How UCU sealed University Quiz win
The momentum shifted violently in Round Three: Science. UCU exploded with accuracy on points like phytoplankton, triple point, biodiversity, saltpetre, olivine, absolute zero, and the Paris Agreement.
(Front row) The Governor Bank of Uganda, Michael Atingi-Ego (5th left) and Vision Group executive officer (4th left), handing over a trophy to Uganda Christian University students, the Ultimate University quiz season three winners. Standing at the back (L-R); the acting director of corporate affairs of the Uganda Communication Commission, Emmanuel Nwoyomba, the head of marketing Hariss International Krystal Premium Water, Sam Hooper, the executive director of NEMA, Dr. Barirega Akankwasah, the director Net Studios Africa, Godfrey Mutabazi, the head of public relations and communication Capital Markets Authority (CMA), Lyn Tukei, the associate Programme Management Officer, UNEP, Mary Ssentongo, the Corporate and Sustainability Coordinator at Hariss International LTD, Comfort Ahumuza and the National Ozone coordinator at NEMA, Isaac Mugabi. This was at the awarding ceremony at Vision Group head offices in Kampala. (Credit: Miriam Namutebi)
The senior information officer Parliament of Uganda, Ibrahim Manzil (3rd left) and the acting director of corporate affairs of the Uganda Communication Commission, Emmanuel Nwoyomba (4th left) handing over gifts to the Vice Chancellor of Ndejje University, Rev. Canon Prof. Olivia Nassaka Banja (5th left) and the students after emerging 2nd in the Ultimate University quiz season three. This was during the awarding ceremony at Vision Group head offices in Kampala on Thursday, November 27, 2025. (All Photos by Miriam Namutebi) The executive director of NEMA, Dr. Barirega Akankwasah (3rd left) and the head of marketing, Hariss International Krystal Premium Water, Sam Hooper (4th left) handing over gifts to Busitema University students who emerged 3rd in the Ultimate University quiz season three. This was during the awarding ceremony at Vision Group head offices in Kampala on Thursday, November 27, 2025 The director Net Studios Africa, Godfrey Mutabazi (center) and the head of public relations and communication Capital Markets Authority (CMA),Lyn Tukei (3rd right) handing over gifts to Gulu University students who emerged 4th in the Ultimate University quiz season three. This was during the awarding ceremony at Vision Group head offices in Kampala on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The Governor Bank of Uganda, Michael Atingi Ego. (L-R) Vision Group’s deputy Editor-in-Chief, Felix Osike, Chief Finance Officer, Wilson Kamba and Deputy Managing Director, Gervase Ndyanabo attending the Ultimate University quiz season three awarding ceremony at Vision Group head offices in Kampala on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
KAMPALA - Uganda Christian University (UCU) delivered a clinical, composed, and relentless performance to win the Season Three Ultimate University Quiz finals, defeating a fearless Ndejje University side 330–270 in a high-pressure showdown on Thursday.
This win placed Ndejje University second overall, followed by Busitema in third and Gulu University in fourth position.
The matchup revived memories of Season One, where UCU reached the finals but agonizingly lost to Mbarara University by a razor-thin margin. This time, they refused defeat.
From the opening introductions to the last question of the wealth round, UCU carried a quiet hunger for victory.
The game opened with the Money, Economics, and Trade category, where both sides traded blows. Ndejje University struck first and went ahead early, capitalising on UCU’s misses on answers like the penny, insider trading, and Lebanon’s currency.
At the end of Round One, Ndejje led 80–70.
Round Two (General Knowledge) tightened the contest. UCU pulled through with quick correct answers on smallpox, the Masai Mara migration and IMF leadership, but Ndejje maintained their edge with sharp responses on Damascus, JFK and Che Guevara.
Ndejje extended their lead to 160–130 by the end of the round.
UCU’s game changer
The momentum shifted violently in Round Three: Science. UCU exploded with accuracy on points like phytoplankton, triple point, biodiversity, saltpetre, olivine, absolute zero, and the Paris Agreement.
