Zimbabwe will host the Africa Spelling Bee in Victoria Falls from March 18–21, 2026. The event will feature over 20 African countries and more than 200 delegates.
Bushenyi, Uganda: Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, Bushenyi, will represent Uganda at the 2026 Africa Spelling Bee Competition in Zimbabwe after finishing among the top three at the recently concluded Enjuba National Spelling Bee.
The grand finale of the annual competition, held October 25th at Serena Hotel in Kampala, brought together 167 young spellers from 15 districts across Uganda, taking part in competitive rounds, storytelling sessions, musical performances, and inspirational talks, creating a lively platform to nurture children’s confidence, vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking.
Jonathan Amollo from Tororo Primary School emerged overall national champion, followed by Peter Lwanga Sendi of Pax Junior School, while Leah Arinaitwe of Parental Care Primary School, Bushenyi, finished a proud third, earning her school and district a coveted spot to represent Uganda at the Africa Spelling Bee in Zimbabwe.
Arinaitwe, who demonstrated poise and brilliance throughout the competition, also received a dummy cheque worth Shs1.5 million, alongside medals, trophies, and scholastic materials for the top spellers.
Enjuba Chief Executive Officer Aaron Kirunda commended all participants, noting that over 84 percent of children who participate in the Spelling Bee report improved confidence, while 92 percent show enhanced reading and spelling skills.
His colleague, William Mukisa, Chief Literacy Officer at Enjuba, emphasized the program’s transformative impact on children’s reading culture. “Spelling Bee is a catalytic program that helps children fall in love with reading,” Mukisa said.
“As a country, we face an illiteracy challenge, about 83 per cent of Ugandan children below ten years are unable to read and write. Spelling Bee pushes children to books, and in the process, they learn to read, read to learn, grow their vocabulary, and improve literacy.”
Mukisa further noted that the initiative connects Uganda to the continental literacy agenda. “We are part of the African Spelling Bee. The winners here represent Uganda at the African level, where more than 20 countries participate annually. The 2026 edition will be hosted by Zimbabwe in March next year,” Mukisa said.
He urged schools, teachers, and parents to cultivate a reading culture. “Let children not just see books, let them open them, read, and learn. That skill will serve them for life, whether they become doctors, social workers, or whatever they aspire to be.”
At Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, excitement continues to grow as the team prepares to fly Uganda’s flag in Zimbabwe.
Trainer Owamasiko Andrela credited the school’s success to dedication and teamwork. “We owe our performance to constant training and the commitment of our pupils. Every week, our learners were guided through spelling drills and reading exercises,” she said.
Headteacher Desmond Tayebwa said the achievement reflects the school’s holistic approach to education. “This victory is a result of teamwork, discipline, and focus. Our learners have shown that with determination and guidance, rural schools like ours can compete nationally,” Tayebwa noted.
Club trainer and patron Kyoshabire Iryne added that the Spelling Bee experience has significantly improved learners’ confidence and language skills. “Our learners have grown tremendously in vocabulary, spelling accuracy, and self-expression. This platform has prepared them not just for competitions, but for life.”
Parental Care now stands among Uganda’s elite schools, representing the country on the continental stage, a proud moment for Bushenyi and a beacon of literacy excellence for western Uganda.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
