Makerere University is the winner of the first ITAW debates.
The virtual advocacy tournament, which took place from August 18 to 20, 2021, featured 88 debaters, 44 teams, 22 universities, and over 281 participants.
In honor of the “It Takes A World (ITAW)” campaign to end violence against children, World Vision, in collaboration with the Global Platforms of ActionAid International Uganda, the Uganda Dialogue Arena (UDA), and Debate Institute Africa, hosted the first National Inter University Debates on the theme of “Harnessing the Potential of the Students’ Movement to End Violence against Children.”
The virtual advocacy tournament, which took place from August 18 to 20, 2021, featured 88 debaters, 44 teams, 22 universities, and over 281 participants. Only four colleges and four teams made it to the #ITAWDebates 2019 finals out of a total of 22 universities and 44 teams. Makerere University (Winners: Angelo Sewanonda and Fortunate Okello), Mbarara University of Science and Technology (1st Runners up: Mutungisa Edgar and Semusu Moses), Kampala International University Western Campus (2nd Runners Up: Senkaaba Tendo John and Nabukeera Caroline Gift), and Islamic University in Uganda Female C were the four finalist universities, in order of grand finale performance (Finalists: Atwiine Sabrina and Nasaazi Nusfah). Mutungisa Edgar of Mbarara University of Science and Technology was named the tournament’s best speaker overall.
“The discussions have been part of the campaign’s bold expression to encourage human change, seek justice, maintain the rights of children to be safeguarded, and bear witness to God’s kingdom,” Mubangizi Prosper, policy and campaigns specialist at World Vision Uganda, said.
The argument competition was part of a larger effort to end child marriage (ECM), child sacrifice (ECS), and school violence against children (EVACiS). “From now on, the tournament participants should use their social media influence to spark change by taking ownership of the campaign to advocate for constructive social and behavioral practices to prevent child violence.” Irene Kagoya, World Vision Uganda’s Associate Director of Advocacy.
Mr. Fredrick Musiimenta, CEO of Uganda Dialogue Arena, said that since 2012, UDA has been hosting debates, workshops, Career Guidance, and seminars in multiple institutions of learning under various themes, all of which are aimed at involving young people in matters that affect their societies. He claimed that the ITAW Debates were the first tournament dedicated to eliminating violence against children. Failure to protect and care for children, he maintained, is simply an accident waiting to happen because they will seek solace in the criminal justice system.
Mr Primus B. Atukwatse, Manager of Action Aid International Uganda’s Global Platforms, stated that the organization will continue to support programs that employ discussion, creativity, and other methods to prevent violence against children and create a more fair society.
“Violence wreaks havoc on the lives of children and their communities, setting off a cascade of long-term consequences. It has an impact on a child’s mental health and productivity, as well as his or her ability to study and grow. As Tournament participants, we must abstain from acts of violence against children and help to welcome the next generation into a world free of violence,” says Kansiime Onesmus, Tournament Director.
Young people are more dynamic, more knowledgeable, and have access to all venues, such as social media, to contribute to efforts to prevent violence against children. Debates serve as a forum for not only disseminating information, but also improving the capacity of the next generation of leaders, lawmakers, policy implementers, parents, and citizens.
These dialogues provided a platform for mobilizing a vital group of people who can champion the struggle to prevent child abuse. The campaign aims to “spark movements for, with, and by children,” with these movements focusing on quantitative and qualitative changes in norms, attitudes, and practices rather than policy reform. With its debates, activist capacity, social organization, energy, and social media prowess, the student movement can be a valuable asset in this shift.
Every year, the Uganda Dialogue Arena (UDA) has enlisted the help of numerous partners to host such intellectual discussions among university students and secondary school pupils. Cavendish University Uganda overcame other 32 competing universities to win the 5th Edition of the UDA INTER UNIVERSITY POETRY, SKILLS EXPO, AND DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIP at Bishop Stuart University (BSU) in 2019. Climate change and young participation in government are among the areas of focus.