Ndejje kept answering, but could not match UCU’s hit rate. UCU overturned the deficit and stormed ahead with 250 points against Ndejje’s 210, entering the final stretch with confidence and control.
The decisive moment came in the Wealth Round, where questions were delivered separately to each team.
UCU were almost perfect, nailing wealthy personalities and their net worth. Their consistency pushed them farther ahead, forcing Ndejje University into a chase.
Ndejje answered strongly too, scoring a couple of personalities, but the gap created in Round Three proved too wide to close.
When the final scores appeared, 330 for UCU, 270 for Ndejje, the UCU bench erupted. A season of near-misses, tense qualifiers, and tactical discipline ended with redemption.
UCU walked away as champions of Season Three. Ndejje University, newcomers who bulldozed their way to the finals, leave with second place and undeniable respect.
Prizes
UCU scooped a generous sh25m worth of equipment, with each team member and their coach taking home sh1m and a new laptop.
Ndejje University has taken home sh15m, with each of the four participants taking a cash prize of sh500,000 and a laptop, while Busitema University, in third place, has taken sh10m, and each participant got a cash prize of sh300,000 with a tablet.
Each participant and coach, including those who dropped off in the first games, got sh200,000
How the finalists have played
Thursday’s grand finale was a classic matchup of experience versus skill.
Ndejje’s debut run was defined by aggression: fast starts, crisp teamwork, and fearless buzzing that rattles opponents early.
UCU, by contrast, relied on experience, cautious openings, surgical precision in technical rounds, and late-game control, notably in their previous games.
Ndejje performance
Ndejje University had explosive openers and excellent buzz timing. In their quarter and semifinal games, they repeatedly grabbed early leads by nailing rapid-fire general knowledge and starter rounds. That early pressure forced opponents into riskier play.
Their team members coordinated quick signals and rarely clashed on answers; their result was clean, low-noise buzzing and fewer wasted interruptions. This made it easy for them to convert questions to easy points.
Whenever opponents pushed back, Ndejje University shifted to speed over depth: shorter answers, faster rebounds, and aggressive point-taking rather than waiting for perfect certainty. This worked against teams that gave up early leads.
Their only weakness was depth in technical rounds. They sometimes faltered on science/ICT/logic categories, where UCU picked up ground. Ndejje University was lightning-fast with starters but had to survive the technical rounds.
UCU performance
UCU was an experienced team, methodical and technical, slow in the start, but dominated hard categories and finished strong.
They measured their openings. UCU often conceded early rounds but built via accuracy; they were at their best in middle-to-late rounds, where tougher, technical questions rewarded depth over speed.
UCU had intellectual discipline, which rewarded high-value technical categories (science, current affairs, logic) and rarely gave cheap points away.
Both their scoring pattern and penalty avoidance were textbook.
UCU’s answering rhythm showed long-game thinking: they let other teams tire themselves, then exploit errors later. This made them dangerous in extended matches.
Their only weakness was the slow starts. When opponents like Ndejje sprint early and build a sizeable buffer, UCU was forced into riskier play earlier than they prefer.
Although they still often pulled it back, the pressure changed the dynamics.
Previous Champions
UCU has joined a list of champions, which includes Mbarara University of Science and Technology, which defeated UCU to win Season one (2023), and Gulu University, which beat Lira University to be crowned Season two champions last year.
Before the grand finale, Gulu University went head-to-head with Busitema University in the third-place play-offs. In this, Busitema emerged victorious with 280 points, coming in third place, and Gulu in fourth place with 240 points.
The quiz has grown into one of Uganda’s most competitive youth-educating platforms, one that has transformed classrooms, energised universities, and developed sharp thinkers.
All games were aired live on UBC, all Vision Group TV stations, Bukedde TV 1 and 2, WAN LUO TV, and TV WEST.
Sponsors
The quiz was sponsored by Bank of Uganda in partnership with Uganda Communications Commission, National Environment Management Authority, Parliament of Uganda, Hariss International and Capital Markets Authority, powered by Net Studios Africa.