The 12 students that reached the finals in a group photo with UBA officials and Ismael Mulindwa (in suit-front row), the Director Basic and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education and Sports has applauded United Bank for Africa Uganda (UBAU) for supporting the country’s education sector through its National Essay Competition(NEC) initiative.
Speaking at the UBA Foundation’s NEC grant finale held on Friday at the bank’s head office in Kampala, Ismael Mulindwa, the Director Basic and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education, said that Government welcomes all the support from corporate companies to help the ministry fulfill its mandate.
“What you are doing, we are supposed to have done. If we have not done it, then you have stood in for us and we appreciate that kind of support,” said Mulindwa as he represented the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education as the Chief Guest.
He said many decades ago, essay competitions used to be one of the core extra curricular activities in education institutions.
“In recent years, we seem to have gone into slumber but we are waking up to your call and we need to push it up. Thanks for leading the way on this,” he said.
Mulindwa noted that while the bank has the responsibility to give back to the community/customers, it’s not always a given.
“Many corporate entities are not doing this. The laptops you have given out to the winners are expensive items which the Government is supposed to provide. The Government is implementing a curriculum which requires students to have those gadgets (computers). We may not have the capacity to do so now, but it remains a pending priority. The students should have computers, so when we see a bank coming up to support us, we appreciate you,” he said, urging the students to use the laptops for only academic purposes.
The 2nd edition of UBA’s National Essay Competition initiative mainly focused on the climate change crisis and the use/misuse of social media. The competition attracted over 700 participants from across the country and 12 of them reached the finals.
Mulindwa thanked the bank for choosing good themes/topics.
“Let’s work together as a team to promote this activity. We should be supporting you to keep this competition running,” he said, urging students to also compete in the East African Community Essay Competition.
He also proposed to the Bank that the awarding ceremony should be done in different regions each year so that schools and students from upcountry areas benefit as well as it attracts many to participate.
Chioma A. Mang, the Chief Executive Officer at UBA Uganda, said being an African indigenous financial institution, UBA believes in the African continent.
“We are not only here to support the education sector but also your businesses. The bank with its partners is providing US$6bn to support SMEs in Africa. I want our SMES in Uganda to benefit from this initiative,” Mang said.
She thanked the Board of the bank for accepting to support the National Essay Competition initiative.
Asmahaney Saad, a member of the UBA Board of Directors, said UBA prides itself in pushing the African agenda and couldn’t support it better than organizing the annual National Essay Competition in Uganda.
She pledged that UBA will continue supporting this initiative in an effort to tell the positive African story.
“We are not only here to make money as a business. We are interested more in the impact we make not only in Uganda but to the rest of Africa,” she said.
She also applauded all students that participated in the competition, describing the final 12 as “the 12 (Twelve) stars of 2023”.
“Their essays have left a lasting impact, and their words will continue to echo in the hearts and minds of many,” she said.
Winners
Alvin Mukisa from Princess Diana High School was crowned the Winner of the UBA National Essay Competition 2023, earning an incredible Shs3.5 million, a trophy, Certificate and a brand-new laptop.
Martha Akori from Tororo Girls’ School was the 1st Runner-Up while Allan Tusiime from Exodus College School emerged as 2nd Runner-Up and each walked away with a laptop, and so many other gifts to further fuel their academic journey.
