Kampala, Uganda – On Monday 29th November 2021, Open Space Center, in partnership with USAID, Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF), and the National Endowment for Democracy (NEDemocracy), held the 2021 University Debate Nationals at Nabisunsa Girls’ School in Kampala.

The 5-day tournament hosted over 23 universities and over 92 students from both Uganda and Kenya, participating as judges, technical teams, and debaters. Participated in were activities including masters’ rounds, debate training sessions, and public speaking sessions.

The finale saw several VIPs in attendance, including the current President of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu; Former candidate and ANT flag bearer for the Kampala Lord mayoral position, Yakubu Mayanja Musaazi; Women Representative (MP) Buyende, Nakato Mary Annet; Constituency Representative (MP) Bukoto Midwest, Ssejoba Isaac; National MP representing persons with disabilities, Mpindi Bumali; Executive Director UNNGOF, Dr. Moses Isooba; and the Chairperson National Youth Council Uganda, Jacob Eyeru to mention but a few.

The Guest of Honor, Maj. Gen Mugisha Muntu, delivered a speech in which he encouraged the youth to heed caution when venturing into politics or any other fields of leadership in their future.

“As you prepare to be leaders, and get more and more skills even in politics, you must determine where you move crowds to – because words are very powerful, and they can build or destroy,” he cautioned.

The Executive Director UNNGOF also spoke of inspiring the youth to take up more positions of governance, and participate more in elections as they will become the leaders of tomorrow.

“We partner with Open Space Uganda because we as NGO Forum place a very high priority on youth because they are the leaders of tomorrow. Anything concerning youth, governance, and elections is critical to us,” he explained.

Makerere University Business School (MUBS) emerged as the overall winners of the tournament, while the Winners of the James Ogola Award for Best Speaker were Peter Elianu (1st place) & Paul Oyala (2nd place) from Kyambogo University, and Bosco Tiondi (3rd place) from Gulu University. Aliokin Praise of Victoria University won the award for Best Personality at the tournament. Overall, the winner’s prize is an academic debate exchange tour to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology.