Kyambogo ready for Ultimate University Quiz battle as holders UCU eye history

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ULTIMATE UNIVERSITY QUIZ SEASON 4 ORIENTATION

📍 Kampala | Mukono

With less than three weeks left to the start of Season Four of The Ultimate University Quiz, the message from the organizers to the participating universities is clear: pick the right team, prepare well and go for it!

And with time fast-running out, defending champions Uganda Christian University (UCU) are not about to relinquish the title they muscled off Ndejje University last year.

“Our steel is still very sharp,” declared Guild President Abraham Elomaboni during orientation of UCU students for the quiz on Tuesday (September 15) at the main campus in Mukono district.

It was the sort of spirited determination shared by his fellow students present at the afternoon session.

One of them is Richard Chibaka (pictured below), an articulate Congolese national who was part of the title-winning team last year as a civil and environmental engineering student then. Now returning as the quiz coach of UCU, he said their team, entirely composed of new faces, is more than determined to replicate last season’s performance.

“The new team has been having several engagements with last year’s crew to share notes and tactics. We have also been praying a lot,” he said.

“We know all the other teams are waiting for us, but thanks to our preparation and sky-high belief, we are confident we have all it takes to become the first university to win this quiz back-to-back.”

While the annual quiz explores a wide range of disciplines, including banking, one area that Jimmy Siyasa (pictured below), UCU’s communications officer, feels needs to be considered for inclusion is the religious and ethics element.

“Our faith and values are close to the hearts of the young and old people alike. More importantly, while we offer the service of education, education with values is not only critical, but also something the First Lady, Janet Museveni, is so passionate about," he said.

“So, having the segment introduced in the quiz will do well to reflect that Christian identity we have and it will also show the parents that we are raising not just intellectuals, but also value-based, responsible citizens."

Typically, the contestants of the annual quiz prepare to answer questions from a wide range of disciplines, including economics, communications, taxation, aviation, agriculture, current affairs, sports, the arts, environment, literature, and world history.

'We need to engage young people'

The holistic nature of the competition and its relevance is arguably why it keeps attracting more interest every year, with the universities also acknowledging the role it plays in nurturing more all-rounded graduates for the highly competitive world beyond the lecture rooms.

"We like working with young people. They are intelligent. We need to engage them and harness their talents. Many of them will benefit from a mentorship scheme,” said Kyambogo University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Elly Katunguka-Rwakishaya (pictured below), who expressed full backing for his quiz team.

The VC said the youth need to be told what is important in life, as many are not exposed to the opportunities available to them.

“Therefore, through these quizzes and knowledge sharing, they get to know the real world out there and how to be prepared to serve our country and humanity, which is very important.”

His made the remarks on Tuesday when the visiting quiz orientation team paid him a courtesy call, before they later engaged the students for a highly interactive session facilitated by the sponsor representatives from Bank of Uganda (platinum sponsor), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Turkish Airlines.

The other sponsors are Capital Markets Authority Uganda, Hariss International, Parliament and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

'We have the brains'

Dr Agnes Mugalu Nakimuli (pictured below), Kyambogo University’s deputy dean of students, said that as the “cheerleader” of their quiz team, she believes the students are more than pumped up to give their best shot at this year's crown.

"When you participate in this quiz, you don't remain the same, whether you are the first or the last,” she said.

"For members who are going to participate this year, have confidence so that you emerge winners. We have the brains here."

As they think about winning, students who will compete this year and those that will cheer them on will need to understand that they are a vital component of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation equation.

“That equation would be incomplete without you,” said Robert Owagonza (pictured below), a principal banking officer at the Bank of Uganda, the platinum sponsor of the competition.

He encouraged the students to prepare well for the quiz.

“Knowledge should give you the correct answers. Skills should help you reason quickly, communicate confidently and work effectively as a team. Service should inspire you to represent Kyambogo with discipline, humility and honour.”

'Pick up the courage'

Another message to the students was that clinching the crown is not the only show of triumph.

"The first win is participation. You, here in this room, are the winners long before you participate in The Ultimate University Quiz," said James Tumusiime (pictured below), UCC’s manager of public and international relations.

"You need to pick up the courage to participate. You need people who are pragmatic to make you understand that there is more to life than what you study in the lecture room."

On his part, URA tax education officer Anthony Kasubi (pictured below) encouraged students preparing for the quiz to visit the URA website to acquaint themselves with all things taxation.

He said they are educating young people to be future tax-compliant citizens because of the cost implications of non-compliance.

“Whenever people are not tax-compliant, authorities have to come in, which costs a lot of money. That is why URA is promoting voluntary compliance to reduce compliance costs,” he told students.

Turkish Airlines used Tuesday’s orientation sessions at Kyambogo and UCU to further share their interest in the competition.

"At Turkish Airlines, we believe that education and travel have something very important in common: both expand horizons and connect people to new ideas, cultures, and opportunities," said Nicholas Mulimira (pictured below) from the airline's Sales and Marketing Department.

The airline is offering three round-trip Economy Class tickets for the coaches of the top three universities, allowing them to travel to any destination within the airline's network.

It is also extending a 15% discount to students and academicians from the participating universities, together with up to two pieces of checked baggage allowance and one complimentary first-time change.

No more nerves

As the 2026 edition draws ever nearer, the students are hard at work applying the finishing touches on their preps.

Season Three contestant Abdulrashid Kizito, a third-year electrical engineering student at Kyambogo University, said that first experience of last year taught them how to improve their tactics and sharpen their knowledge of more disciplines.

“I am now more open-minded,” he said.

And for teammate Abigail Solimo Cheptoek, it was about shaking off the nerves.

“I took part in the Ozone Layer category but I had stage fright. This time around, I am coming back more composed and I have worked on my fears,” said the third-year student of Environmental Science, Technology and Management.