By Kaleb Yiiki

Arua

Over 1,170 participants including Students in Secondary Schools in both Uganda and Kenya are participating in the ongoing East African Music Dance and Drama Competitions in Arua City.

Running on the themes Climate Change, new Curriculum and East African Integration; the Performances are staged at National Teachers College Muni, Mvara Secondary School and St. Mary’s Ediofe Girls Secondary School.

The Performances at National Teachers College Muni Include African Original Composition, and Western Choral Pieces whereas at Mvara Secondary School, the performances are Drama, Folk Song, and Instrumentals and the performances staged at St. Mary’s Ediofe Girls Secondary School are Folk Dance, Creative Dance, Poems and Speeches.  

The Kenyan entourage included, 591 Secondary School Students all over the eight regions of Kenya; 30 adjudicators, 12 Directors in Kenya‘s Ministry of Education Officials. Whereas in Uganda out of the expected 63 Secondary Schools, 53 Secondary Schools turned up to participate in the East African Music Dance and Drama Competitions in Arua City.

This therefore brings the total of 579 Ugandan Participants Including adjudicators and Education Ministry Officials, Head teachers and Students.    
Daisy Alibaru Philliam, the Principle National Teachers College Muni commended Organizers of the Event for trusting them during the official Opening Ceremony.” As the Main Host, I am Confident that this MDD festival shall be a success”, she affirmed.

 
Daisy Alibaru Philliam welcoming participants to NTC Muni

While Kenya Government funds the MDD events in full, in Uganda, Maxwel Dramadri the Association of Secondary Schools Head Teachers Union (ASSHU) Chair for Arua City revealed the sources of funding the event including Participating Secondary Schools Contributions, Uganda’s Ministry of Education and other Development Partners. “Though this is the Education Ministry’s Program, even Individuals also contributed towards the success of this Program”, he revealed.   
The LCV Chair Arua District Alfred Okuonzi decried the way Youths use MDD for only entertainment. ”MDD is not for Night Discos but it is for Passing Information and for Self Expression which brings Joy”, he noted.  

Additionally, Arua City’s Resident City Commissioner Alice Akello gave this message to the participating students. ”We have diversities of talents, if you are gifted in MDD, do it very well and God will take you to another level using MDD and don’t take your stay here for granted,” he advises.

Elias Abdi, the Director General of Kenya emphasized the need for talent development of children. “In Kenya with our new Curriculum, it’s about nurturing every child’s potential and therefore our Education should bring out the best potential out of our Children.” He recommended.

 
Officials and leaders pose for a group photo

During the event opening remarks, the director Basic Secondary Education in Uganda Ishmael Mulindwa remarked that, ”If we can get other colleagues from Rwanda, Tanzania, and Southern Sudan joining the MDD competitions, It will be a very great achievement for the East African Community.”

 
Ishmael Mulindwa Declaring the MDD event Open
 
The MDD Events Started on the 29^th August 2023 with the Arrival of Participants and is expected to end on the 4^th September 2023 with the closing ceremony and award of winners to be held on the 3^rd September 2023 at National Teachers College (NTC) Muni where the Minster of Education is expected to grace the occasion.

COVER PHOTO: The Masai Dance from Kenya By Kaleb Yiiki