Kampala, Uganda: Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, Bushenyi, and King’s College Budo have been crowned overall winners at the 2025 National Junior and Senior Debate Competitions (NJSDC & NSSDC), hosted at King’s College Budo in what organisers hailed as the most successful edition yet.
The tournament, presided over by Deputy Inspector General of Government Dr. Patricia Achan, marked the 5th edition of the junior category and the 13th edition of the senior category.
Parental Care Nursery and Primary School successfully defended its junior title after a tense final against KY Board Primary School from Masaka City, securing the championship trophy for the third year running.
Ashaba Isaiah of Parental Care was named Overall Best Debater for the second consecutive year, while Asingwire Joy Precious won Best Female Debater. Championship Speakers’ Awards went to Ashaba Isaiah (Gold), Asingwire Joy Precious (Silver) and Ninkusiima Leah (Bronze), all representing Parental Care Bushenyi.
Speaking after her win, Ashaba said she was “extremely excited and grateful,” adding that debating has broadened her thinking and strengthened her communication skills. “I know these skills will help me in my studies and also in my future career because I want to be someone who can express ideas clearly and influence others positively,” she said.
In the senior category, King’s College Budo made a powerful comeback after missing last year’s competition, defeating Mbarara High School (CHAAPA) in a tightly contested final.
The senior motion was: “The Olweela swamp has continued to collapse. A Chinese investor who intends to hire it for rice growing has proposed to the government of Uganda that he will construct the swamp permanently if it’s sold to him. Debate the consequences of this development.”
While Junior finalists debated the motion: “A leader with ideas and a leader with money, who makes good leadership in a school setup?”
Addressing participants, Dr Achan praised the students for their courage, intellect and ethical reasoning. “You have shown the country that young people can think critically and articulate issues that matter,” she said. “Your debates reflect this year’s theme: ‘My Education, My Environment, My Ethics,’ and I encourage you to carry these values into your daily lives.”
National Debate Council (NDC) Executive Director, Mr Gasta Kakaire, commended King’s College Budo for hosting and hailed Parental Care Bushenyi for its consistency and excellence. “This is all hard work,” he said, celebrating the students’ dedication.
Parental Care headteacher Mr Desmond Tayebwa attributed the school’s continued success to its commitment to holistic education. “We believe co-curricular activities are as important as academics,” he said. “These activities shape disciplined, confident and well-rounded students, and that is what we stand for.”
Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, Bushenyi, also recently won the Africa Debate Championship held in Kigali, Rwanda.
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