Lira, Uganda | The Uganda National Students Association (UNSA), through its Lira City Secretariat, successfully conducted the 2025 Secondary School Debate, Public Speech, Poetry, and Storytelling Tournament on Saturday, June 21, at Lira Town College.
The competition, held under the theme ‘Resilient, Patriotic and Responsible Youth for Good Governance,’ attracted 14 secondary schools, each eligible to present up to three teams.
A total of 25 teams took part in the tournament.
Participating schools included Lira Town College, Lango College, Dara Christian High School, St. Katherine SS, Mentor SS, COTN Maranatha Honors High School, Premier Progressive SS, Faith SS, King James Comprehensive SS, Wisdom High School, St. Mary’s SS Adekokwok, and Hill City College.
Hill City College outshone its competitors to emerge overall champions after a tightly contested final against Lango College.
In an interview, Innocent Odongo, Headteacher of Hill City College, attributed their victory to advance preparation and strategic teamwork.
He noted that their students were well-prepared, dedicating time for detailed research and participating in friendly inter-school debates which helped refine their skills.
He added that the team’s ability to quickly recover from any speaker’s mistake and emphasize rebuttals rather than simply stacking points played a critical role.
He emphasized that the chemistry among the students and their ability to build on each other’s arguments made them stand out.
According to Odongo, the win has inspired students and shifted perceptions around extracurricular activities.
He stated that students now understand the value of debate and how it strengthens their analytical, social, and research abilities, and that the entire school feels honored.
He emphasized that the biggest lesson was perseverance. Even during difficult moments, the students remained focused, and they now believe that sustained effort pays off.
Looking ahead, Hill City College plans to intensify training, provide more resources, and elevate team morale as they prepare for the next phase.
Odongo acknowledged that they were underestimated before, but now expectations are higher and they must do more.
Tom Richard Oluma, the UNSA Coordinator for Lira City, noted that the event brought together about 25 teams.
Each team comprised five members three debaters, one poet, and one public speaker.
He praised the event’s organization and student engagement.
While Hill City College took the championship, individual honors went to several schools. St. Katherine SS produced the best debater, Mentor SS had the best poet, and Lango College presented the best public speaker.
Oluma acknowledged minor logistical issues, especially around feeding due to some schools bringing spectators, which hadn’t been planned for.
He also mentioned disputes over judging, but affirmed confidence in the external adjudicators who had no affiliation with any of the schools.
On the tournament’s contribution to the theme, Oluma explained that students debated issues of national relevance like governance and referendums, which helped deepen their sense of patriotism and responsibility.
He said communication is awaited from the UNSA national secretariat regarding the regional and national levels of the competition.
It is anticipated that only the top four teams may proceed due to resource limitations. Final guidance is expected within the week.
He reaffirmed UNSA’s commitment to grooming responsible young leaders and promoting civic engagement among the youth.
In addition to his UNSA duties, Oluma also teaches at St. Katherine Secondary School in Lira City.