Gulu University’s team A has emerged the overall winner of this year’s University Debate Nationals in a competition that was comprised of 29 Universities both Ugandan and International. The five-day competition has been going on at the Luwero-based Ndejje Univeristy where young students have been exchanging ideas and get awarded marks for after discussing about various selected motions.
The completion has finally come to an end as a team from Gulu University emerged the champions of this year’s edition of the University debate Nationals, organized by Open Space Uganda together with National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
The banda-based Kyambogo University emerged as the first runners up following a tight competition from the various universities that took part in this intellectual battle. The motion upon which this debate rotated around was “The refugee crisis”.
Before the finals, the judges announced 4 teams that made it to the final round which included; Gulu University A, Gulu University B, Kyambogo B and UCU B
The event also featured an award moment where various speakers, judges, and other stake holders were awarded for their outstanding roles in the just concluded intellectual battle. Miss Sarah Kenyana walked away with the justice James Ogoola award as the first ever female recipient who revealed that she can’t wait to meet Justice Ogoola, just like the previous winners.
The event, which aired live on Urban Television was graced by Mr. Joel Boutroue, the country Representative for United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as Ottai Eddie Isaac, the guild president Ndejje University.
While delivering his welcome speech, Ottai revealed that when one becomes a leader, all he thinks about is growing others. “Before becoming a leader, one thinks about growing oneself. But when one becomes a leader, one thinks about growing others.” Said Ottai while welcoming guests to the University Debate Nationals grand finale.
As revelers waited for the final announcement of the overall winners, Hawa Nanjobe Kimbugwe delivered a powerful poem about refugees as the event reached its climax.
