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Mak Students Win Accountability Sector Debate
Makerere University students have emerged winners in the Accountability Sector Debate that attracted participants from both public and private universities in Uganda.
Eight (8) Universities presented candidates to compete in the Accountability Sector Debate, which was aimed at promoting dialogue among the youth on matters of accountability, and interesting them in advocating for accountability.
The following Universities participated in the debate: Makerere University, Makerere University Business School, Kyambogo University, Nkumba University, Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi, Islamic University in Uganda and Uganda Christian University Mukono.
Makerere University received an award for winning the debate held under the theme: “Accountability, a shared responsibility for effective service delivery.” Three (3) judges with expertise in the subject area and the Accountability sector evaluated the debate and selected the winning debaters for the award.
The Makerere University winning team comprised Mr. Luyombu Abbasi and Ms. Awino Mercy, who are studying Bachelor of Laws degree at Makerere University. Each winner received a gold medal. The Makerere University winning team also received a cash prize of 1.5million Uganda shillings.
The Accountability Sector debate held on Monday 27th August 2018 at City Hall, Kampala was organised by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as part of the activities to launch the Accountability Week running from 27th to 31st August 2018. Over 250 students from both public and private universities in Uganda participated in the debate.
Receiving the good news, Makerere University Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms Ritah Namisango saluted the winning team for effectively representing the University. “I commend our students for putting up a spirited fight. Through this competition, our students have continued to re-affirm that Makerere University is the leading institution for academic excellence. I commend them for the excellent analytical and communication skills and a good command of the English language. Congratulations!” Ms Namisango remarked.
Ms Namisango also applauded the Makerere University Students Guild particularly the Guild President, H.E Papa Were Salim and the Guild Information Minister, Hon. Kato Martins for working together with Makerere University Public Relations Office to identify the students who effectively represented the University in the Accountability sector debate.
Speaking on behalf of Makerere University Students Guild, Hon. Kato Martins thanked the winners for making Makerere University a victor in the accountability debate.
“I extend our sincere appreciation to the winners. We are so humbled that you are making Makerere University proud when we participate in debates focusing on pertinent topical issues,” he said.
Hon. Kato called upon all Makerere University students to always make Makerere University proud when they participate in national and international competitions.
Article by: Nakibombo Esther Joyce, Communication Volunteer, Mak PR Office
Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.
The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.
Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.
On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.
After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.
The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.
Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.
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