyan students are camped in Tororo for the national secondary schools music, dance, drama and debate [MDDD] festival.
The eight-day festival, which started on 17 to 25 August and is co-hosted by Tororo Girls School, Tororo College, Rock High and Manjasi High School, is not only expected to promote talent but also heritage, unity, teamwork and the spirit of East African regional integration.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday (August 22), Juliet Muzora Atuhaire, the commissioner secondary education, said the event is aimed at interpreting the vision of the competence-based curriculum, East African integration, a greening environment and the safe use of technology and clean energy.
‘’Application of knowledge shouldn’t be theoretical but practical to enable the nation to move out from subsistence and peasantry to economically independent Uganda. I am glad that students can share the benefits of the competency-based curriculum by rightful application of knowledge to address community problems’’ said Atuhaire, who represented the education ministry, permanent secretary.
Juliet Muzora Atuhaire, flanked by members of the national organising committee, addresses participants during the festival on Friday. (Photo by Faustine Odeke)
The commissioner thanked the participating schools for providing all the basic requirements to their students, adding that they are looking forward to branding the school buses for easy identification by copying a leaf from Kenya, whose buses are all painted yellow.
‘’We shall not relent but to continue organising such debates. We shall organise for the winners of the debates to visit our regional parliaments to encourage them to do further research’’ she stated on August 22nd.
She applauded the office of the resident district commissioner for providing adequate security since the events started and President Yoweri Museveni for enabling leadership and being flag bearer for East Africa integration.
Outstanding performance by the Kenyan students both in English, Kiswahili and Tarabu mesmerised the guests, leaving them speechless.
Professor Dr Christopher Odhiambo Joseph, chairman of the Kenyan drama and film festival, thanked the Ugandan government for allowing the Kenyan students to perform on an international platform. He emphasised the role of performing in the mainstream curriculum.
Professor Fredrick Ngala, the chairman of the Kenyan music festival, said the gesture portrays good aspects of international relationships adding that the event should continue until further notice.
Jackie Kalule the second vice president Association of Secondary Schools Head teacher of Uganda [ASSHU] asked the government to consider the MDDD seriously like sports by allocating more funds to provide entertainment and sensitization in line with the revised curriculum.