Mbale Secondary School emerged as the overall winner of the 2025 NIRA Schools Debate, a vibrant two-day inter-school competition that concluded on May 6 at Kitante Hill School, Kampala.
Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School claimed the first runner-up position, while Kitante Hill Secondary School took second runner-up honours.
The event, hosted by celebrated media personality Pamela Malaika, was organised by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Debate Society Uganda. It brought together more than 20 secondary schools from across the country to debate the significance of national identification in Uganda’s development.
Among the participating schools were Nyakasura School (Kabarole), St. Henry’s College Kitovu (Masaka), Muni Girls (Arua City), Sebei College Tegeres (Kapchorwa), and Mbale Secondary School (Mbale)—each contributing to dynamic conversations on civic engagement and national planning.
The competition focused on timely motions connected to NIRA’s upcoming mass enrollment and renewal campaign set to begin on May 27, 2025. Students debated key issues such as whether schools should admit only NIRA-registered students, and whether replacement of lost or damaged National IDs should be free of charge. These debates revealed not only the intellectual rigour of Uganda’s youth but also their deep understanding of citizenship and access to essential services.
NIRA Executive Director Rosemary Kisembo delivered an impassioned call to action: “With 18.2 million Ugandans, most of them under the age of 17, still unregistered, this is a call for the youths to be visible, vocal, and valid. A National Identification Number (NIN) is a gateway to education, healthcare, employment, and full participation in our nation’s growth. We urge every young person, parent, and guardian to take this exercise seriously as we prepare for this historic enrollment.”
Gen. David Muhoozi, Minister of State for Internal Affairs, echoed the urgency, reinforcing government support for nationwide registration: “The energy and insight displayed by these young debaters prove that Uganda’s youth are not just future leaders—they are active change-makers today.”
He added: “As NIRA prepares to register 17.2 million new applicants and renew 15.8 million expired IDs, we are counting on students to be ambassadors of this initiative in their homes and communities. This mass enrollment is a cornerstone of our national planning, ensuring that no Ugandan is left behind in accessing critical services and opportunities.”
A key issue spotlighted during the debate was that, despite Uganda’s youthful population, only 5.2 million children aged 0–17 are currently registered with NIRA, leaving nearly 70% of minors without legal identification. In response, NIRA has secured 5,665 advanced biometric registration kits, delivered in January 2025, alongside two high-capacity card printing machines capable of producing 100,000 laser-engraved IDs daily.
This year’s debate transcended academic competition—it became a strategic platform for youth mobilisation and civic advocacy. By aligning with the national curriculum’s emphasis on civic education and continuous assessment, the Ministry of Education and Sports reinforced national identification as a lifelong tool for empowerment. Debate Society Uganda helped maintain high standards, ensuring productive engagement among students from diverse regions, including West Nile and Karamoja.
In addition to the participating schools, the audience included several schools from across Uganda: Tennessee Valley (Wakiso), Clever’s Origin (Kampala), Nakivubo Blue (Kampala), Nabumali PS (Mbale), Bulubandi PS (Iganga), Cornerstone PS (Mpigi), Ntinda PS (Kampala), Buganda Road PS (Kampala), Stella Maris Nsuube (Buikwe) and Mackay Memorial.
As Uganda prepares for the mass registration drive, NIRA calls on every citizen, particularly parents, guardians, schools, and community leaders, to ensure that children are registered. “A National ID is not just a legal requirement,” Kisembo reminded, “it is a fundamental right, a key that unlocks education, healthcare, and opportunity for every Ugandan.”
