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ULTIMATE UNIVERSITY QUIZ SEASON 4 ORIENTATION

📍 Arua City

A queue of people waited outside the office of Muni University Vice-Chancellor Assoc. Prof. Simon Katrini Anguma, hoping to secure an audience with him, on Friday (August 28).

On the first floor of the university’s administration block in Arua City, Vision Group and a team of sponsors of The Ultimate University Quiz Season 4 were among those waiting for their turn to meet the vice-chancellor.

But when word reached Anguma that the Vision Group team was waiting for him in the boardroom, he quickly stepped out of his office to welcome them. At 10:31am, he walked into the boardroom with a broad smile, immediately putting his guests at ease.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting, my guests. You are welcome to Muni University,” Anguma said as he shook hands with each member of the team and asked for their names one by one.

“I am the LC1 of this place, and you should feel at home,” he joked, drawing applause and laughter from the team.

The team, led by Max Adii, the Vision Group project lead, included representatives of the sponsors, among them Bank of Uganda (the platinum sponsor), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

They at Muni University to orient students for Season 4 of The Ultimate University Quiz, but before engaging the students, they paid a courtesy call on the university leadership.

It quickly became clear that Muni University’s hierarchy was already setting its sights on the coveted trophy, even before the competition had officially kicked off.

“We are ready, and I can assure you that this is our turn to bring the trophy to West Nile,” said the affable Anguma.

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The vice-chancellor said he had instructed the university’s quiz coaches to invest more time in preparing the students so that they enter the competition armed with the knowledge and confidence needed to compete at the highest level.

He said The Ultimate University Quiz provides students with more than an opportunity to test their academic knowledge. It also helps them sharpen their public-speaking skills, build confidence, develop teamwork and benefit from mentorship that can contribute to their growth as responsible citizens.

Anguma's comments excited the sponsors, who said the his enthusiasm demonstrated the value the university attaches to the competition.

“You have impressed us with the way you hold this competition in high regard. We appreciate having such a leader who encourages students to engage in academic competitions,” said Jonah Waiswa, the head of stakeholder engagement at Bank of Uganda.

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Students raring to go

When the visiting team arrived at the university’s main hall, the atmosphere was one of anticipation.

Scores of students had gathered for the orientation, their numbers and enthusiasm reflecting the growing interest in the competition.

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Among those in attendance was Angela Desire Naggujja, a returning participant who believes Muni University has learnt enough from its previous appearances to mount a serious challenge for the trophy.

“It’s not going to be an ordinary game; it’s going to be a game to win the trophy, and we have all it takes,” she said.

She said Muni University’s previous attempts had given the team valuable experience that would be crucial in the fourth edition.

Phoebe Birungi, the university’s quiz coach and a Bachelor of Science with Education student, attributed last year’s disappointing performance partly to the tragic road crash that claimed the lives of two university staff members on the day of the competition.

“The news hit us badly and disorganised us, but we have come out of that tragedy and we are now focused on winning the trophy,” she said.

According to Birungi, although Muni University has not lifted the trophy in previous seasons, the experience has not been wasted.

“We have gained knowledge and made a network of resourceful friends."

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Beyond the lecture room

Bank of Uganda, the platinum sponsor of the Ultimate University Quiz, used Friday's orientation to challenge students to think beyond the traditional career paths associated with their academic programmes.

Head of stakholder engagement Waiswa (pictured below) urged the students not to limit themselves to jobs directly linked to their academic qualifications, saying the changing world of work requires flexibility and creativity.

“Who said jobs are only about what you have studied? If you are a doctor, how many jobs are there for doctors, or accountants? You shouldn’t stick to your course and tomorrow end up saying there are no jobs,” said Waiswa.

He encouraged students to develop additional skills and explore opportunities beyond their areas of specialisation.

Derrick Muhire (pictured below), from URA’s Tax Education Division, challenged the students to develop strong values that would distinguish them from others.

“I am here to tell you that on earth there are three stages of life: one is being born, the second is paying tax and the third is dying. Paying taxes enables us to get services from the Government,” said Muhire.

He also urged the students to educate their parents and communities about the dangers of smuggling, particularly given Arua’s proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Patrick JP. Owachgiu (pictured below), the UCC manager of Masindi regional office, said the commission partnered with Vision Group because of the opportunity the quiz provides to inspire young people to become innovators and creative thinkers.

“We believe that, together with you, we shall create a generation of creative thinkers and innovators who will shape the entire country and beyond,” said Owachgiu.

For project lead Adii (pictured below), the competition goes beyond the question of which university will emerge with the trophy.

He commended Muni University’s leadership for its continued participation and commitment to the annual contest.

“The competition is not only about which university lifts the trophy in Season 4. It is about equipping young Ugandans with the information and exposure that shape genuine career-making decisions, long after the cameras have stopped rolling,” said Adii.

The Ultimate University Quiz Season 4 brings together students from universities across the country in a competition designed to test their knowledge while exposing them to mentorship, career guidance and practical insights from institutions and industry leaders.

The orientation for the fourth edition of the annual quiz has already been conducted at Busitema University (Busia district), Soroti University (Soroti City), Lira University (Lira City), Gulu University (Gulu City) and Muni University.

The orientation campaign will continue on Monday (August 31), when the facilitators interact with students of Mountains of the Moon University in Fort Portal City.

Prizes and pride

The Season 4 quiz competition is scheduled to kick off on October 3, with the grand finale set for November 26.

Just as in previous seasons, the university that will reign supreme as champion this year will get a trophy and equipment worth sh25 million.

Each contestant and coach of the winning university will also receive a cash reward of sh1 million and a brand-new laptop.

The first runner-up (second place) university will receive equipment worth sh15 million and each contestant and coach will walk away with a sh500,000 cash reward and a laptop.

The second runner-up (third place) university will be rewarded with equipment worth sh10 million and each contestant and coach will get a sh400,000 cash reward and a tablet.

The third runner-up (fourth place) university will receive equipment worth sh5 million and each contestant and coach will receive a sh300,000 cash reward.

Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) was the champion of the inaugural season, Gulu University took the title in the second season while Uganda Christian University (UCU) is the reigning champion.

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