NSDC Elgon Regionals 2025, the much anticipated 13th National Speech and Debate Championships organized by the National Debate Council (NDC), finally took place on Saturday, 28 June 2025. The host of the previous year, Mbale SS, was granted the opportunity to host again this year. Elgon Region is one of the eight regions where NDC is currently holding debates as they gear up for the Nationals, which will be in December, with the grand finale to be held at Uganda’s Parliament..
Turnout in the Elgon Region was lower than expected, largely due to an ongoing national industrial strike by Arts Teachers. These teachers are understood to be instrumental in running most school debate clubs and activities, which made it difficult for schools to prepare for the competition.
NSDC Elgon Regionals Overview
A team of judges from the NDC, led by Ms. Leonah Naturinda, the Tournament Director and a former debater from NSDC 2019, formed the main Core Adjudication Panel (CAP). Nkajja Janice served as the Chief Adjudicator (CA) for Speech, Arinaitwe Reagan was the CA for Poetry, and Kibirango Rahim Osama was the CA for Debate.
The various CAs briefed the ten participating teams on the expectations for the competition. Following this, Festo Kato, Media and Communications Officer at NDC, shared insights into the NDC’s journey, which began in 2009. He encouraged debaters to go beyond what their coaches provided and strive for personal improvement.
The Deputy Head Teacher of Mbale SS, the host school, delivered the official opening speech. After the opening, Rean Joash Mabonga, commonly known as Rean Foster, announced the fixtures as the main tabulator. The teams then proceeded to their respective rooms, and the intellectual battles commenced.
Champions of NSDC Elgon Regionals 2025
Mbale High School celebrated an outstanding student who was crowned NSDC Elgon Regionals 2025 Speech Champion.10. Not to be outdone, Nkoma SS, another school from Mbale, secured victory in the Storytelling category. The CAP noted that only a few schools entered this category and urged patrons to encourage more participation in the future.
Rubongi Army SS Tororo was crowned champions in the Poetry category, with Mambore John Chrysostom emerging victorious. This marks a repeat of their win in the same genre last year. Mambore John Chrysostom of Rubongi Army Secondary School was also the overall winner in Poetry Recitation at The Elgon Regional Championship, held at Mbale Secondary School on July 13, 2024. That event included competitions in storytelling, poetry, public speaking, and debate, highlighting significant talent across the region.
The most prestigious award, the Debate trophy, went to Mbale SS after an intense final showdown with Nkoma SS. This victory marks Mbale SS’s second consecutive win in the Debate category, having also secured it in 2024. Earlier in the year, Mbale SS had also won the NIRA Schools Debate, which saw over 20 schools from across the country participate.
