The UNSA Tororo Debate & Speech Championships 2025 kicked off with much anticipation on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Tropical College Tororo. Students from various schools across the district participated in the third edition of the competition, with a lot at stake.
The UNSA Tororo Debate & Speech Championships 2025 saw participation from ten schools, a decline from last year’s sixteen. Some attributed this drop to the ongoing industrial strike by arts teachers—most of whom are responsible for debate clubs in schools. Despite this setback, the schools that did participate came prepared to put up a spirited fight for a shot at glory.
Adding to the surprise, defending champions Tororo Girls School (TGS)—winners of the previous two editions in the debate category—did not turn up for the 2025 edition. One would have expected them to attend and attempt a historic third consecutive victory. TGS is a formidable debate team, having also competed in last year’s Green Schools Debate tournament, which features top schools from across the country.
Winners of the UNSA Tororo Debate & Speech Championships 2025
The absence of TGS raised hopes among other teams, eager to seize the opportunity with one of the favorites out of the way. A total of twelve teams from ten schools competed for the trophies. Making their debut in the competition, Rock High School emerged as the champions in the debate category, stunning veteran teams that have participated since the first edition.
Great Aubrey Memorial College (GAMCO), who participated in the first edition but missed the second, made a remarkable comeback by winning the poetry category. The defending champions in this category, St. Peter’s College Tororo (SPECTRO), were dethroned as Regina Irau of GAMCO delivered a stellar performance to secure the win.
In the public speech category, Mulungi Joel Stephen of Rubongi Army Secondary School (RASS) was crowned champion. This marked the second consecutive speech trophy for RASS, following Karungi Mary’s victory in the 2024 edition. It also marked the third trophy for RASS this month, after winning the USSSA Tororo District Girls’ Rugby trophy on Saturday, June 14, and the USSSA Tororo District Netball trophy on Tuesday, June 17.
