By Shibah Nakakande
On 26 August, 2024, the 3rd Uganda National Students’ Association (UNSA) poetry , public speech and debates championships kicked off with over 200 schools participating at Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School (HCLVSS) in Jinja.
This battle for eloquence, articulation and brains has over 100 schools geared up for speech, poetry and debate for a week under the theme, “Amplifying Students’ Voices for the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.”The president of UNSA Francis Okot said,” This year’s tournament is more than just a competition; it’s a platform for young voices to inspire change, embody patriotism and shape the future of our nation and continent.
He emphasized the importance of such am opportunity to students encouraging to take it on eagerly because it comes once in a while . This was followed by appreciating UNSA’s patron the president of UGANDA Yoweri Kaguta Museveni .
“As the young people of this nation , we are very much happy for the opportunity and this space you have given to us to exercise our gift and talent where we are .” said Francis.
As Francis concluded his message for the patron , he requests the Ministry Of Education and Sports for a students’ Center for the nation where young people in innovation get to execute their projects .
The Anti Corruption Campaign is also launched to over 25,000 Young Ugandans on the first day to instill patriotism, and Pan-Africanism with the aspect of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Paul Achaye Speech Director UNSA said that, “These people who engage in corruption and embezzlement are fathers and mothers of certain people therefore it is with that background that we strongly make a resolution to collectively combat corruption.
Through our education spaces, we need government sectors even families because this whole habit of corruption starts with nurturing what happens with in families.”
The poetry team with majority of students wearing white shirts and t-shirts seated on side by side tables on tenterhooks waiting to take on the stage in spoken word.
The championships are looking forward to building a generation that is conversant with implementing the SDGs.
Seven SDGs are fronted in this year’s debates : No poverty ( SDG 1)Zero hunger( SDG 2) , Good health and Well-being( SDG 3) , Quality Education( SDG 4) , Gender Equality ( SDG 5) , Clean water and sanitation( SDG 6) , Affordable and clean energy ( SDG 7) .
“There are so many young people who do not have access to quality education it is not a matter of just going to school. There are people going to school but they are actually not getting educated, with this we are able to check the kind of education our children acquire from schools.
We are also so much interested in SDG 9, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure because young people have brilliant ideas” said Paul.
Debates, spoken word and public speech are major means that allow young people to express their thoughts concerning matters of national importance towards the growth of their nation and question decision makers.
