By Sabir Musa

Arua city

After a week, performances in different categories of this year’s East African Secondary Schools Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) festival, Buddo Secondary School was declared as overall winner with a total points of 998.

The festival hosted by National Teachers’ College-Muni attracted over 600 students (participants) from both Uganda and Kenya, under 3 different themes focused on environment, unity and education; Greening Schools Our Responsibility towards Our Environment, How do you foresee an Integrated East Africa and Changing Times Changing Curriculums. 

Chief Adjudicator in the competition, Judith Lubega cites these themes as focus area of judgement. “We chose them because we found them very important issues to address in the country/ies)” she explained.

The schools participated in categories of drama, poem, sight singing, set pieces, original composition African style and Western style. Other categories include creative dance, instrumental composition, traditional folk dance, speeches and traditional folk song.

Speaking at awarding ceremony of the festival, State Minister of Primary Education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu acknowledged the role of Music, Dance and Drama in creating awareness on environment protection. “It is reassuring to note that our schools are using the platform of MDD among others to sensitize the young people and community about the urgent needs of measures to be taken to save our planet” the Minister said.

Buddo SS scooped most of the categories, leading to title of overall winner. The School’s MDD Trainer, Moses Wanguzi attributes the success to early and good preparation. “We had over 50 schools, turning out as the best means a lot to us and this is our consecutive 5^th championship,” he commented.


Buddo SS MDD Trainer and a participant in an interview with Radio Pacis

Angella Nakitende, a candidate (S.6) of Buddo SS who has been participating in the festival for last 6 years could not hide her joy. She said, “this means the whole world to me, am very happy that we won”.

Kochi Secondary School scored 910 points, placing the school on 6^th position as best of West Nile. Mvara Secondary School came on 20^th position with 849 points, St. Mary’s Assupmta Girls Secondary School on 22^nd position with 846 points.

Other schools from the region are Muni Girls Secondary School (23^rd), Francis Ayume Memorial Secondary School (31^st), St. Mary’s Girls Ediofe (32^nd), Arua Public Secondary School (37^th), Biyaya Secondary School (40^th), Adjumani Model Secondary School (44^th), St. Joseph’s College Ombaci (47^th) and Nyangilia Secondary School (53^rd).

COVER PHOTO: Minister Kaducu hands-over the trophy to Buddo SS, the winner in the festival By Sabir Musa