As the sun rose over the rolling hills of Arusha, Tanzania, in late August 2025, a new chapter in East African academic excellence was being written. Among the elite schools arriving at St. Jude Secondary School for the East African Schools Debate Championship (EASDC) 2025 was the formidable team from St. Mary’s CollegeLugazi.
Representing Uganda on this prestigious international stage, the club embarked on a mission to showcase the intellectual prowess and oratorical brilliance that has become their hallmark.
The journey to the 2025 championship in Arusha was paved with months of rigorous preparation and local triumphs. Known for their structured arguments and clear reasoning, the St. Mary’s College Lugazi debating club has consistently utilized regional platforms such as the Uganda National Debate Championship and various regional qualifiersnto hone their skills. Their selection to represent Uganda in Arusha was a testament to their standing as one of the country’s most vibrant debating powerhouses.
The 2025 EASDC, held under the cold green plains of Arusha, brought together the finest young minds from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Burundi. The championship served as a “spectacle of intellect,” where students tackled complex global and regional issues.
For the Lugazi team, the competition was not merely about winning trophies but about engaging in “thought provoking debates” on critical topics such as regional integration, economic sustainability, and the role of technology in education.
Competing in the World Schools Style format which requires a mix of prepared motions and grueling impromptu rounds the debaters from St. Mary’s College Lugazi demonstrated remarkable adaptability. In impromptu challenges, where teams receive a motion just one hour before the round, the Lugazi students relied on their deep well of general knowledge and teamwork to construct compelling arguments without the aid of digital research.
Beyond the heated rounds of the “Gold Cup” and “Silver Cup” brackets, the trip to Tanzania offered an invaluable cultural experience. The event, organized by the Tanzania National Debate Society (TANDS), emphasized the theme of “Building bridges, breaking barriers”. St. Mary’s College Lugazi students interacted with peers from across the East African Community (EAC), fostering a spirit of regional unity and shared purpose.
The school’s leadership played a pivotal role in this achievement. Supported by the school administration, which provided the necessary funding and resources for international travel, the students were able to focus entirely on their performance. This investment in “soft skills” like public speaking and critical thinking is a core part of the Lugazi curriculum, aimed at producing the next generation of transformative leaders for Uganda.
The success in Arusha has set a high bar for the club as they transition into the 2026 debating season. With the 2026 East African Schools DebateChampionship already on the calendar, the team is looking to build on their international exposure. Furthermore, many members are eyeing slots on the Uganda National DebatingTeam (the “Debate Cranes”), which represents the country at the World Schools Debating Championship.
The 2026 calendar promises even more opportunities for these young orators. Key upcoming events include:
- Africa World Schools Debating Championships 2026: Scheduled for March 27– April 2, 2026, at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
- Arusha Debate Championship 2026: Continuing the tradition of excellence at UWC East Africa.
As St. Mary’s College Lugazi continues to “make it matter,” their journey to Arusha remains a shining example of how Ugandan schools are asserting their dominance in the global arena of ideas. Through every rebuttal and every closing speech, these students are proving that the voice of the Ugandan youth is not only loud but profoundly reasoned and ready to lead.