By Our Reporter,
BUSHENYI
Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, Bushenyi, has won the 2025 Pan-African Junior Schools Debate Championship after defeating Munroe Primary School of South Africa in a tightly contested final held in Kigali, Rwanda.
The continental event, which featured debate, public speaking and storytelling, attracted 98 schools from across Africa. Organisers described this year’s edition as the most competitive since the championship was launched.
With the victory, Parental Care will represent Africa at the World Schools Debate Championship due in Canada next year.
Over the years, the Bushenyi-based school has built a strong reputation for its debate and public-speaking programmes. Learners are groomed from lower primary in research, critical thinking, persuasive communication and confidence-building—skills that have helped the school consistently excel in district, regional and national competitions.
Teachers attributed this year’s triumph to intensive preparation, teamwork, discipline and a strong culture of nurturing talent beyond academics.
Headteacher Desmond Tayebwa said the win reflects the school’s long-term investment in using debate to support holistic child development. He noted that debating sharpens three key domains of learning:
Cognitive: reasoning, research capacity, problem-solving and logical thinking
Affective: confidence, emotional maturity, empathy and respect for diverse opinions
Psychomotor: voice projection, stage presence, body coordination and other performance skills
Integrating these competencies into classroom activities and co-curricular programmes, he added, has produced learners who are “confident, analytical and ready to compete on any stage.”
Celebrations in Bushenyi
News of the victory sparked excitement across Bushenyi District and the wider Greater Bushenyi region. Parents, teachers and local leaders praised the school for raising Uganda’s flag at continental level. Social media platforms, including community WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages, were flooded with congratulatory messages, with many calling the win a major milestone for the district and the country.
School administrators said preparations for the world championship will begin immediately, with intensified training and research sessions scheduled for early next year.
Parents and Pupils React
Parent Shallon Mugisha applauded the school for bringing honour to the district and the country, saying the pupils had demonstrated outstanding discipline, focus and teamwork.
“Seeing our children debate confidently against peers from across Africa makes every parent proud,” Mugisha said. “They are not only representing Parental Care, but also Bushenyi District and Uganda.”
Ainembabazi Angel Tracy, a Parental Care pupil and overall speller at the championship, said the contests helped shape their minds and build confidence.
“These competitions challenged us to think deeper, research more and express ourselves better,” she said. “I believe the skills we gained will improve our performance in class and in future tournaments.”
