By Rose Mugena
St Mary’s College Lugazi has emerged as the overall winner of Cavendish University Uganda’s maiden Inter-School Project Competition after presenting a kinetic-powered irrigation system designed to tackle drought and food insecurity.
The competition, which attracted 12 secondary schools, saw five advance to the final showcase. It sought to foster innovation, originality, and practical problem-solving among learners, aligning with Uganda’s shift toward a competency-based education curriculum that encourages students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life community challenges.
The five finalists—St Cyprian High School Kyabakadde, St Mary’s College Lugazi, Queen of Martyrs High School, Seeta High School Green Campus, and St Henry’s High School Mukono—presented solutions targeting issues such as poor waste management, inadequate business record-keeping, inefficient lighting, restricted access to student records, weak library inventory systems, and severe drought impacts.
St Mary’s College Lugazi secured the top prize after demonstrating how kinetic energy could power simple, efficient irrigation systems to help local communities mitigate drought effects and reduce reliance on government food aid.
Speaking during the awards ceremony, the Executive Director of Cavendish University Uganda emphasized the institution's commitment to equipping young minds with practical experiences to prepare them for an increasingly competitive global environment.
"The university will continue supporting initiatives that give young people opportunities to develop and showcase original ideas," he said, calling on corporate sponsors to assist students with promising concepts in scaling their projects to full implementation.
He also cautioned learners against digital distractions, urging them to use social media productively and warning that unmindful consumption could become a form of digital bondage.
Bernard Ochan, the Dean of Students at Cavendish University, highlighted the broader significance of the competition, stating that it underlines the need to rethink traditional metrics of academic achievement.
"The competition highlights the need to redefine educational success by placing greater emphasis on learners’ ability to solve problems rather than relying solely on examination results," Ochan remarked.
He encouraged schools across the country to nurture students who can identify community problems, formulate creative ideas, and transform them into actionable solutions.
"Competitions such as the Inter-School Project Competition provide students with a platform to build confidence, share ideas, and gain recognition for their creativity," Ochan added.
Corporate partners also expressed strong backing for the student-led innovations. Joshua Musinguzi, Corporate Sales Specialist at Hisense Uganda, reaffirmed the company's commitment to fostering technological literacy in schools and encouraged learners to dive deeper into technological advancements.
Musinguzi invited the competing students to visit the Hisense museum to explore the history of tech innovation, study how key inventions were developed, and draw inspiration for their future projects.