Gov’t criticized for neglecting school debates.

Rukungiri: Government has been criticized for neglecting students’ debates which is one of main co-curricular activities in schools.

The criticism was aired out by Aaron Turyasingura, the headteacher of Missio Dei Secondary School during an interview with our reporter on Friday May 31, 2024 at the school’s premises in Kigina cell, Kitimba ward, Western division, Rukungiri municipality.

Turyasingura explained that despite qualifying to represent Uganda at the East African level in debate competitions set to be hosted in Kigali, Rwanda from 1^st-4^th June, 2024, the school received no financial support from both the local and central government. He said they already spent over 5.5 million shillings from the school coffers.

He urged the Ministry of Education and Sports to support debate competitions as they do for other sports disciplines like football and athletics, especially when representing Uganda at the international level.

Missio Dei Secondary School and other schools including Green Hill Academy, Gombe Secondary School, Ntare School, Kasenyi Secondary School Mubende, Gombe Secondary School, Kiira College Butiki, Kyaddondo Secondary School, St. Theresa Girls’ Secondary School Bwanda, Budini Secondary School, Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale, St. Henry’s College Kitovu, Kisoro Vision Secondary School, Kyabugimbi Secondary School, Kiira College Butiki, Nyakasura School will represent Uganda at the Kigali competition.

Abigail Nahabwe ,Paskalina Atuhaire , and Winnie Nabasa are the students who will represent Missio Dei Secondary School. They shared with our reporter their excitement of representing Uganda at the international level for the first time.

Efforts to obtain a comment from the Principal Education Officer for Rukungiri municipality Alfred Katabazi proved fruitless, as all attempts to reach him via known contact numbers were unsuccessful.