The Ankole diocese Education Department held the 2nd edition of Ankole diocese Bishop’s debate tournament at Nyakayojo SS on the 10th of April 2023, (Easter Monday)
A total of 13 schools out of 32 schools under Ankole diocese participated in the competition. The 2023 edition ran under the theme : Morality and man’s existence in the contemporary society

The Bishop of Ankole Diocese the Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa officiated the closure of the competition, in the giving of trophy and certificates.

The Bishop’s debate tournament was started by the bishop of Ankole Diocese among Ankole diocesan schools with an aim of training and promoting talent among the young people. This debate tournament happens every year and in the year 2023, Mbarara High School emerged the winner followed by Rwentanga Farm Institute. Mbarara High School was the defending champion having been the inaugural winners of the same tournament in 2022.

This 2023 edition was opened by the Ankole Diocesan Education secretary and later closed by the bishop of Ankole diocese accompanied by the Ankole Diocesan Secretary.

The Diocesan Secretary appreciated the Bishop for the big vision of starting this program among schools to promote communication skills in the young people, critical thinking and problem solving skills which has benefited very many young people. He encouraged the young people to involve themselves in these debates if they want to grow into people of importance in future.

The Education secretary said that the reason for bringing these debates is to bring all diocesan schools together and promote their social capital but also improve the esteem of these young people, confidence and communication skills.

Students thanked the school administrations for bringing them to such debates because they help them to be confident and be able to express themselves in public. They said that such debates give them opportunity to give in their views which can be taken up in policy formulation and development of the nation.

The Bishop of Ankole diocese Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa who was the guest of honour and also awarded the trophy to the winning team encouraged the different schools which attended to keep doing these debates because they help them to communicate so well because the rate at which Uganda is, if you don’t know English you will not be able to express yourself neither pass most of the interviews. He said that job interviews are never done in any other language apart from English.

He encouraged students to engage so much in these debates and public speaking so that they can be able to express themselves wherever they go and this will make them impactful in this nation.

He later awarded certificates to every participant, medals to the best 4 speakers and the trophy to the winning team, Mbarara High School.

To God be the Glory.
Asasira Joanita Nancy
Diocesan Information and Communication Officer and Ag. East African Revival Museum Curator , Ankole Diocese