Parliament flags off Ugandan students for world debate competition

Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal  hands over the Uganda flag to Sajid Marulch while other representative of Uganda look on before leaving for the World Debate Championship at Uganda Parliament on July 28, 2017. Photos by Kennedy Oryema

EDUCATION

Parliament Friday flagged off the national team a head of the World Schools Debate Championships (WSDC) to represent Uganda in Indonesia.

Parliament commissioner also Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal who represented Kadaga told the group not to despise themselves, but to have confidence, that will lead them to  win the competition, and  reflect the glory of   Uganda, the ‘Perl of Africa'.

Ogwal commended the National Debate Council (NDC) that selected the team members for considering Uganda's diverse culture as well as including on the team a visually impaired person.

The group flying to Indonesia on Sunday (July 30th)  is led by Mahrukh Sajid from Muyenga High, Abbas Luyomba from Iganga SS,  Denis Musinguzi Kabila from Gombe SS and the 11-year-old Morgan Moconha from Galaxy International School.

National Debate Council executive director, Gasta Kakaire(left) posing for a picture with representatives from Uganda

 
Ogwal also encouraged the team to dream big by targeting to win against all the eight debate teams that will face Uganda in the first round which include; Greece,  South Africa, US, Mexico, Estonia, Mongolia and Czech Republic.  

(WSDC)  an annual English-language debating tournament for high school-level teams representing over  90 countries including Uganda will participate in the competition that is slated for July 31st to 11th of August in Bali Indonesia.

 
National Debate Council (NDC) executive director, Gasta Kakaire said that the council is privileged to be leading the process of selecting, training and coaching the team of 4 debaters from 4 different schools to effectively represent the country.

Kakaire said   a wide range of topics and motions are expected to test the debaters on world economy, climate change, politics, trade, North Atlantic, Treaty Organization (NATO).
 
Kakaire said this team is mainly selected from the prestigious national schools debate championship organized annually by NDC and hosted by Parliament every December.

National Debate Council (NDC) executive director, Gasta Kakaire

 
"Top debaters at this championship are selected to the National Team; the team has two speakers from this championship. However for as much inclusiveness as possible, we also looked for outstanding debaters from other smaller competitions and one from international schools," Kakaire noted.

Kakaire appealed to government departments, ministries and the Parliament Committee on education to lobby for "mental sport" budgeted for just like "physical sport" and MDD.

Participants:

Morgan Naronha

 
11-year-old Morgan Naronha  of Galaxy International School , said : "I am not scared of the so-called big schools, I am not even scared that I will meet with other children internationally, I will concentrate on listening, viewing and reading   international and local issues All I want is to win, and yes I will do."

Abbas Luyombo

 
The 19- year- old visually impaired Abbas Luyombo from  Iganga Iganga SS said ,  "I'm not scared , my brains represent me I'm sure I will win."

Mahrukh Sajid

 
Team captain Sajid said that she is proud to lead the team and also glad that she has been chosen to debate despite societal restrictions on females in her country of Origin (Pakistan).

"Basing on Uganda's performance at the world level last year were Uganda didn't register any win, I am too optimistic that this time round we shall register wins come 2nd August," Sajid said.

Denis Musinguzi Kabila

 
The head Coach, Hillary Kururagyire asked Ogwal and the national female youth MP Anne Adeke to foster support towards intellectual sports in the country like debate.